St George Illawarra Dragons vs Melbourne Storm: NRL live scores, blog

Roar Guru

6th May, 2018

4437 Reads

Kick-off: 2pm (AEST)
Venue: Jubilee Oval
TV: Fox League
Betting: Dragons $1.85, Storm $2.00
Overall meetings: Played 34; Storm 24 wins, Dragons 9 wins, 1 draw
Last Meeting: Storm won 34-22 at WIN Stadium – Round 9, 2017
Referees: Matt Cecchin, Chris Butler
Sideline Officials: Nick Beashel, Rickey McFarlane
Video Referees: Ashley Klein, Luke Patten

Dragons
1 Matthew Dufty, 2 Nene Macdonald, 3 Euan Aitken, 4 Tim Lafai, 5 Jason Nightingale, 6 Gareth Widdop (c), 7 Ben Hunt, 8 James Graham, 9 Cameron McInnes, 10 Paul Vaughan, 11 Tyson Frizell, 12 Tariq Sims, 13 Jack De Belin
Interchange: 14 Jeremy Latimore, 15 Kurt Mann, 16 Leeson Ah Mau, 17 Reece Robson
Reserves: 18 Jacob Host, 19 Zachary Lomax, 20 Mitchell Allgood, 21 Hame Sele

Storm
1 Billy Slater, 2 Suliasi Vunivalu, 3 Will Chambers, 4 Curtis Scott, 5 Josh Addo-Carr, 6 Cameron Munster, 7 Ryley Jacks, 8 Christian Welch, 9 Cameron Smith (c), 10 Nelson Asofa-Solomona, 11 Felise Kaufusi, 12 Ryan Hoffman, 13 Dale Finucane
Interchange: 14 Brandon Smith, 15 Kenny Bromwich, 16 Joe Stimson, 17 Sam Kasiano
Reserves: 18 Young Tonumaipea, 19 Patrick Kaufusi, 20 Tui Kamikamica, 21 Brodie Croft

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The St George Illawarra Dragons host the Warriors this weekend. (AAP Image/Dan Himbrechts)

Penrith Punter

Roar Guru

6th May, 2018

288

4437 Reads

Match result:

St George Illawarra have confirmed their status as NRL premiership favourites after a Euan Aitken double fired them to a 34-14 win over Melbourne.

» Click here to read the full match report

Final score
St George Illawarra Dragons 34
Melbourne Storm 14

Match preview:

Game of the year looms as table-topping St George Illawarra Dragons brace for defending premiers, the Melbourne Storm. Join The Roar for live scores and a blog of the match from 2pm (AEST).

After falling to the Warriors 20-12 a fortnight ago, Dragons fans were confronted by an all-too-familiar 6-1 winning record. Paul McGregor’s men had the same form line heading into their Round 8 last season and we all know what happened from there.

However, the Red V emphatically silenced any doubters when they romped to a 24-8 win over the Roosters in last Wednesday’s annual Anzac Day clash. A win this week against the Storm would ensure admiration from the few critics that may remain.

This Sunday’s game will be the Dragons’ biggest test of the year, as they prepare to take on a Melbourne outfit coming off three-straight victories.

Craig Bellamy’s side disposed of the Knights and Broncos by 26 and 14 points respectively, but it was last week’s 50-10 drubbing of the Warriors that would have St George Illawarra fans concerned.

The Storm seemed to have rediscovered their confidence in attack after averaging just 17.6 points in their opening five games. Conversely, their three-game winning streak has seen them score 41.3 points per game. This week they receive an added boost with Dale Finucane and Suliasi Vunivalu set to return from injury.

Prediction
I really cannot split the two sides. In fact, a draw after Golden Point would not surprise. However, with not much confidence, I will take the Storm off the back of their recent form. Melbourne by 6.

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