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The last thing the Melbourne Storm needs is to face a Roosters side that is starting to regain its premiership-winning form.
The Storm are already without fullback Billy Slater and halfback Cooper Cronk after both suffered varying injuries in Queensland’s loss to New South Wales in Game 1 of the Origin series.
The absences of both players, only healed by the late inclusion of captain Cameron Smith, were sorely felt as the Storm were shut out 22-0 by the North Queensland Cowboys in Townsville last weekend.
It continues a strangely inconsistent season for the Storm, whose loss dropped them down to ninth after starting the round just outside the top four. This inconsistency could be an indication that this year may see the Storm decline as a force in the NRL.
The next few weeks will present some challenges ahead for Craig Bellamy, who will unveil another different halves pairing in Tohu Harris and Ben Roberts, after the latter and Cameron Smith stood by the scrumbase in the loss to the Cowboys.
With Cooper Cronk out until possibly the end of winter, the Storm will need to rely on Harris and Roberts to carry them through this difficult period and to keep them within finals contention, if not top four.
Ryan Hinchcliffe, who started at hooker ahead of Smith last week, will move back to the lock forward position.
Promising young star Cameron Munster will once again line up at fullback. He has been touted as a possible replacement for Billy Slater when the Storm veteran retires, and he also featured in Queensland’s Under-20s team recently.
Munster will directly oppose the experience that is Anthony Minichiello, whose Roosters side sit just outside the top four on percentage after a slow start to their premiership defence.
After being thumped by the Cowboys in Townsville in Round 10, the premiers have bounced back with huge wins over the Bulldogs and Raiders, with dumped NSW halves James Maloney and Mitchell Pearce pulling the strings and boosting their chances of a recall for the Blues in the process.
Maloney and Pearce can continue their push to be included in the side for Game 2 with a strong performance against such a depleted team. As such, the Roosters deserve to be favourites for this match, but the fact is that they have not won in Melbourne since 2010.
On that occasion, the Roosters also won over a depleted Storm side whose Queensland contingent of Slater, Greg Inglis, Cronk and Smith were preparing to wrap up a fifth consecutive Origin series victory for their state.
Winger Daniel Tupou and backrower Aidan Guerra showed no signs of rustiness from the opening Origin match, both also going through the Roosters’ match against Canberra unscathed, with the former scoring a hat-trick.
Trent Robinson’s men can continue their resurgence by knocking off the Storm in Bleak City, after which they host the struggling Knights, leading into their bye. After that they face up to the Sea Eagles for the second time this season.
The key match-up will be between Cameron Smith and Jake Friend, who many believe will succeed him as the Maroons’ hooker when the Storm captain eventually retires.
In the end, the Roosters appear to be the stronger team on paper. Though the Storm will continue to challenge even with the loss of Slater and Cronk limiting their attack.
The million dollar question will be – can the Storm win with only Smith pulling the strings, or will the Roosters prove too strong at AAMI Park?
Whatever the outcome, it should be an intriguing match.
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