This Friday night, the reigning premiers, the Storm, face off against one of the favourites for this year’s title, the Rabbitohs, in what will surely serve as a prelude to September.
The decision by captain Cameron Smith to retire from all representative duties has paid off handsomely, Melbourne having won eight consecutive matches, including victories over top-four rivals the Roosters, whom they defeated by just 9-8 at the Adelaide Oval in Round 16, followed by a 52-30 win over the Dragons at home the round thereafter.
They couldn’t have been more impressive than they were in their 44-10 win over the Canberra Raiders last week, in which centre Curtis Scott scored two tries and Smith kicked eight out of nine conversions.
Over ten weeks have passed since their last loss, 24-4 against the Sea Eagles at home, and Smith was absent from that match due to suspension.
Cameron Smith (AAP Image/Craig Golding)
Meanwhile, the Rabbitohs have stumbled in recent weeks, firstly going down to the Wests Tigers and then having to come from behind to defeat the last-placed Parramatta Eels at ANZ Stadium last Saturday night.
First-year coach Anthony Seibold led the Bunnies to nine straight wins, including going undefeated during the dreaded State of Origin period, to shoot to the top of the ladder.
However, their underwhelming performances in the past fortnight have seen them drop to second, behind the Storm on percentage, with the absence of captain Greg Inglis due to a thumb injury not helping their cause.
A further hurdle is their dismal record against the Storm, whom they haven’t beaten since the 2013 qualifying final, and not in a regular season match since mid-2010.
The pair’s last meeting, in Round 25 last season, saw Melbourne record a landslide 64-6 win at AAMI Park, with winger Suliasi Vunivalu and Josh Addo-Carr each scoring three tries. It proved to be one of the final nails in the coffin for former coach Michael Maguire, who was dismissed at season’s end.
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But, despite having a largely unchanged playing roster, save for the arrival of Dane Gagai, the side will fancy their chances here against a side considered the benchmark of the competition.
Both the Storm and Souths have won 14 games and lost five this season, though Craig Bellamy’s side currently top the ladder by way of their superior points differential (+174 to +130). In attack, the Rabbitohs have scored one more point than their opponents (457 to 456).
However, even if the cardinal and myrtle win by exactly 22 points, the Storm would still remain on top of the ladder by way of having conceded fewer points (282 to 327).
Regardless of the maths, the winner will surely assume outright premiership favouritism with four rounds still to play after this weekend.
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