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After two straight defeats, the Sydney Roosters face the in-form Melbourne Storm at AAMI Park. Join The Roar for live scores and commentary from 7:30pm (AEST).
A Ben Hunt try in golden-point extra-time condemned the Roosters to their third loss of the season last week as Brisbane secured a 22-18 victory.
In an intense contest, the Roosters led 18-12 in the second half but once again failed to put their opposition away when presented with opportunities to do so.
With a 3-3 record to start the season, Sydney are in danger of succumbing to their fourth defeat of the year against a Melbourne team that is very difficult to beat at home.
The Storm secured a tough 14-10 victory over the Raiders away from home minus Billy Slater, in a win that would have given Craig Bellamy’s troops plenty of confidence.
While Melbourne are not the team that dominated from season 2006 to 2012, they will fancy their chances of opening up a Roosters defence that has struggled to replicate the intensity they showed in their opening win against the Cowboys back in Round 1.
A key match-up to look forward to tonight is the clash between the current Queensland and Australian captain Cameron Smith and Queensland’s No.9 heir apparent Jake Friend.
Smith is a future Immortal and has enjoyed another solid start to the season. If he is allowed to dictate terms around dummy-half, the Roosters are going to have a hard time keeping Melbourne at bay. Friend meanwhile is just finding form after an extended stint on the sidelines. In his last game against the Storm last year, he was superb and he will be looking to replicate that effort tonight.
The Roosters start narrow favourites but Melbourne are good value at home. Whatever the result, this game promises to be a cracker.
Storm by 4.