The Melbourne Storm are looking to take a big step towards securing back-to-back premierships when they take on the South Sydney Rabbitohs in the first qualifying final. The match kicks off at 7:50pm (AEST) on Friday, September 7 at AAMI Park.
After finishing the regular season in second place, the Storm have given themselves every chance of being the first side in the NRL to claim back-to-back premierships since the Brisbane Broncos of 1992-93.
They may have to do so without a string of key players, with Nelson Asofa-Solomona (ankle) and Will Chambers (suspension) to sit out Friday night’s match.
Meanwhile, Suliasi Vunivalu, Cameron Munster and Brodie Croft are all under injury clouds but should be available for selection.
The Storm face off with a Rabbitohs side brimming with confidence after demolishing the Tigers 51-10 last week.
After losing three-straight games, it was the perfect way for Anthony Seibold’s men to bounce back as they head into their first finals series since 2015.
Date: Friday, September 7
Kick-off: 7:40pm (AEST)
Venue: AAMI Park, Melbourne
TV: Live, Fox League and Nine Network
Online: Live, Foxtel App, Foxtel Now, 9Now, NRL Digital Pass
Betting: Storm $1.78, Rabbitohs $2.05
Overall record: Played 29, Storm 24, Rabbitohs 5
Last meeting: Round 21, Rabbitohs 30 defeat Storm 20 at ANZ Stadium, Homebush
Last five: Storm 4, Rabbitohs 1
Record at venue: Played 7, Storm 7, Rabbitohs 0
Record in finals: Played 2, Storm 1, Rabbitohs 1
Referees: Ashley Klein and Adam Gee
Melbourne Storm
1 Billy Slater, 2 Suliasi Vunivalu, 3 Cheyse Blair, 4 Curtis Scott, 5 Josh Addo-Carr, 6 Cameron Munster, 7 Jahrome Hughes, 8 Jesse Bromwich, 9 Cameron Smith (c), 10 Tim Glasby, 11 Felise Kaufusi, 12 Joe Stimson, 13 Dale Finucane
Interchange: 14 Brandon Smith, 15 Christian Welch, 16 Tui Kamakamica, 17 Kenneath Bromwich, 18 Ryan Hoffman, 19 Brodie Croft, 20 Sam Kasiano, 21 Sandor Earl
South Sydney Rabbitohs
1 Alex Johnston, 2 Campbell Graham, 3 Greg Inglis, 4 Dane Gagai, 5 Robert Jennings, 6 Cody Walker, 7 Adam Reynolds, 8 Tom Burgess, 9 Damien Cook, 10 George Burgess, 11 John Sutton, 12 Angus Crichton, 13 Sam Burgess (c)
Interchange: 14 Hymel Hunt, 15 Cameron Murray, 16 Jason Clark, 17 Dean Britt, 18 Braidon Burns, 19 Tyrell Fuimaono, 20 Tevita Tatola, 21 Matt McIlwrick
You can watch this match on both Fox League and the Nine Network, with both networks carrying coverage of every finals match.
If you are looking to stream the action, you can use either Foxtel now, the Foxtel app, 9Now or the NRL digital pass.
Otherwise, here at The Roar will will have live scores and a blog of each match as we come closer to crowning the 2018 premiers.
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