The Newcastle Knights travel down to AAMI Park for the hard task of taking on competition front-runners Melbourne Storm this Friday night.
It is a tale of two clubs with different form to date. It is fair to say that Newcastle is still getting used to the Wayne Bennett-style, and with that there has been some indifferent form. But the signs are there for a good year ahead.
Down south it is like Melbourne never had an off-season; they go about their business with ease and rarely skip a beat. The form of Billy Slater and Cooper Cronk has been outstanding. The news of Cronk staying at the Victorian club for another four years is great news for Storm fans and keeps the big three together.
For the Knights, Jarrod Mullen has been impressive in the early games and is no doubt showing more confidence under the guidance of coach Bennet. Another is Danny Buderus, the former Australian Test hooker and Blues captain will be out for a big one on Friday against the man who took his place in the green and gold, Cameron Smith.
Look for these two to be at each other all night. Buderus has been mentioned as a possible Blues candidate again. This Friday will be a great test against the world’s best number 9.
Darius Boyd is yet to find the form he once showed in 2010 and the back rowers are far from their best. In comparison, Billy Slater just keeps getting better and better and back rower Ryan Hoffman has impressed since his return from the English Super League and doesn’t look like he has been out of the Melbourne system.
AAMI Park is a graveyard for travelling teams as the Roosters found out last week, while the Knights have a 100 percent win record away from home this season.
But I expect that record to be erased on Friday night, as Melbourne should be too strong unless they play like the Bulldogs last week. Taking nothing away from the Knights, but Canterbury where poor and lucky not to get done by more.
So with the re-signing of Cronk midweek and the consistent form of the playing squad at the Storm, I expect them to be too strong for the Knights. In front of a vocal crowd, I’m tipping Melbourne by 18 and Slater to get his fifth double.
eclipz
Guest
I've also been a Storm fan since year dot and I couldn't be prouder of the individual and team decisions made over those years, in a variety of situations. What a club !! On the term 'the big three' Cooper has said in the press and in person that he dislikes the term and most Storm fans would agree that it unfairly diminishes the massive contributions made by the other team members. This is such a cohesive unit. A champion team, rather than a team of champions.
JVGO
Guest
JamesP, perhaps the Storm should invest in the services of an AFL star, izzy Folau for instance, in order to kick their ratings up above 100,000. There seemed to be plenty of people in Melbourne who seemed interested in his performance last Saturday night, despite the fact that there seemed to be absolutely no bump in the Sydney audience due to any Izzy factor at all.
NF
Guest
Swans/GWS got blanket coverage & tons of advertising non-stop in Sydney, the Cattery in his coverage of the game covered the media coverage of the game compared to this Storm game which would have low key media compared to the media bonaza of the GWS debut.
JamesP
Guest
It will be interesting to see what figures you get with Coll v Hawthorn on next door. Swans/GWS got over 100k last Saturday. Anything more than 50K on Gem would be acceptible, You've got your wish Boomshanka, now lets see how much Melbourne really cares. Storm are unbeaten, and appear to be a top 2 team this year so you'd expect average figures between 50 - 100k over the season, to be on par with Sydney TV audences (over the past few years).
I'mastormtrooper2
Guest
As a fan of the Melbourne Storm since their inception, I always get nervous when the media wind them up or right them off ... Whatever will be, will be and I don't particularly like the media hype on "the big 3" - they are but men and although I agree they are integral to the structures of the team, the thing is, the team will have to survive come State of Origin, and Craig will be aware of and working on that ... I think Cronky said it all yesterday, Craig Bellamy is the strongest link in the Storm family, especially when things go off the rails ... And, of course the amazing fans that support the team whether they win or lose ... GO THE MIGHTY STORM - THE TEAM WITH BRAVER HEARTS !!!
baller
Guest
i hope your wrong ......but i dont think you are, we need all the luck in the world and maybe a sniper in the stands to take out slater, cronk, smith, hoffman, and pretty much the rest of the team.... ahhh crap cmon knights do something, anything ......
Boomshanka
Guest
Broadcast live and in HD South of the Barassi Line tonight.