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Storm
10
Match Complete
Raiders
12
| 78 |  | J. Croker | ||
| 76 |  | J. Bateman | ||
| C. Smith |  | 49 | ||
| C. Smith | | 46 | ||
| S. Vunivalu | | 42 | ||
| C. Smith | | 39 | ||
| 4 | | J. Croker | ||
| 3 | | B. Simonsson |
| 1 | Tries | 2 | ||
| 0 | Conversions | 2 | ||
| 3 | Penalty Goals | 0 | ||
| 0 | Field Goals | 0 |
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Canberra have again shocked minor premiers Melbourne to move to within one game of the NRL grand decider after a chaotic qualifying final at AAMI Park on Saturday night.
Final score
Melbourne Storm 10
Canberra Raiders 12
After stunning the ladder leaders earlier this year can the Canberra Raiders pull off another upset, this time with much more on the line against the Melbourne Storm? Join The Roar for live scores and coverage from 5:40pm (AEST).
The retirement of Billy Slater and loss of Cooper Cronk were supposed to see the Storm brought back to the pack. Instead, the production line keeps on churning out stars and they finished six points in front of the second-placed Roosters.
Many already believe that Craig Bellamy’s men have a spot booked in this year’s grand final and it’s hard to argue against them. They have been that dominant.
Speedy fullback Ryan Papenhuyzen has added another dimension to their attack, easily surpassing 200 running metres in each of his starting performances and hitting 300 last week against the Cowboys.
The 21-year old’s development means that Brodie Croft is the odd man out with Jahrome Hughes preferred in the number seven jersey alongside five-eighth Cameron Munster.
Having gone down 22-18 to the Raiders just under a month ago, the Storm will be wary of another onslaught from Ricky’s overachievers.
Few people rated the Raiders a chance of finishing in the top eight this year, let alone the top four. One look at their spine of Charnze Nicoll-Klokstad, Jack Wighton, Aidan Sezer and Josh Hodgson left too many question marks.
But all four have been brilliant this year while Canberra’s English sensations have given them much-needed grit.
They will be without Hudson Young this week after he failed to have his eye-gouging charge overturned. They do welcome back a host of rested stars though including Nicoll-Klokstad, Jordan Rapana, John Bateman and Iosia Soliola while Joey Leilua returns from suspension.
Heartbreak from an agonising 14-12 preliminary final defeat to Melbourne in 2016 will be pushing 10 Raiders on Saturday.
Prediction
Like they did just under a month ago, the Storm will get off to a fast start here but this time they won’t let up.
Storm by 20.
Join The Roar as we take you through this year’s finals series. Tune in from 5:40pm (AEST) for live scores and coverage of Saturday’s game and don’t forget to leave a comment below as the match unfolds.
Kick-off: 5:40pm (AEST)
Venue: AAMI Park, Melbourne
TV: Live, Fox League, Nine Network
Online: Live, Foxtel app, Foxtel now, 9Now
Betting: Storm $1.41, Raiders $2.85
Last meeting: Round 22, Storm 18 Raiders 22
Referees: Ashley Klein, Chris Sutton
Melbourne Storm
1. Ryan Papenhuyzen 2. Suliasi Vunivalu 3. Will Chambers 4. Justin Olam 5. Josh Addo-Carr 6. Cameron Munster 7. Jahrome Hughes 8. Jesse Bromwich 9. Cameron Smith 10. Nelson Asofa-Solomona 11. Felise Kaufusi 12. Kenneath Bromwich 13. Dale Finucane 14. Brandon Smith 15. Tui Kamikamica 16. Max King 17. Joe Stimson 18. Curtis Scott 19. Tino Faasuamaleaui 20. Brodie Croft 21. Tom Eisenhuth
Canberra Raiders
1. Charnze Nicoll-Klokstad 2. Nick Cotric 3. Jarrod Croker 4. Joseph Leilua 5. Jordan Rapana 6. Jack Wighton 7. Aidan Sezer 8. Josh Papalii 9. Josh Hodgson 10. Iosia Soliola 11. John Bateman 12. Elliott Whitehead 13. Joseph Tapine 14. Bailey Simonsson 15. Dunamis Lui 16. Corey Horsburgh 17. Ryan Sutton 18. Sam Williams 19. Emre Guler 20. Siliva Havili 21. Hudson Young
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