The Melbourne Storm and the Parramatta Eels meet at AAMI Park in the NRL’s first qualifying final. Join The Roar for live scores and commentary from 4:10pm (AEST).
A week off awaits the winner of this match and a crucial elimination final greets the loser.
The clinical Storm have little to fear, having dispatched both Canberra and the Rabbitohs with a flick of the wrist in the last two weeks. Their defence has been as impressive as ever, while attacking opportunities have been created with ease and executed with aplomb.
With a healthy squad and the big names all in, there are no excuses for the out-and-out title favourites.
But the number of people whispering about the Eels’ chances of knocking off the Storm has increased through the week. There’s a school of thought that the blue and gold might be the one team with the gameplan and firepower to ruffle Mexicans’ feathers.
Whether this is desperate hope from the Parramatta faithful or a well-constructed argument based on clear, tactical and personnel advantages is not clear.
Personally I cannot see it. Craig Bellamy rarely presents a flat team and with so much at stake, his charges will be frothing at the mouth when they take the field.
Home-ground advantage makes the challenge that little more difficult for Parramatta. The visitors need big games from key players – the absence of Bevan French is a significant loss.
The key is to stay with Melbourne early. The best front-runners in the history of modern football don’t throw away leads, and Cameron Smith and Cooper Cronk possess clinical game management skills.
Prediction
Parramatta will look in the game at some point. The weapons in their squad can scare the Storm, who will rely on defensive structures to combat the Eels’ potency.
Unfortunately for the Sydneysiders, the threat will be fleeting, and the home team will waltz to a comfortable victory.
Storm 28-12 Parramatta
Catch all the action on The Roar from 4:10pm (AEST).
Ben Lewis
Roar Pro
So long as we hold our heads high and aim up for next Saturday I see no reason we can't knock off the Sharks/Cowboys. The prospect of Roosters game worries me greatly but next weekend looms first. Don't get disheartened boys; a few minor bits of luck go your way and you win today. Tweak your kicking, fix your discipline, and you'll have a good shot at progressing to the preliminaries.
The Barry
Roar Guru
Imaginary friends don't care what you do with their names...just ask your imaginary buddy JC. "In vein"...you really are an oxygen thief aren't you...?
BigJ
Roar Guru
Dont use the lords name in vein.!!!! Barry. Slow play the balls are nothing new but that tonight by the Storm was a whole new level of BS.
Wild Eagle
Guest
Yes it was forward but also have a look at the replay here of the "Incredible Try" from the Storm. Surely if it went to the bunker they rule that the ball passes from Cronk to Glasby in a forward direction and no try. I can't see it any other way
Dogs Boddy
Roar Rookie
Was that first Storm try a forward pass?? I've only just seen the highlights as I missed the first 15 mins but it looked pretty suspect to me. Good win by the Storm but I think the Eels lost it through ill discipline more than the Storm won it convincingly. Really good to see them throw the ball around a bit as well. A really entertaining game. Hopefully we can get through the Cowboys this week so we can put the Eels out of their misery next weekend ;)
Joe
Roar Rookie
Agree..in fact if they had done quick play of the ball I'd be swearing at my TV and calling them idiots. Every team would do the same...in fact Vunivalu and Kenny Edwards are the two most "cramp" prone players in the last 5 mins when ahead on the scoreboard.
Bill Blazejowski
Roar Rookie
Still wondering why Eels didn't get penalty for having a chaser taken out by Kaufusi at the end of the first half yet the Storm get one in the second when Slater goes down?
R N
Roar Rookie
Entertaining game, really enjoyed it! Storm are like Tom Cruise for me though... most of of his movies are pretty good, he is consistent in output and nothing to really bitch about, however all the little things that I dislike add up and in sum the whole package leaves me cold!
The Barry
Roar Guru
BJC - I can save you the wait. Bellamy will bag the refs and then get up and leave. Arthur will then bag the refs and get up and leave.
Cowboy Drew
Guest
@Concerned Observer.... You couldn't be serious about the Refs being good today?? .. That was an absolute disgrace. Yet again Melb get penalty after penalty no matter who they play against. Even just look at the final 2 minutes of todays game.. Parra have the ball, 5th tackle and under 10 from the Melb line... Not a single Melb player was onside and NOT one single ref picks this up.. Blatant money in the pocket Refereeing. At the least should have been penalty in front to send the game into extra time.. How this isn't being looked into for match fixing amazes me.
The Barry
Roar Guru
Maybe but he had to reach right behind him - turning almost 180 degrees - to catch the ball. I thought it was ok but not particularly bothered by the forward call. 50/50.
The Barry
Roar Guru
Jee-Zeus fk me chriist... Are we blaming the Storm for slow play the balls in the last minute of the game when ahead? That happened in the first game of footy I ever saw and every game since. Most of those were played before the storm were even a thing...
The Barry
Roar Guru
Great game - well played by both teams - it will be a shame if the post game narrative is about the refs. There were some 50/50 calls but I was comfortable with every single one of them.
Bill Blazejowski
Roar Rookie
Storm almost impossible to beat at AAMI. Always get the rub with calls. Reckon Eels should have been up by eighteen at halftime. Discipline and frustration getting the better of Eels in the second half. A couple of kicks that went dead in goal hurt.
BigJ
Roar Guru
Agreed stupid play by parra but that does not excuse chambers lying there for another 30 seconds
Andrew
Guest
Only that parramatta also had a try disallowed from a knock on which was 50-50. Melbourne had the rub of the green throughout the game. Just how i saw it.
Adam
Roar Guru
If the guy stopped trying to pull him up someone might be inclined to call a oenalty against him
Geoff from Bruce Stadium
Guest
Yeah that slowing of the play the ball by Chambers in the last couple of minutes was pathetic. But what do you expect from the Storm who just did enough to win. The Eels were brave but need to learn from some dumb plays in the second half. You can't give the Storm anything.
BigJ
Roar Guru
I tell you another thing, I dont lkke those take a week to play the ball tactics of the Storm's in the last couple of minutes. That is cowardly play and i dont like it. Get up play the ball and never stop placing pressure to the opposition, thats how you win , not running down the clock crap tactics. I expect better from the Storm
Stuart Thomas
Expert
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