The Melbourne Storm are the only team to remain undefeated after five rounds of the NRL and they look almost unstoppable heading into a grand final rematch against the Sydney Roosters at AAMI Park on Friday night.
Craig Bellamy’s men have overcome Brisbane, Canberra, Penrith, Canterbury-Bankstown and North Queensland to start the 2019 season with five wins, and their top-of-the-table clash with Sydney will likely determine the premiership favourite for the foreseeable future.
Appearing on the Game of Codes podcast, Roar NRL Expert Tim Gore contended that last year’s premiers are indeed the team most likely to challenge the Storm this season.
But Editor Daniel Jeffrey came up with a left-of-field option for a side capable of shocking the Storm: Canberra.
Listen to the debate
The Raiders were arguably honourable in defeat when they went down to Melbourne 10-22 in the second week of 2019, but they won’t get a chance for revenge until they meet the side again at AAMI Park in Round 22.
The Raiders will take on the Broncos in Canberra on Sunday afternoon for the chance to make it five wins from six games.
Listen to the full episode below or subscribe to Game of Codes on Apple Podcasts, iHeartRadio or wherever else you get your podcasts.
Taree Raider
Guest
The Raiders can beat any team, however in the past 3 seasons they have not had a halfback who can control the game. They rarely get repeat sets or kick in any way tactically to build pressure. The Raiders with someone like Adam Reynolds would be a sure thing. I just can't understand why one of the better halfbacks to play the game, (Ricky Stuart) can't pick & develop a player in that position. The Raiders are brilliant in every other position they just need a really good number 7. The only thing Jack Wighton is lacking at 6 is that he couldn't kick a cow in there guts or if he did it would be out on the full. He can't straighten up his running game to allow more room for those outside, he can't help that he had a very low Rugby League IQ. He can defend, runs well with the ball (sideways) & throw a good pass. Ricky also loves Jack so we are stuck with Jack as long as he have to tolerate Ricky. So Jack, don't try to think, don't kick, run straight, tackle hard & don't try to strip the ball from someone who had been tackled.
Reesy
Roar Rookie
Challenging Storm isn’t the issue. The Dogs had a recipe for beating Storm and but got unlucky with Napa going off early, some of the decisions and that final missed conversion. The other sides Storm have beaten aren’t exactly going well (except Canberra). Roosters still the yardstick
AE47
Roar Rookie
Um what top 8 side of 2018 have they beaten so far ?
Caractacus
Guest
No, I don't think that Canberra can challenge the Roosters or the Storm but they could be the next best, the next five games will tell us much more about where they really are. I'm enjoying watching them this season and they should only get better as the new recruits settle into their new environment but so far so good.
mushi
Roar Guru
To be fair what the chooks have done well is rack up points when the opponent drops their head or has a horrid 10 minute spell. The storm aren't going to give those opportunities.
M
Guest
No....
watda
Guest
Is Daniel going to propose to Tim? If not, can I have some of that stuff he is smoking??
Andrew Miller
Editor
Thanks for the feedback, Don. Over the coming weeks, we'll be testing and learning about the best ways to share this content for the benefit of everyone on the site. Today is day dot, so appreciate your patience in this brief launch period!
Richard POWELL
Roar Rookie
There's never much in these contests. Roosters won the GF well but all prior games in the last few years have been a narrow margin one way or the other. I'm a Roosters supporter and I really fear the Storm in this one. They've been "off" a touch in their last two wins but they'll be "on" this Friday. I can't see Sportsbet's margin of 1.5 to the Roosters being anything but generous. Two great teams; two great coaches. Whichever team BELIEVES they are the best, are RUTHLESS in attack and defence, and can ice the cake with DISCIPLINE, will end up winning. I only hope the referees don't spoil it and there are no injuries.
Roy
Guest
And here's me thinking that the Roosters are the champs.
Duncan Smith
Roar Guru
Yep, it is annoying.
Don
Roar Rookie
Andrew, Are we to expect a few weeks of what are essentially click throughs for the new Roar podcast masquerading as articles like this for the next few weeks? You’ve got me 4 times today and it’s pretty annoying...
Joe
Roar Rookie
Challenge the Storm? I think you mean challenge the Roosters who are the dominant team in the NRL right now. If you watched the last two Storm games and compared them to the Roosters last two games there is no comparison.