NRL Grand Final Betting Preview: Melbourne Favored Against Cronulla

After a thrilling weekend of Preliminary Finals, only the Melbourne Storm and the Cronulla Sharks remain in contention to be crowned NRL Premiers for 2016.

The Storm showed their experience to battle past the Canberra Raiders, while the Sharks blew the Cowboys out of the water. Cronulla will have to bring that game plan and level of intensity to the Grand Final if they are to overcome the Storm.

Having already secured the Minor Premiership, the Storm are looking to claim a double. Website Australian Gambling is reporting that bookmakers have priced the Storm at $1.83 to beat Cronulla. The Storm have an ideal blend of youth and experience throughout their squad, giving them an advantage over a side chasing their first Premiership.

Melbourne's key men came to the forefront in the Preliminary Final and will likely do so again in Sydney.

Cronulla currently stands at $2.00 to win the Grand Final. The last time these two sides met it was Melbourne that took the victory, but the Sharks will be buoyed by the fact that they beat them earlier in the season in Sydney.

Confidence and temperament will be massive factors if the Sharks are to win. They fell apart as a side in the closing stages of the season after sitting atop the ladder for so long. There can be no place for such a drop-off in form in the Grand Final.

The competition to claim the Clive Churchill Medal for man of the match in the Grand Final is extremely close. Veteran Storm players Cooper Cronk and Cameron Smith are the favorites priced at $5.00. Cronulla's James Maloney is set at $8.00.

This Grand Final is shaping up to be a particularly tough match to call as the big-stage rookies, the Sharks, take on the experienced Storm. It would be a monumental feat should Cronulla manage to secure their first Premiership title.