- Video
-
Club Roar
Captured a great grassroots sporting moment? We want to see it!Content Collections
The Roar Community
- Join
- Login
Finals footy comes to Melbourne as the Melbourne Storm take on the Newcastle Knights at AAMI Park. Join us for live scores and commentary from 7.45pm AEST.
Wayne Bennett and Craig Bellamy are arguably the two best coaches in the modern game, but tonight their sides face off for survival in 2013.
Bellamy’s Storm start as heavy favourites; they finished third in the season proper and have defeated the Knights in their last seven encounters.
Melbourne’s recent form, however, has been far from their best.
They certainly failed to fire against the Rabbitohs last Friday night – though had a couple of 50/50 video ref decisions gone their way, they still may have emerged victorious in that contest.
Either way, as we’ve come to learn about Melbourne, you can’t expect them to stay quiet for long. Not with the big three at the helm.
Be it international, Origin or finals footy, Cameron Smith, Billy Slater and Cooper Cronk have proven themselves time and time again on the big stage, and they’ll know exactly what it’ll take to get the job done tonight.
The Knights, on the other hand, have been in tremendous form.
Of last week’s four finals winners, it was only they who managed to do so in convincing fashion.
Jarrod Mullen led the way with his pinpoint kicking and passing game, but equally as impressive were the likes of Jeremy Smith, Beau Scott and Willie Mason up front.
The experienced trio have had an injury-interrupted season thus far, but they seem to be hitting their straps at the right end of the campaign.
Their outside backs continue to impress too – the young centre pairing of Dane Gagai and Joseph Leilua had breakout games last week, with nine tackle busts and over 330m gained between them.
But while the signs are looking good for the Knights, they’ll need to perform for the full 80 minutes if they’re a hope of beating the Storm.
Already in 2013 the Knights have held half-time leads against the reigning premiers only to crumble in the second period.
That’s Melbourne for you – they grind and grind and, when the opportunities come, they take them.
The Knights’ recent form will give them a lot of confidence coming into this match and it’s tempting to tip them – I certainly think they’re a better chance than their $3.25 head to head suggests.
In the end, though, Melbourne have too much brilliance in their ranks to tip against them. They’ll find a way to win.
Storm by 6.
Will the Storm take a step towards defending their 2012 premiership, or will the Knights spring an upset and find themselves unlikely members of the final four?
Join us for live scores and commentary from 7.45pm AEST, and be sure to let us know your thoughts if you’re following along.
Reckon you can pick the winning team? Build your own dream team with Draftstars daily fantasy and compete on any match. For great odds on the NRL head on over to PlayUp. Imagine what you could be buying instead. Set a deposit limit.