Here are five reasons why the Melbourne Storm will defeat the Sydney Roosters in Sunday’s grand final.
* BILLY SLATER IS PLAYING
The judiciary’s decision to find Slater not guilty of a shoulder charge and play in his farewell grand final is the headline of the week but it has big on-field ramifications. Slater is still playing somewhere near his best despite his 35 years of age. The Maroons and Kangaroos fullback scored two tries and set up the Storm’s other against Cronulla last Friday, and his coverage at the back will be crucial in response to Cooper Cronk’s kicking game is he plays for the Sydney Roosters.
* EXPERIENCE IS KEY
Only three Melbourne players will be turning out for their first grand final (Joe Stimson, Brodie Croft and Brandon Smith), compared to a maximum of seven for the Roosters if Cronk plays. Cameron Smith will play a record 36th finals match – surpassing Darren Lockyer’s total of 35 – while Billy Slater has the most finals tries in NRL history with 23.
* THEIR MIDDLE DEFENCE IS STRONG
Melbourne are the hardest team to make metres against in the NRL, with the team conceding just 1283m per match this year. That’s a worrying stat for the Roosters, who concede the 112m more per match and the 10th most in the league. The Storm have also conceded just 12 tries through their middle this year – the least in the NRL – and haven’t had a team score a try from the other side of the halfway line all season.
* THEIR RECORD OVER THE ROOSTERS
Melbourne have won five of their past six over the Tri-colours, with their only loss coming in golden point in Adelaide last year. The Storm were without Smith, Slater and Cronk that night – with coach Craig Bellamy opting to rest them after Game II of the 2017 State of Origin series. While Cronk is a “long shot” of being on the opposition team come Sunday night, both Smith and Slater are certain to run out for the Storm.
* CAMERON MUNSTER THE GAME-BREAKER
In a game almost certain to be a low-scoring affair between the two best defensive teams in the competition, Munster shapes as the most likely game-breaker. The 24-year-old has the most run metres of all five-eighths or halfbacks in the NRL, and also leads the Storm try-assists and linebreak assists. He’ll also be directing traffic at Cooper Cronk if he runs out for the Roosters, and has already warned he’ll be doing his best to make him tackle.
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