Melbourne Storm
26
Match Complete
Canberra Raiders
16
| R. Papenhuyzen |  | 79 | ||
| R. Papenhuyzen | | 77 | ||
| R. Papenhuyzen | | 58 | ||
| 55 |  | S. Williams | ||
| 53 |  | B. Simonsson | ||
| 48 | | S. Williams | ||
| 46 | | B. Simonsson | ||
| N. Hynes | | 31 | ||
| N. Hynes | | 22 | ||
| C. Lewis | | 20 | ||
| N. Hynes | | 15 | ||
| D. Ieremia | | 14 | ||
| N. Hynes | | 11 | ||
| B. Smith | | 9 | ||
| 3 | | B. Simonsson |
| 3 | Tries | 3 | ||
| 3 | Conversions | 2 | ||
| 4 | Penalty Goals | 0 | ||
| 0 | Field Goals | 0 |
Round 22 gets underway tonight when the Melbourne Storm take on the Canberra Raiders at Sunshine Coast Stadium. Join The Roar for live scores and commentary from 7:50pm (AEST).
The race for the bottom two spots in the 8 has become a traffic jam, and the Canberra Raiders are just holding on. A win here would give them some much-needed breathing space, but that’s easier said than done. Beating Melbourne at their home away from home is almost impossible.
The Storm got a fright against the Sea Eagles last round, but were still able to stamp their class when it mattered. Make no mistake, Manly will be there deep into the upcoming finals series, so the win over another potential top-four team was solid enough.
Craig Bellamy has done a great job with this side again, morphing them into one of the best attacking line-ups in the NRL. Of course, that job becomes a bit easier when you have Cameron Munster, Jahrome Hughes, Nicho Hynes and Harry Grant in your line-up.
In bad news for the Raiders, the Storm are set to get even stronger this round. Felise Kaufusi and Nelson Asofa-Solomona are both named to return, with Tom Eisenhuth and Tepai Moeroa both missing out on the 17. Ryan Papenhuyzen is again named on the bench and is likely to overcome his knee knock last weekend.
The Canberra Raiders have shown signs of improvement recently, winning three on the trot, with their best being a win over the Eels a fortnight ago. They do face a jump in class here though.
Their last start win over the Dragons was gritty rather than pretty to watch. The forwards got on top of their Dragon counterparts whilst Sam Williams had one of his better games in the number 7 jersey. They will need more from Jack Wighton and Josh Hodgson tonight.
Bailey Simonsson returns to the side after five weeks on the sidelines, while Semi Valemei drops out. Iosia Soliola comes back via the interchange, with Elijah Anderson missing out on the squad.
Prediction
The Raiders will no doubt be desperate tonight but desperation won’t be enough.
Melbourne are simply playing at a different level to most teams and have too many weapons for Canberra.
I expect it to be tight early before the Storm pull away.
Melbourne Storm by 20.
Game information
Kick-off: 7:50pm (AEST)
Venue: Sunshine Coast Stadium
TV: Channel Nine, Fox League
Online: Kayo Sports, Foxtel Now, Foxtel GO
Betting: Storm $1.07, Raiders $9 (odds via PlayUp)
Teams
Melbourne Storm
1. Nicholas Hynes 2. Dean Ieremia 3. Reimis Smith 4. Justin Olam 5. Josh Addo-Carr 6. Cameron Munster 7. Jahrome Hughes 8. Jesse Bromwich (c) 9. Brandon Smith 10. Christian Welch 11. Felise Kaufusi 12. Kenneath Bromwich 13. Dale Finucane (c)
Bench/Reserves 14. Harry Grant 15. Chris Lewis 16. Nelson Asofa-Solomona 17. Ryan Papenhuyzen | 19. Tepai Moeroa 20. Isaac Lumelume
Canberra Raiders
1. Jordan Rapana 2. Bailey Simonsson 3. Jarrod Croker (c) 4. Matthew Timoko 5. Harley Smith-Shields 6. Jack Wighton 7. Sam Williams 8. Josh Papalii 9. Josh Hodgson 10. Joseph Tapine 11. Hudson Young 12. Elliott Whitehead 13. Ryan Sutton
Bench/Reserves: 14. Tom Starling 15. Emre Guler 16. Corey Harawira-Naera 17. Iosia Soliola | 18. Sebastian Kris, 20. Dunamis Lui
Joey
Guest
Never heard you so agreeable. so why not.
