Monday night football dishes up another cracking match-up as the Melbourne Storm hosts the Manly Sea Eagles. Join us for live scores and commentary from 7.00pm AEST.
With both teams coming off tough losses last week, Melbourne and Manly should be expected to put on a show tonight in a bid to reignite their premiership campaign.
On their day, both of these teams remain premiership contenders and tonight’s contest is just what these two sides need to rediscover their championship credentials.
The Storm suffered a surprising 12-10 defeat against Penrith last week which prompted coach Craig Bellamy to proclaim that his side was struggling to match the character and desire for victory of their opposition.
After back to back losses to the Raiders and Panthers, Melbourne at home should be expected to give it their all against a Manly team coming off a bruising defeat to the Roosters.
The Sea Eagles had numerous chances to perhaps steal victory against Sydney, but were constantly thwarted by their own mistakes and terrific Roosters defence.
With Brett Stewart still missing, Manly stars Keiran Foran, Jamie Lyon and Daly Cherry-Evans will have to be at their best if they are to give the Sea Eagles an edge in attack tonight against a Storm outfit desperate to click at home.
Prediction
Both Manly and Melbourne are proud clubs and should leave nothing in the tank tonight in a match that promises to be an absolute beauty.
The Storm have struggled to play at their best at home this season and really need to go back to the formula that has served them so well over the past few years.
Melbourne pride themselves on strong discipline, good percentage play and low error counts and will need to master all three aspects tonight if they are to return to the winners circle.
Bellamy would have no doubt put his troops through a rigorous training regime this week in a bid to get the players ready for a tough encounter tonight.
The same however can be said of Manly coach Geoff Toovey, so expect the Sea Eagles to also be prepared for a war up the middle of the park.
With both teams fairly evenly matched, the difference between the two teams tonight could very well hinge on Brett Stewart’s absence for Manly.
Without Stewart chiming into the play, Manly’s attack look disorganised at times against the Roosters and it was this disorganisation that led to the Sea Eagles conceding the opening try against Sydney last week.
While Melbourne has also struggled in attack in recent weeks, the key trio of Billy Slater, Cooper Cronk and Cameron Smith remain in the side and a strong performance from either of them should be enough for the Storm to conjure up a tight victory.
Storm by six.
planko
Roar Guru
The referee is soul arbitraitor of time bad luck.
Stevo
Guest
http://live.nrlstats.com/matches/nrl/match20185.html Gower didn't play
Haz
Guest
A big "please explain". Why did Manly only play 16 players in this game? Why did David Gower get zero game time? That seems like the most ridiculous coaching decision on the planet...
Bazzio
Roar Guru
Agree 100% manlyman ~ I have the same gripe in the Dragons Titans match. Fein threw a backward pass that was called forward on reputation rather than fact, and Titans off-side for the final 20 minutes yet not penalised. What a rort this game has become!
manlyman
Guest
Melbourne had injuries? Who? Chambers! Manly had no king no galavou faoso No STEWART That's 3 of our regular forwards and the nsw fullback and a rookie fullback in his place.. watch the game my friend and you will see what Bs really is!
manlyman
Guest
Good man fair to say we were jibbed again like in most games! But this one was truly special I have watched the game twice more and it is so obvious that the refs decided Melbourne would win after we scored.. forward passes unchecked offsides what offside! Bs penalties at the end of both halves to keep them in the game and the most important moment 1st half extra time manly has the ball its the 4th on half way spreading it to Lyon who's pass is knocked down by Melbournes winger manly regather and the ref says.... Play-on! Bah pathetic
Stevo
Guest
Your wrong, the halfback is not part of the scrum . Simple as that From the offcial NRL rules; "" Formation of. To form a scrum not more than three forwards of Scrum either team shall interlock arms and heads and create a cleartunnel atright angles to the touch line. The forward in the centre of a front row (i.e. the hooker) shall bind with his arms over the shoulders of the two supporting forwards. Not more than two second row forwards on each team shall pack behind their respective front rows by interlocking arms and placing their heads in the two spaces between the hooker and his front row forwards. The loose forward of each team shall pack behind his second row forwards by placing his head in the space between them. All forwards must pack with theirbodies andlegs atright angles tothe tunnel and the upper parts of their bodies horizontal. ""
Alan
Roar Guru
Thanks David
Kai Dittmer
Guest
How would it be 10-10 I thought that Storm would beat manly sea eagles:-) :-) :-) :-) :-) :-)
I'mastormtrooper2
Guest
Firstly, manlyman, I didn't get to watch the game, but the radio commentators rated the game and performances even - A draw was fair in their book ... I think you may have the wrong end of that stick, you're beating me with ... I read the stats and as I said, except for the penalty count, the Storm should have won, NOT, that they deserved to have won ... They had the home-ground advantage, and they had the players and fans, who like me, are probably wondering ... However, just like me, they will be aware it was a lot like this in 2012 and it's a long way until round 26 from here. That's what you and the media need to take on board ... The Storm also have players out injured and Origin duties will put a big dent in their playing group. Remember, the Storm are the only team thus far who have beaten the Rabbitoh's, so don't be so quick to write them off ...
Joel
Guest
Err, no. Halfback is part of the scrum. No halfback, no scrum. Simple as that
Nick Richardson
Roar Guru
No other than the mighty Manly
manlyman
Guest
Which team do you follow?
manlyman
Guest
As far as stats go Bahahaha the stats are in your favour because the shameless refs helped you all the way from the moment manly scored there only try to the final buzzer of extra time. Absolute farce! Manly were far the better team if the game was fair Melbourne would of been touched up nicely by a Stewart less manly team. They will be lucky to make the 8 this year. Go manly once again the refs try to break us to no avail don't believe me ill point out there game changing calls
I'mastormtrooper2
Guest
As far as stats go, other then penalties, Melbourne Storm should have won :-/ ... The question that they and their coach need to ask themselves is, is a draw good enough? Although 2 losses and a draw hasn't knocked them out of the top 4 :-) ... Makes the ladder interesting ... The only other thing that makes me wonder is why is there a photo of Brett Stewart and Adam Blair heading this article? Don't believe either of them played tonight - Stewart out inju red and Blair plays for the Tigers ??? Just putting it out there! Hope the Storm get their first 40 minutes together next week - You're killing me fella's!!! Cockadoodledoo ...
The Spectator
Roar Guru
Golden point, WHATS THE POINT, scrap it and replace it with golden try, as a fan i cling that my side lands it! see my thinking, the players! GOLDEN TRY. Oh and sack all ref's on the park tonight, shocking. To say it was a game of 2 halves is one thing for players another for ref's.
Nathan Beuman
Roar Guru
Yeah, if they want to have extra time, make it first try scored. If no try is scored after 10 minutes, then call it a draw. There was no flow to the game because the field goal attempts kept going dead and the defence got to set their line again. The Fox Sports commentator said something like the last 12 (might have actually been higher) golden point games have been decided by a field goal. Thats not what you want to see.
Nick Richardson
Roar Guru
Cronk to kick a shocker
Nick Richardson
Roar Guru
+1 to that at the game we got robbed.
expatwarrior
Guest
I'd rather see the golden point used come finals time. Ok so a bit of it is to reward both teams for a titanic struggle but mostly I'm sick of the drop kickathon that follows.