It’s the match of the round from the nation’s capital this Monday night as the red hot Canberra Raiders host the table- topping Melbourne Storm. Join The Roar from 7pm AEST for live scores and coverage.
The Raiders can’t win for winning, it seems. They beat the Cowboys, but that was because of Origin absences. They ploughed the Bunnies by 50, but that was because Souths are a basket case. They emphatically stopped Cronulla’s 15-match unbeaten run at Shark Park, but that was because Cronulla were on five days rest and Mick Ennis wasn’t playing.
There have been a lot of excuses given for the teams the Raiders have beaten this year, to the point you’d think that their place in the top four is not viewed entirely seriously.
This week there is no sterner test of champion credentials – the Melbourne Storm. A ‘benchmark team’ pretty much since their arrival in the NRL in 1998, they are drilled, disciplined and they live to play in games like this.
The Storm find ways to win and are the masters of protecting a lead. They are not bothered by the aesthetics of it all – as long as they are ahead when the final siren sounds, that’s all that matters. They have a forward pack that can grind with the best of them and they have one of the most exciting attacking triple threats seen for a long time in Suliasi Vunivalu, Cameron Munster and Marika Korobeite. Melbourne are a team of future immortals and young developing talent that makes other sides (and supporters) drool with envy.
While all eyes will be on the Cameron Smith v Josh Hodgson matchup at hooker, for me the most important match up on the ground is the contest between halfbacks Aidan Sezer and Cooper Cronk.
Cronk’s placement and nous by foot are the standard for halfbacks. If there is space to be found, he’ll find it and you can guarantee the Storm’s outside flyers will be taking to the sky early and often.
Sezer can’t afford to waste one possession. He only has nine try assists, half as many as Cronk and he’ll need to be more actively involved with Blake Austin banged up. It’s likely Ricky Stuart will use Hodgson in the halves at stages during the game as well.
The real danger for Melbourne is not on the field but in their heads – they are so far and away set in the top two, it might not matter if they drop a game here or there. Cronulla were caught out by St George in a huge upset and the Bunnies almost pipped the Storm in Melbourne last week, a good indicator that both sides are well and truly waiting on September.
The Raiders are fighting for a top four spot with the Bulldogs, Cowboys and Brisbane and will be desperate for the win to all but seal the double chance. Win this one, and the doubters will be running out of excuses.
We have a brilliant match-up on paper – the NRL’s best attack against the NRL’s best defence, a Raiders team that’s 8-2 at GIO Stadium against a Storm team who are 9-2 away from AAMI Park. It’s a mouth-watering prospect between two teams that are on fire approaching the finals. Let’s hope it lives up to the expectation.
Prediction:
I can’t see a score blowout, but a defensive grind which will suit the Storm just fine. The Raiders will have some work to do to breach the Purple wall, but I think they can do it… Just.
Raiders by 2.
Will the Storm stare down another contender, or can the Raiders show they belong in the top four? Join us from 7:00pm AEST to find out!
Dean - Surry Hills
Guest
Nice call Alex!
Dean - Surry Hills
Guest
Cheers Rene - should have put a double on The Sharkies also being there. That combo would have paid a motza.
Steve from down south
Guest
As I a storm supporter I have been saying this for quite some time, he doesn't pass and seems to get pushed into touch often. Have a look at the games while he was away and when he returned.
Jono
Guest
After the Warriors game I thought the Raiders best hope was to be close to both the Sharks and the Storm, instead they defended them out of both games. Can hardly believe I'm writing that about the Raiders...continue like this and the Raiders definitely won't be just making up numbers in the finals.
Agent11
Guest
They will get close to 20k next week. Sunday afternoon vs the Eels.
Alex L
Roar Rookie
He didn't do it against the Broncos...
Tripehound
Guest
The Raiders have signed Jordan Turner from St Helens for next season, which seems to have slipped under the radar. Expect him to come good in the green jersey once he's into the swing of things in 2017.
bear54
Should receive some dispensation for committing a grapple against the club who invented it......
zim
Guest
Melbourne got way more lee-way. Smith held on in the tackle for no penalties when he should have been pinged at least twice. More forward passes than an NFL game from you blokes. Canberra were so dominant they beat Melbourne and the refs.
John
Guest
It wasn't really cold. It was actually quite a nice day. Saw lots of people in shorts
The Barry
Roar Guru
Hodgson will be on a grapple charge. It didn't look good, he tried to twist Bronwich's head off.
Crosscoder
Roar Guru
Yes agree with your MOM votes ,Whitehead a bit of a revelation.Even before the game against the Sharks,I was concerned about the Raiders.Their continued goof form .underlines my worries. Big crowd on a non fan friendly bitterly cold Monday night 7pm start ,with few Storm fans.Calling it now ,Canberra an NRL city LOL.
AJ Mithen
Expert
That's it from Canberra folks, I hope you enjoyed the ride. Head back to the homepage for all the live Olympic action you could possibly handle!
AJ Mithen
Expert
Cheers Rene!
The Barry
Roar Guru
Sure...but in April everyone was saying only Broncos and Cowboys could win the comp. Two weeks ago only the Sharks, Storm or Cowboys could win. There's clearly more chances than that.
Renegade
Roar Guru
Agree with all 3 choices AJ... Good call!
AJ Mithen
Expert
None better than Whitehead tonight Rene, but I battled to give the other 3 votes cos the Raiders gave a really even performance. Nearly slid Cronk in there too...
AJ Mithen
Expert
VOTES 3. Elliot Whitehead: Whitehead was locked away by the Raiders for an extra year today and you can see why. He is a rock in defence who the Raiders build around and was damaging with the ball in hand too, running for 135 metres, setting up a try and laying on two line breaks. Whitehead will be a focal point for the Raiders finals hopes. 2. Joey Leilua: Scored the first try after 40 seconds, but his second was a powerhouse effort that gave the Raiders some scoreboard space but more importantly, some belief. Made two linebreaks, was strong on the right side in defence but what stood out was his hard running - his 127 metres included 11 tackle breaks. 1. Jarrod Croker: His defence was immense through out the game and in particular his tackle to stop a flying Cam Munster in his tracks was a big moment in the game. He was also 5/5 with the boot.
Renegade
Roar Guru
Good one Dean!!
Cugel
Roar Rookie
We've scored plenty'o'tries this year, but watching them turn up at the tackle all night was prettier than any of them.