Opposed Session
Roar Rookie
You can, but only if you get to predict that your making me one first! That should suit you just fine.
Joey
Guest
Cleary is back at #7 tonight. If they get combos going like earlier in the season. at least the talk will stop about him, and be about someone else for a change.
Joey
Guest
General consensus with all available Storm players taking the field was that it would be a stroll in the park, not the torrid affair we saw last night. Sounds like you’d argue over a sh-t sandwich. Any chance I can make you one?
Rob
Guest
You can use the ref or goal post in a similar way it’s the defenders responsibility to get around an attacker once he’s chasing (facing his own goal line). With the stupidity of this call Papalii should have accused Welsh for tackling him late and without the ball? The Raiders players were playing football and Welsh was playing the rule book in desperation.
Joe
Roar Rookie
I hope you are right because the Storm really need old Paps back for the finals. I thought Nicho did pretty well playing in the middle when Paps came on. Used his size well. Might be the plan when he plays off the bench.
Brendon
Roar Rookie
I think the hit on Pap was worse though, the initial contact of this seemed to be lower, and Hughes wasn't knocked out at least. Pap was out for a good few minutes. Fingers crossed its only a few weeks, maybe rest him until the finals?
Brendon
Roar Rookie
I disagree Joe, we saw some glimpses of the Paps of old last night, especially that dive at around 60 mins. I'd say keep him going as is, and see how we go week 1.
Opposed Session
Roar Rookie
Yeah shaking my head how they miss things even when it’s being challenged.
Greg
Roar Pro
No you still do make the ball dead in that fashion. It has been 15 years since you can make the ball dead off the kicker like how you can with the sideline or off kick offs
Opposed Session
Roar Rookie
Kudos for predicting a game of rugby league is brutal. Even after a 17 game winning streak the Storm were only 2 points ahead of 3rd place (prior to last night) with 4 games to play. Foolish to try and maintain your position on the ladder in a tightly run race……. Sounds like a harsh judgement.
DP Schaefer
Roar Rookie
Dragoons exposed them too, but like the Cows, that results was never going to be different and they aren't in the hunt. Thus why bring them up??
Opposed Session
Roar Rookie
It’s a strange one as it’s not your cookie cutter obstruction cause it’s a shift play where some of the defence is backing off and it looks messy with bodies everywhere. Papalii runs past Welch but the fact is welch never retreats to get himself in between Papalii and his own tryline. Ironically if smith- shields runs to the other side of Papalii he would of then technically ran around his own player. Which as we know is not allowed.
Easy target
Roar Rookie
Advantage only applies if the opposition make a mistake aswell. It is always zero tackle after a knock on if you don't go to a scrum or handover
Brendon
Roar Rookie
Papalii passed then stopped ok the line, the raiders winger then proceeded to run in a fashion that kept Papalii between him and Welsh. I honestly have no clue why that wouldn't be an obstruction as he obstructed him from making the tackle.
Joey
Guest
Bellamy says he can’t remember the game. Sounds like more than one week. There’s only 7 weeks of comp left, and Papenhuyzen took 10.
Joey
Guest
Only where you receive no advantage. He ran near half the field.
Joey
Guest
And yet it’s been 15 year since you could make the ball dead by having part of your body over the line while touching the ball. Did the NRL suddenly forget they outlawed that in the ingoal area.
Geoff from Bruce Stadium
Roar Rookie
What about Jarrod Croker - 2 runs in 35 minutes for 11 metres! And countless missed tackles. Seriously what is he bringing to the team? Talk about Ricky playing favourites. And I'm afraid Sia got exposed a couple of times tonight as well. For the team to progress both shouldn't be in the 17. Surely Ricky has to make the call on Jarrod soon. But on the plus side Timoko, HSS, Bailey Simmonson and Jordy really had a crack among the backs - and Jack has rediscovered that left side shift with three very good try assists. It was good to see the Raiders fight back after the Storm got a big early lead. Plenty of other team would have crumbled and lost by plenty.
Joey
Guest
The only time a Storm player can stop in front of a defender, and ref call it play on, is if his name is Kikau.