Can the Dragons breathe fire on a cold night in Melbourne?

Both teams have issues with their D and there should be more than 50 points scored.Smith and Cronk will look to open the Dragons up down the middle. Widdop should have success around the Storms edge.Dragons offence is now getting a little predictable.They seem to attack down the left hand side on most occasions.My money is on the Storm.

I disagree entirely with your assessment of Quinlan's time at halfback last week as a "poorly thought out experiment". Quinlan needs to be in the team somewhere. He's been one of the Dragons best all year and was one of our best at the back end of last year when he played the last 6 games at five eighth. Make no mistake about it - there are no halfbacks and five eighths in the modern game. Only dominant halves and non-dominant halves. Widdop is clearly the Dragons' dominant half, just like Fien was (or tried to be) last year. Quinlan (albeit with the 7 on his back instead of the 6) is playing the exact same role as he played at the back end of last year. Only difference is that Quinlan is now playing with a quality dominant half (one of the best in the game) as opposed to an ageing hooker-cum-halfback in Nathan Fien. Give him time and he will blossom into the role. Sam Williams needs to stay in NSW Cup. His poor decision making against Brisbane 2 weeks ago proved to be very costly. I don't know what he was thinking. First set after a try, Dragons trail by 2 and on tackle 4 he tries a chip and chase on halfway instead of kicking to the corner to build pressure. Witt needs to be in the team as the bench utility. As has been quite correctly pointed out, Kyle Stanley is a terrible dummy half. He is incapable of picking the ball up and passing it in the same motion, and most of the time he looks like he has no idea how to play that position. Joel Thompson needs to start too.

Farrell played well against the Broncos and the combinations are improving, they just need a halfback to play well (and a forward pack going forward). But Stanley and Quinlan are not the answer at centre. Quinlan is small and while is courageous in defence, Farrell is a better choice. As for Stanley, I keep hearing fans of his talk about his natural talent. I can't see it. He has no pass and lacks vision and lacks confidence. I would rather that he wasn't even on the bench, put Quinlan there.

What has the betting price changing from $3.65 to $3.40 really got to do with how the Dragons play against Melbourne. I'm sick of discussions on what the price is or who is "firming up". Can we please talk about football instead. Soon you will be talking about knowing what the punters want.

I think Farrell is doing just enough to hold his spot, still a little quiet but he has had a couple of nice touches over the last fortnight. In any case Stanley had a fair run at centre in 2012 and was fairly anonymous while Quinlan is always going to be a liability in the front-line due to his size. Runciman is surely the next man in for a centre spot. Agree 100% on Mike Cooper starting, he's been playing great, I wonder whether it's his fitness holding him back - without checking the numbers he doesn't seem to get as much game time as he deserves. Also agree on Rein, he's a fit-looking little bloke and, with Cam King gone, our go-forward is severely impacted when he's off the field.

The line was a throw-away highlighting how difficult it is to pick matches at present rather than a serious prediction. I acknowledge a deserved favouritism for Melbourne but I suspect it's closer than you've estimated. Both teams have a couple of weaknesses which have been exposed recently, it really comes down to who takes the best advantage.

While I think $3.65 about the Dragons is overs, although I see they've firmed to about $3.40 as I write, I agree with your view that Melbourne will get the cash. #FamousLastWords

The Dragons issues with the 1/2 back role has to be settled, so they can work on consistency. Should the 1/2 back who was to be the answer in not having a decent 1/2 back last year but got injured ,be allowed to have his chance. He certainy has shown a lot of promise so what is the problem? The Dragons must beat Melbourne to gain back their confidence. So I tip a win for the Dragons on the back of Widdop and Dugan to get them there.

After losing 2 straight, it is hard to see any fully fit Bellamy coached storm team lose a 3rd and at home too. The Mckinnon affair clearly took its toll on Melbourne but that negative effect should be on the wane. Add in a bit of a feeling that the judiciary penalty on Jordan was perhaps a little hard on the young kid and there may be a small spur to go out there and do it for Jordan. Against that backdrop, I find it hard to justify a Dragons will smash Melbourne position. I think it is more likely to be a close one with Melbourne edging it than any thing else. My odds would be as follows : Dragons run away win - 5% Dragons small win - 15% Storm small win - 60% Storm run away win - 20%

the struggling win against the sharks without gallen, Lewis, fifita and robson was when I started to worry

Steve Price is a dropkick. Dragons should drop Dylan Farrell who is playing like garbage and put Kyle Stanley or Adam Quinlan in the centers.. Mike Cooper should be starting and Rein should be playing 80 minutes

Exactly my point mate, there are no certainties in this comp. The Dragons are just as likely to smash Melbourne and then get done by Parra as the other way around. Maloney is down but personally I can't see Reynolds getting a NSW run. He's a real competitor but I think they'd be more likely to look back at Carney, or even Soward if he keeps playing the way he has been - those guys just add a certain x factor.

I like to see Mike Cooper in the starting side.