Brett Kimmorley knows plenty about both the Cronulla Sharks and Melbourne Storm. The former Australian halfback captained the Sharks and also won a premiership with the Storm in 1999.

Writing for espn.com.au, Kimmorley admitted the Sharks held an advantage of the purple pride from the Victorian capital.

“The pace the Sharks played with on Friday night was outstanding. Fresh from a two-week break, the Sharks just had too much thrust through the middle for the Cowboys – a fact that was only amplified by the Cowboys’ mistakes” Kimmorley wrote.

“The Sharks are an athletic football team; they have some exceptional outside backs and plenty of x-factor in guys like Valentine Holmes, Jack Bird and Ben Barba.

“If the Sharks can repeat that type of performance from Friday night they will be the NRL premiers for 2016. I thought the scoreline flattered the Cowboys and wasn’t a true reflection of just how well the Sharks played.”