Superstar Ben Barba sizzles as Cronulla Sharks sink Melbourne Storm

CRONULLA welcome back skipper Paul Gallen on Saturday - and they are also backing Valentine Holmes to bounce back after an Easter to forget against Melbourne.

Ben Barba of the Sharks scores during the round 4 NRL match between Cronulla Sutherland Sharks and Melbourne Storm at Shark Park, Cronulla, Monday, March 28, 2016. (AAP Image/Craig Golding) NO ARCHIVING, EDITORIAL USE ONLY

CRONULLA welcome back skipper Paul Gallen on Saturday - and they are also backing Valentine Holmes to bounce back after an Easter to forget.

The Sharks handed Melbourne their first loss of the season with a 14-6 victory during a spiteful clash in the Shire.

But the night was particularly tough for 20-year-old Holmes, who bombed three certain tries on the right wing, was surprisingly run down by Storm halfback Cooper Cronk over 70m, and also knocked on a cheeky Cronk chip kick.

Ben Barba and Cameron Munster contest a bomb. Picture: Phil Hillyard

A dejected Holmes told The Daily Telegraph afterwards: “It was pretty hard at half-time. My head wasn’t really there in the first half. I didn’t have a good preparation for this game. I have to work on that.

“I should be right next week.

“Micky Ennis and Benny (Barba) were good, they spoke to me at half-time, and Benny also spoke to me out on the field. When he talks he gives you that boost, which is good for my confidence.’’

Holmes received a cut-out pass on the chest from Chad Townsend in the first half, but watched the ball spill over the sideline.

Then from an identical spot approaching the break, and with nobody to beat, Holmes again failed to cling on to a Jack Bird pass.

Melbourne opposite Marika Koroibete completed the hat-trick of botched chances when he smashed Holmes into touch during the second half with the tryline in sight.

On a bright note, it was Holmes’ electric turn of foot to split a couple of Storm defenders straight after half-time that send Townsend racing 50m down field, and which gave the home side a lead they would never surrender.

Barba, who showed tremendous acceleration to score his own four-pointer in the first half, backed Holmes to bounce back.

“I said to him at half-time, ‘you’ll come out and get us in front, brother’, and sure enough he split them and let Chaddy run the rest,’’ Barba said.

“He’s got the world at his feet, there will be nights like this where nothing goes right. It’s how you respond the next week.

“And I’m sure next week he’ll have a blinder. He’s an unbelievable talent.’’

Cronulla coach Shane Flanagan liked his side’s defensive effort, and confirmed Gallen would return from a knee injury in time for Saturday’s clash against the Wests Tigers.

The Sharks made their intentions clear early against Melbourne by getting under their skin. The 9155 fans loved it.

Cronulla's Andrew Fifita on the attack. Picture. Phil Hillyard

Rampaging prop Andrew Fifita made it a one-man mission to niggle Cameron Smith and Cooper Cronk in the very first set.

The ploy worked, with the Storm having a rare off night in attack.

To make matters worse, they’ll now sweat on a tripping charge hanging over winger Marika Koroibete, while they’ll be forced to cope with the five-day turnaround.

The good news is they only play Newcastle, who are also coming off a five-day turnaround, and have to return from New Zealand.

As Storm coach Craig Bellamy said: “We’re pretty used to them. Most clubs only started whinging about them this year, but we had two in a row to finish off the season last year. We have a set routine, we’ll stick to that and hopefully come up OK.’’

CRONULLA 14 (B Barba C Townsend tries J Maloney 3 goals) bt MELBOURNE 6 (F Kaufusi try C Smith goal) at Southern Cross Group Stadium. Referee: Matt Cecchin, David Munro. Crowd: 9,155.