St George Illawarra Dragons vs Melbourne Storm highlights: Dragons by 8

Roar Guru

18th June, 2016

3654 Reads

Kickoff: 7.30pm AEST
Venue: WIN Stadium
TV: Live, Fox Sports
Last meeting: Melbourne 18 – 16 St George
Referee: Matt Cecchin
Head-to-Head: Melbourne 23, St George 8, 1 Draw
Betting: St George $1.62, Melbourne $2.35
Last five: St George WLWBL, WWBWW
Teams:

St George
1. Jason Nightingale 2. Kalifa Faifai Loa 3. Euan Aitken 4. Tim Lafai 5. Kurt Mann 6. Gareth Widdop (c) 7. Benji Marshall 8. Leeson Ah Mau 9. Mitch Rein 10. Russell Packer 11. TBA 12. Joel Thompson 13. Mike Cooper

Interchange: 14 Dunamis Lui 15 Will Matthews 16 Siliva Havili 17 Jake Marketo

Coach: Paul McGregor

Melbourne
1. Cameron Munster 2. Suliasi Vunivalu 3. Cheyse Blair 4. Ryan Morgan 5. Marika Koroibete 6. Tohu Harris 7. Blake Green (c) 8. Jesse Bromwich (c) 9.Kenny Bromwich 10. Jordan McLean 11. Kevin Proctor 12. Felise Kaufusi 13. Dale Finucane

Interchange (one to be omitted): 14 Nelson Asofa-Solomona 15 Tim Glasby 16 Christian Welch 17 Young Tonumaipea 18 Matt White

Coach: Craig Bellamy

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Gareth Widdop's injury could derail the Dragons' final chances. (AAP Image/Action Photographics, Robb Cox)

John Coomer

Roar Guru

18th June, 2016

129

3654 Reads

Match result:

The St George Illawarra Dragons took an eight-point win over a Melbourne Storm outfit missing a number of their biggest names on Saturday night, moving into the top eight.

REPORT: DRAGONS DOWN WEAKENED STORM

Final score
St George 20
Melbourne 12

Match preview:

The eleventh-placed St George Illawarra Dragons host ladder leaders the Melbourne Storm in Round 15 at WIN Stadium in Wollongong. Join The Roar for live scores and commentary from 7:30pm (AEST).

Both teams have been affected by State of Origin commitments. Cameron Smith and Cooper Cronk are in camp with Maroons ahead of Game 2 on Wednesday night, while Dragons backrower Tyson Frizell has received a late call-up to make his debut for the Blues after Wade Graham was suspended for his high shot on Jonathon Thurston.

Storm coach Craig Bellamy has named Blake Green at halfback in place of Cronk, with Tohu Harris taking Green’s usual five-eighth spot.

Kenny Bromwich has surprisingly been named at hooker in place of Cameron Smith, while Jesse Bromwich and Green have been named as the Storm’s co-captains.

Frizell’s absence will be the only change to the St George Illawarra squad that lost 34-16 to the Bulldogs last Monday afternoon. Josh Dugan is still out injured.

It’s the best possible time for the Dragons to face the Storm, with the absence of Smith and Cronk. St George also benefited from the draw during the last Origin round, when they had a win over the understrength Cowboys. They need another win tonight to try and break into the top eight.

It’s the second time the two teams have met this season, with Melbourne winning the Round 1 clash 18-16 at home back in March.

Prediction
Melbourne are looking for their eighth win in a row, but will find it tough without Smith and Cronk. St George will never have a better opportunity to beat the Storm than tonight, and they should win a close match.

Join The Roar at 7:30pm (AEST) for live score updates and debate in our live blog.

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