A major fixturing anomaly will see the Melbourne Storm and Sydney Roosters facing each other on neutral territory at Suncorp Stadium in Brisbane tomorrow night.
A recent spike in COVID-19 cases in Victoria has forced the Storm to evacuate their home state, setting up camp on the Sunshine Coast, where they expect to remain for at least a month.
This saw Melbourne’s home game against the Warriors last Friday night shifted to Kogarah Oval in Sydney’s southern suburbs, but it didn’t affect the players as they thrashed the men from across the ditch 50-6.
But now the Storm face their toughest test of the season – the red-hot Sydney Roosters, at what was due to be played at AAMI Park and would’ve been worthy of Magic Round.
The Roosters are coming off a hard-fought 26-12 win over the Dragons, in which they lost two key players – Victor Radley and Sam Verrills – to season-ending ACL injuries.
The surface of Bankwest Stadium – which has had to host so many matches since the season resumption – thus came under fire, and while it got the green light for the Eels versus Raiders match the following night, the turf has been relaid ahead of this weekend.
It is a sledgehammer blow to the Tricolours’ hopes of becoming the first team since the Parramatta Eels in 1981-83 to win three consecutive premierships. Nonetheless, they have been the most impressive team in the competition, not dropping a match since the season resumption on May 28.
Sam Verrills celebrates after scoring a try during the 2019 grand final (Photo by Ryan Pierse/Getty Images)
Trent Robinson’s side have outscored their opposition 179-40 in their past 400 minutes of football – conceding no more than two tries in each of their past five victories – and thrashing the Brisbane Broncos by 59-0 last month.
Subsequently, they possess the league’s best offence, defence and points differential (201, 69 and +132 respectively), and sit third on the ladder, behind the Parramatta Eels and Penrith Panthers.
It is a strong indication that, after losing their first two matches of the season prior to the shutdown, they are firming as the team that no one will want to face in October.
Melbourne also have a 5-2 record, with their losses being against the Raiders and Panthers, to sit in fourth with a points differential of +65 – the third-best in the league.
It will be the teams’ first meeting since last year’s preliminary final, which the Roosters won 14-6 to progress to the grand final against the Raiders, which they ultimately won.
The pair also met in the 2018 decider, with the Chooks famously winning 21-6 in a match halfback Cooper Cronk was only able to use one shoulder.
As far as crowds are concerned, the majority of the 10,000 or so fans allowed to attend the match are expected to be Storm members based in Brisbane.
And with both sides near the top of the ladder, they can expect to be treated to a blockbuster in neutral territory.
Fraser
Roar Rookie
Hope you ended up going to the game mate. What a cracker!
Big Daddy
Guest
The other anomaly with this ticketing, say you are Melbourne or Roosters season ticket holder living in Brisbane and want to go to the match. Not that there would be a lot but how are they catered for. I suppose the same would apply playing matches in Sydney for non Sydney teams. Do they void season tickets or is it ballot or first in best dressed.
Fraser
Roar Rookie
Keary should be able to run them around the park and take opportunities as always. Radley does a fantastic job putting on a big hit and acting as the linchpin in attack. Quality player, and easily the best character in the game.
William Dalton Davis
Roar Rookie
Overthinking it Joe. The storm don’t lose at Suncorp.
Nat
Roar Rookie
I may have been wrong on that, pointed out by Fraser below. I did put in 'three' as the number of tix I wanted but I was sure it said they were individual ticket prices. Makes sense, $225 is Origin prices, I cannot comprehend paying that for a club game.
Big Daddy
Guest
Nat, at prices like that no one will turn up. COVID or no COVID the public deserve to treated better than that.
Brendon
Roar Rookie
A lot of people writing the Storm off in this one, I don't think it will be as easy asthey think. The Storm have had some touch opponents and have adapted slow to the new 6 again rule, but seem to be clicking. The Roosters came out firing with the new 6 again rule against some really weak opponents, but suffered from burn out injuries as a result. I can see the Storm getting up in this game, but it really depends on how its officiated...
Albo
Roar Rookie
Fair call for impact. But Butcher is a quality middle forward who won't let the Chooks down and can play more minutes than normally allowed. I reckon the Storm lose more without Munster than the Chooks without Radley.
Joe
Roar Rookie
Munster has been their form player since the restart. Just looking at the individual matchups you'd go Roosters pretty much across the park. I do think the Storm bench might be a shade better but not enough to make up for the rest.
Nat
Roar Rookie
First sentence - yep. I haven't seen Butcher have the impact Radley has - yet. Granted their roles are different even paying the same position. Different skills and all that.
Fraser
Roar Rookie
$87 for 3 tickets behind the posts. So less than $30 per ticket. Please note the prices that appear are the total price for the group – not the price per ticket.
Joe
Roar Rookie
Yeah, thats fair comment...probably the prepare for the worst but hope for the best type.
Nat
Roar Rookie
Yeah, that's exactly what I searched. TBH, I didn't look behind the posts but still $87 for that?
Aiden
Guest
Usually against a team like this, with a player like Munster out, the Storm would play smart and slow the play down, get into the grind and try and frustrate their opponent, while backing their fast wingers to get them over the line in a tight finish. With the new six again rule, I think in this game especially they are really going to struggle without their playmaker.
Fraser
Roar Rookie
What are you talking about mate? You can get seats behind the posts for under $30. I have 2 tickets in 330 row 8 for $58 plus $5.90 handling fee. Note that the pricing is by the number of seats you choose. For instance, if you put in “THREE” as your password to enter the site, you’ll get 1 x ADMIT 3 ticket at $87 for behind the posts.
Albo
Roar Rookie
Flanagan is normally well "shot gunned" by Angus Crichton on the right edge ( as Cordner does for Keary on the left) . Nat Butcher will easily accommodate the normal "Radley touches" to things.
Albo
Roar Rookie
Munster is a massive loss to the Storm. He is their main creative spark. It will be interesting to see the approach Smith & Bellamy take to try to win this one. I am not sure the Storm can go toe to toe with the Chooks pack and hope to win, nor against the Chooks general backline either. I think it will need some individual brilliance from one of the Smiths, or Hughes or Papenhuyzen to get a win tomorrow night.
Nat
Roar Rookie
I can only assume it's Suncorp setting the prices that Storm, being their HG, are the beneficiaries from. I respect there is significant costs in opening Suncorp that 10k fans doesn't cover but that is OTT.
Duncan Smith
Roar Guru
You're too pessimistic.
Chris
Roar Pro
Storm/Chooks games are always belters (except for the 2018 GF)