A tight tussle is expected at AAMI Park tonight as the Melbourne Storm and Canterbury Bulldogs do battle in Monday night football. Join The Roar for live scores and commentary from 7pm (AEST).
Despite an unconvincing win over Newcastle last week, Melbourne have started the season very well, and start favourites tonight against a Bulldogs outfit coming off a surprise defeat to the Raiders last week.
Melbourne will have to improve significantly if they are to erase a recent poor record against Canterbury tonight. The Storm have lost their past five matches against the Bulldogs and a repeat of last week’s performance against Newcastle will most likely see them lose again, even at home.
In good news for Melbourne, winger Marika Koroibete comes back into the side after serving a one-match suspension. His presence reinforces a solid Melbourne backline that knows its way to the try-line.
Tonight’s battle however will be won upfront. James Graham and Aiden Tolman serve as the cornerstones of a very strong Bulldogs pack. They will be keen to perform tonight given that they were outmuscled by the Raiders pack last week.
The same can be said for Melbourne’s pack. Cameron Smith is yet to truly play at his highest level this season and should be expected to lead from the front tonight in a bid to blow the Bulldogs away early.
The form of fellow Storm forward Jesse Bromwich should set alarm bells ringing for Canterbury. Bromwich has established himself as one of the strongest props in the game, and another solid performance tonight will provide the foundations required for Smith, Cooper Cronk and Blake Green to dictate terms.
While the Bulldogs will put up a fight in this contest, the Storm are difficult to tip against at home and one feels that they will be primed for a big performance after a lengthy nine day recovery period.
Storm by 10
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P. Marlowe
Guest
Agreed
Muzz
Guest
It's hard to grind out a low scoring win these days with plenty of attacking flair in most teams.The reduced interchange and shot clock encourages expansive play with more points being scored as the forwards start to fatigue. Bellamy needs to find a way imo.
Joe
Roar Rookie
Thanks Muzz, I agree that life will have to go on without Slater but at the moment they're still trying to run plays that require Slaters speed which Munster does not have. I guess having trained all off season with Slater at the back means they can't just come up with a new game plan that better suits Munster who has a better passing game but they need to do that pretty quick as what they're doing right now isn't working. This is also why Cronk is taking the tackle more often as when he looks out to where Munster should be he isn't there so he tries to take on the line. Apart from that they're just running basic plays out the back which relies on Chambers or Koroibete's individual brilliance to get something done or kicks over the top. Against the better defensive sides like the Dogs and Sharks that just won't work.
P. Marlowe
Guest
Hey Muzz - not really meaning to say Munster isn't capable - he is a fine young talent. You are also right that life goes on post Slater. My observation though is that Bellamy has gone for a very basic game plan in his absence which I don't think is getting the best out of the talent available. I'm not actually a Storm fan but I used to quite enjoy watching their attack (with their backline sweeps as well as those outside-inside passes they used to run for Slater). They just don't seem to have any 'moves' any more.
Muzz
Guest
I don't buy that Joe. Life will eventually have to go on when Billy retires. Besides, Munster is more than capable! The Storm have a great roster that should be able to produce points without Slater.
P. Marlowe
Guest
That's my observation too Joe. - without Slater, the game plan appears to be very risk free/basic. Bellamy really has to come up with something different for their attack as they just don't look threatening at all. It was the same in the back half of last year too when Slater is out.
Zedman
Roar Rookie
Good work Alan, Perrett certainly deserved a mention.
Joe
Roar Rookie
Storm looked flat again in attack. They are missing Billy Slater big time, his speed for the sweep plays is something Munster just can't do and so their is no threat out wide. Bulldogs were really good in defense and made sure the few attacking opportunities they had paid off. At this rate Storm will be out of the 8 pretty soon come Origin time.
Alan
Roar Guru
Typical Bulldogs victory tonight. They bounce back superbly from last week's defeat and secure a morale boosting 18-12 win over Melbourne. The Storm just don't have the answers against the Bulldogs. Melbourne really miss Slater in attack. They had countless chances to take the lead but couldn't take their opportunities. Bulldogs meanwhile far more clinical in possession and very strong in defence. Dally M points 3 - James Graham: Made more metres than any other forward on the park tonight. A true leader. Symbolic of Bulldogs spirit tonight 2 - Jesse Bromwich: Had a terrific second half en route to making over 140 metres tonight. Made a break as well that should have led to a Melbourne try 1 - Sam Perrett: Terrific first half performance from the winger. Scored the Bulldogs second try of the night and also produced some great plays in defence to deny Munster and Koroibete from scoring.
The Barry
Roar Guru
Thanks Alan...
Zedman
Roar Rookie
Klemmer must have run some good metres.
The Barry
Roar Guru
Up there K-lemmer.... Great win against the odds.
Alan
Roar Guru
80' - Storm need a miracle play. They had their chances in the second half but could not capitalise. Smith again with a poor pass from dummy-half. Nothing play from Melbourne so far! Cronk goes high. Poor kick. Tonumaipea taps it back and Klemmer gathers the footy! Game over FULLTIME Storm 12 Bulldogs 18
Alan
Roar Guru
78' - Bulldogs now with another chance to put this game to bed. They have match point. They wanted it more tonight. Hopoate tackled on the last and its turnover for Melbourne Storm 12 Bulldogs 18
Alan
Roar Guru
77' - Time becoming a real enemy for Melbourne. Bulldogs stamping authority defensively here. Green with an early kick and Koroibete again fails to regather the footy!!! Storm 12 Bulldogs 18
Zedman
Roar Rookie
Dogs have to tough this last five out. The refs have put their whistles away for some reason.
SpongeBob
Guest
Storm used to have some good set plays, now they're pretty ordinary. They rarely look like scoring, usually someone just misses a tackle and they go over rather than some hard to defend/good play.
Alan
Roar Guru
75' - Gee forward pass from Hampton to Koroibete is missed....Bulldogs superb in defence in the second half. Kick put in. Bulldogs with possession Storm 12 Bulldogs 18
Alan
Roar Guru
74' - Storm on the attack! Solomona to the line! Just short! Bulldogs continue to hold out! Great defence! Storm 12 Bulldogs 18
The Barry
Roar Guru
Smith has been rubbish tonight... Storm would have been in front if he could run after Bromwich made a break and off loaded. Some poor options out of dummy half and if he was anyone else he would have been penalised a dozen times for wrestling. Another poor option on the last...