Round 16 of the NRL season continues tonight with a battle of the heavyweights, as the Sydney Roosters take on the Melbourne Storm at the Adelaide Oval. Join The Roar for live scores and a blog of the match, starting from 7:55pm AEST.
The winner of this clash could well in the top four by the end of this round, so there is plenty to play for this Friday night.
In recent rounds, we got the sense that the Roosters were finding their way and they then confirmed this with a 32-6 victory over the front-running Panthers.
It doesn’t get any easier for the Roosters this weekend, with Cooper Cronk playing his old club for the first time.
The representative round is likely to result in some late changes for both teams. As is stands though, the Roosters lose Boyd Cordner who is recovering from the concussion sustained late in State of Origin game 2.
Nat Butcher will come into the second row, with Mitch Aubusson replacing the injured Joey Manu. Waerea-Hargreaves has been named in the extended squad but is unlikely to take his place in the 17 after finally arriving back from Denver.
It seems unusual for last year’s premiership winner to be flying under the radar but that is exactly what the Melbourne Storm have been doing.
Now that State of Origin is almost over for another year, you’d expect the Storm to start stringing the wins together and I think that may start tonight.
Billy Slater has been named to start at fullback but will be in some doubt due to his dodgy hamstring. Jahrome Hughes has been named on the bench but will take Slater’s role at fullback if he is a late withdrawal.
Ryan Hoffman will start in the backrow. All the Storm’s other representative players are expected to start.
Prediction
The Storm have won 4 of the 5 last clashes, with the Roosters only win a 1 point nail-biter in a State of Origin impacted round last year.
It’s a toss of the coin, but I think the loss of Cordner and Waerea-Hargreaves will be too much for the Roosters to overcome.
Storm by 6
CTSTORM
Guest
You probably watch a different game from the one I watch and I watch 3 time on fox.
Joe
Roar Rookie
Bellamy summed up the game perfectly in the presser....both teams trying their best to lose it and Roosters did a slightly better job of it.
Clint
Guest
Cheers for the call David. It seemed like both teams showed up with a very similar game plan. Very defense oriented from both sides
Tyson Wright
Roar Rookie
Great payback for the Storm who last year were beaten by one by the Roosters in the same game last year. But I find that the Melbourne fans where a little ripped off as this game could of been a huge home coming for Cooper Cronk. It would of been close to a sellout at AAMI Park and probably a better game than what was on display tonight. The NRL really has missed some great opportunities for great games regarding the draw this year
Wayne
Guest
What
Geoff from Bruce Stadium
Roar Rookie
Yep - thank God for Cameron Smith. Munster looked no chance of getting a field goal. And those efforts from Hoffman were amazing. Blake Ferguson put in a great performance for the Chooks as well but safe to say the rest of the match won't be featuring in any highlights reel. Guess the NRL will be happy with a crowd of 17,000 but there is just no comparison with the crowd or atmosphere when AFL matches are played at Adelaide Oval.
Joe
Roar Rookie
It wasn't a great match for sure but considering these guys did rep duty not just all over the country but in the US and then travel up to Adelaide with both teams missing a few key players and it was always going to be scrappy. Pretty good effort from Lui and NAS to turn up and play after playing a test in Denver and flying all the way back mid-week and then to Adelaide. Although it wasn't pretty the two points in Origin period is like gold, especially for these two teams with heavy representation so the Storm will be more than happy with the win.
Zedman
Roar Rookie
Lattrell with rocks and diamonds had a bit to do with the result.
David Holden
Roar Guru
FT The Storm have prevailed 9-8 in a thriller, although it must be said that both sides will likely be disappointed with that performance. There were way too many errors from both sides but the Storm will happily take the 2 points. Mitchell missed a very gettable penalty shot with not much time on the clock so he will be especially disappointed with the result. The Storm take on the Dragons next Thursday night at AAMI Park whilst the Roosters will enjoy the bye. What did you think of the match, Roarers?
R N
Roar Rookie
Granville must be yelling at his screen... why did that cost my team the game! (I am referring to the markers being blatantly off side on the charge down!)
SteveSyd
Guest
Storm worst game of the year. Most other teams would have beaten them on that. Roosters to finish 7th or 8th
Aw
Guest
Roosters can just forget about 2018. They are going nowhere. The entire team is mentally weak. Are completely inept. Belong in the bottom eight and disappoint time after time.absolute joke.
Ben Lewis
Roar Pro
The desperately needed crackdown finally arrives at the start of the year, and the Storm struggle. It’s been progressively relaxed over the past few weeks and they’re in the top 4. The rules of the game are put in place for a reason. If there needs to be 50 penalties blown in one game, then so be it. Better that than teams finding success through exploiting the administration’s lack of desire to enforce the rules.
Fish
Guest
All Melbourne chasers offside by miles on Cronks field goal attempt. Referee just meters away. Mmmm......
Joe
Roar Rookie
Definitely wasn't a great advertisement for the game in Adelaide.
Brendon
Guest
What??? That was a fantastic finish to a great game! Freaking awesome
Joe
Roar Rookie
Bludger of a game but what a finish!! Hoffman the hero. Smith the man!
David Holden
Roar Guru
80' Roosters do short kick off and the Roosters regather. They work it towards posts before a Cronk drop kick is charged down. It's fulltime here and the Storm have just got home Roosters 8 Storm 9
Aw
Guest
As a supporter of the roosters, this game has just been embarrassing.
David Holden
Roar Guru
79' Storm make good yards down the middle. Cameron Smith demands the ball from dummy half and he has kicked a field goal from more than 30m out Roosters 8 Storm 9