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Canterbury Bulldogs vs Melbourne Storm: NRL live scores, blog

Roar Guru
14th July, 2013
Teams

Canterbury Bulldogs

1. Ben Barba
2. Mitch Brown
3. Tim Lafai
4. Krisnan Inu
5. Sam Perrett
6. Joel Romelo
7. Trent Hodkinson
8. Aiden Tolman
9. Michael Ennis
10. Sam Kasiano
11. Frank Pritchard
12. Tony Williams
13. Greg Eastwood

Interchange

14. Dene Halatau
15. Josh Jackson
16. James Graham
17. Dale Finucane
20. Tim Browne

One to be omitted

Melbourne Storm

1. Justin O'Neill
2. Sisa Waqa
3. Will Chambers
4. Maurice Blair
5. Mahe Fonua
6. Brett Finch
7. Ben Hampton
8. Jesse Bromwich
9. Ryan Hinchcliffe
10. Bryan Norrie
11. Kevin Proctor
12. Tohu Harris
13. Slade Griffin

Interchange

14. Jordan McLean
15. Junior Moors
16. Siosaia Vave
17. Mitchell Garbutt
18. Junior Sau

One to be omitted

Kickoff: 3.00pm AEST
Venue: ANZ Stadium
Last meeting: Round 3 2013 - Storm 22 bt Bulldogs 18 at AAMI Park
Head-to-head: Storm 16 Bulldogs 15
Referees: Gavin Badger, Alan Shortall
TV: Channel 9 (Delayed, 4pm)
Betting: Bulldogs $1.26 Storm $4.00
The Storm are at home against the Bulldogs - but Steve Turner is tipping a finals upset. (AAP Image/Paul Miller)
Roar Guru
14th July, 2013
90
3304 Reads

The Canterbury Bulldogs have a great opportunity to gather some winning momentum today when they host the under strength Melbourne Storm. Join us for live scores and commentary from 3.00pm AEST.

With just eight weeks left before finals football, the Bulldogs really need to start stringing some wins together if they are to secure their place in the top eight.

The 2012 grand finalists are currently in ninth position and have struggled to replicate their terrific form of yesteryear.

Having come off a tight loss to Newcastle, the Bulldogs now find themselves hosting a Storm outfit minus Origin superstars Cooper Cronk, Billy Slater, Cameron Smith and Ryan Hoffman.

Throw in the injury to Gareth Widdop and its easy to see why the Bulldogs really should secure the competition points today.

While Melbourne still possess some attacking weapons (Justin O’Neill, Sisa Waqa and Will Chambers), anything less than a victory for Canterbury at home would be a massive failure given the amount of class the Storm have on the sidelines.

Prediction

The pressure will be on the Bulldogs to win and win well in front of their home fans and this could either lead to two possibilities.

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Knowing that a win is paramount, Canterbury may opt to come out firing in a bid to seal the victory before halftime against a vastly under strength Storm outfit.

Canterbury however may also get lulled into thinking that the two competition points are a formality today and this may lead to a flat performance from Des Hasler’s men.

The last time the Bulldogs played under strength opposition during the Origin period, they found themselves outclassed and outmuscled by a Roosters team missing Mitchell Pearce, James Maloney and Michael Jennings.

To avoid a repeat of such a loss, the Bulldogs have to aim up upfront and win the arm wrestle against Melbourne.

Forwards Sam Kasiano, James Graham, Greg Eastwood, Aidan Tolman and Frank Pritchard will look to dominate upfront against a Melbourne pack that can be outmuscled if the Bulldogs play direct today.

If the Bulldogs do roll up their sleeves and play the tough footy that got them to the 2012 grand final, then they will be far too strong for a spirited Storm outfit.

Bulldogs by 12.

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