'Just not good enough': Nicho Hynes laments 'crucial errors' as Sharks crash out in preliminary final

A chance to rectify last year's grand final loss has come for the Storm, after they secured a clinical win over the Sharks to advance to the grand final.

Melbourne sealed their fate in next week's big dance on Friday night, holding off a late attacking surge by the visitors to win 22-14 at AAMI Park.

It means coach Craig Bellamy will look to add another premiership title to his collection as he enters his 11th grand final appearance in 23 years at the helm.

READ MORE: All Blacks great hits back at 'nothing special' claim

READ MORE: Gal fumes over 'frustrating' penalty that left star bloodied

READ MORE: 'Getting booed' was a dream for Kerr in long-awaited return

As for the gutted Sharks, it marked the end of a remarkable run late in the season, which included upset wins over the Roosters and Raiders in the finals.

Speaking to Nine post-game, star halfback Nicho Hynes admitted that "crucial errors" from Cronulla proved the difference in a back-and-forth battle.

"They are a quality opposition and we made it hard for ourselves at time," he said.

"Sometimes you are just not good enough and it is not your night.

"We were leading the second half 2-0 at some stage and then I dropped that ball, made a bit of a crucial error and then [gave away] a penalty and then Briton's offload.

"We just compounded errors and that cost us in the end."

It was a match concerns over the fitness of Jahrome Hughes, who was coming back from a broken arm as the Storm brushed aside the warnings of many league greats.

But all of those concerns were squashed after his first touch of the ball, running with little hesitation at rival defenders before slotting into his usual role in attack.

Watch the 2025 NRL premiership live and free on Nine and 9Now.

Will Warbrick and Sione Katoa were the first two players to strike, with the latter levelling the scores at 4-4 after just 11 minutes of action.

It was then that Melbourne lifted in attack and looked to Hughes, who burst through Cronulla's defence and used his injured arm to push off a chasing Jesse Colquhuon.

Will Kennedy was outpaced by the Storm playmaker close to the line, while Ronaldo Mulitalo's tackle attempt was not enough to stop him from grounding the ball.

"What an inspiring start from the halfback," Melbourne great Billy Slater said on Nine.

Katoa made it a double and narrowed the margin in the 29th minute, but the hosts extended their lead before the break when Cameron Munster and Ryan Papenhuyzen combined for an epic finals try.

Munster chipped over the top for Papenhuyzen, who toed it ahead and beat opposing fullback Will Kennedy to the ball and planted it down.

"It's a semi final showstopper," Nine caller Mat Thompson said.

In the second half, Papenhuyzen brushed off a brief shoulder concern after a brutal hit, despite being in visible discomfort for a number of minutes.

At several points in the half he was seen clutching at his shoulder, but still managed to make a try-saving tackle on Brition Nikora late in the half.

"That could be a season-defining moment," Slater said of the effort.

"That was a brilliant tackle, a brilliant tackle," added league icon Phil Gould.

Cronulla wouldn't go away with the game on the line, but one of the crucial errors that Hynes was referring to - his own knock on while attacking Melbourne's line - combined with some penalties and errors made things very difficult.

Xavier Coates sealed the result in the 74th minute, before Sharks centre KL Iro added four points as the siren sounded in a late consolation try.

Melbourne will now wait for the result of Penrith's clash against the Broncos on Sunday to learn who they will face in the grand final on October 5.