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The Melbourne Storm and St George Illawarra Dragons clash in a top-four battle with big consequences. Join The Roar from 7:50pm (AEST) for live scores and coverage.
The Storm are coming off a 9-8 win over the Roosters in Adelaide, where Cameron Smith slotted the match-winning field goal in the 78th minute.
However, they are now without six players due to State of Origin – Maroons players Billy Slater, Will Chambers, Cameron Munster, Felise Kaufusi and Tim Glasby, alongside New South Wales Blues flyer Josh Addo-Carr.
As a result, Young Tonumaipea has been named at fullback, making his final appearance at AAMI Park. Meanwhile, Cheyse Blair and Justin Olam come into the outside backs, while Ryley Jacks returns at five-eighth, Christian Welch starts at prop, and Brodie Croft returns on the bench.
The Dragons will need to perform a lot better than last week, after narrowly escaping with a 20-18 win against the last-placed Eels, following some Matt Dufty heroics at the death.
However, their engine room has been depleted through Origin, with Tyson Frizell, Jack De Belin, Paul Vaughan and Tariq Sims all missing.
It places pressure on English firebrand James Graham and impact player Leeson Ah Mau, who will start the game at prop. Jacob Host, Luciano Leilua and Blake Lawrie will start in the back row, sharing a total of 43 first grade games between them.
Although they still have the nous of Englishman Gareth Widdop, easily Paul McGregor’s biggest loss comes at halfback, with Ben Hunt replaced by Darren Nicholls. Nicholls who has excelled in the lower grades over the years joined the Dragons at the beginning of the year after skippering the Penrith Panthers to NRL State Championship success.
These two sides have played 35 times, with Melbourne winning 24 games – however, last time they met, in Round 9, the Dragons won 34-14.
Prediction
Cameron Smith will lead the Storm to victory to upset the order of the top four.
Storm by 8.
Join The Roar from 7:50pm (AEST) for updates and debate in our live blog.
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