Melbourne Storm
20
Match Complete
Gold Coast Titans
14
| 58 |  | J. Fogarty | ||
| 56 |  | J. Wallace | ||
| G. Jennings | | 53 | ||
| 41 | | B. Kelly | ||
| T. Loiero | | 28 | ||
| N. Hynes | | 26 | ||
| B. Smith | | 25 | ||
| N. Hynes | | 19 | ||
| R. Smith | | 18 | ||
| 14 | | G. Marzhew |
| 4 | Tries | 3 | ||
| 2 | Conversions | 1 | ||
| 0 | Penalty Goals | 0 | ||
| 0 | Field Goals | 0 |
The Melbourne Storm return to their spiritual home on the Sunshine Coast to take on the struggling Gold Coast Titans. Join The Roar for live scores and commentary from 7:30pm (AEST).
The Storm just keep on keeping on, with just the one loss this season to the Panthers. The Titans had heavy expectations on them this season after a strong end to 2020, but so far have failed to deliver on the hype. They hit rock bottom last week with a 38-10 to the Sharks that now sees them sitting back in tenth place with half the season gone.
The Storm spent much of 2020 on the Sunshine Coast with the Covid outbreak in Victoria and will do the same this week. They haven’t lost a game from six attempts there. The Titans have lost their only game on the Sunshine Coast to the Storm last year, to the tune of 42-6. The Titans have won just six of 22 games against the Storm since their inception.
The Storm are missing Ryan Papenhuyzen, Harry Grant, Cameron Munster, Felise Kaufusi and Josh Addo-Carr, but only two of those stars lined up last week for their big win over the Storm. They welcome back Kenny Bromwich for this one. Nicho Hynes has really taken his opportunity this year, leading the league for try-assists with 16. The Titans have four players missing for State of Origin in AJ Brimson, David Fifita, Moeaki Fotuaika and Tino Fa’asuamaleaui. They welcome back Ash Taylor and Tyrone Peachey. They also hand Jayden Campbell, son of Preston, his debut at fullback.
Prediction
The Titans were woeful last week, and have been largely disappointing this season to date. They have lost some big guns, particularly from the pack, and it doesn’t get any together than taking on the Storm away from home. It may look like the Storm have some big outs, but in truth they have been doing it without some key names for the last few weeks now.
These teams are polar opposites. The Storm have a team where everyone knows their role and does their job. It doesn’t matter who Craig Bellamy puts in the purple jersey, they know the expectation on them and they live up to it. This season it has been Nicho Hynes and Jahrome Hughes aiming up in the absence of other missing spine members and they haven’t missed a beat.
The Titans are conceding 27 points per game and have no backbone, once they get broken down they lose their way badly and they’ve had some teams run up big scores this year. Ash Taylor isn’t going to make up the difference in defence but may generate some more opportunities in attack.
The Titans are impossible to tip away from home and taking on a red hot Storm. It could get really ugly with some big names missing.
Storm by 16.
Join The Roar for live scores and commentary from 7:30pm (AEST).
Game information
Kick-off: 7:35pm (AEST)
Venue: Sunshine Coast Stadium
TV: Fox League
Live stream: Kayo Sports, Foxtel Now, Foxtel Go
Odds: Storm $1.06, Titans $8.80 (odds via PlayUp)
Teams
Storm
1. Nicho Hynes, 2. George Jennings, 4. Justin Olam, 5. Dean Ieremia, 6. Cooper Johns, 7. Jahrome Hughes, 8. Jesse Bromwich, 9. Brandon Smith, 10. Nelson Asofa-Solomona, 11. Tom Eisenhuth, 12. Kenneath Bromwich, 13. Dale Finucane, 14. Aaron Booth, 15. Tui Kamikamica, 16. Chris Lewis, 17. Aaron Pene
Titans
1. Jayden Campbell, 2. Anthony Don, 3. Brian Kelly, 4. Patrick Herbert, 5. Phillip Sami, 6. Ashley Taylor, 7. Jamal Fogarty, 8. Jarrod Wallace, 9. Mitch Rein, 10. Jaimin Jolliffe, 11. Kevin Proctor, 12. Sam Stone, 13. Sam McIntyre, 14. Tyrone Peachey, 15. Erin Clark, 16. Jai Whitbread, 17. Joseph Vuna
PB Meister
Roar Rookie
I assumed the Storm would hammer the Titans... Wrong!!! They did however manage to do what the Panthers could not. And, narrowed the margin at the top of the ladder. The next Storm/Panthers clash should be a cracker.
Paul
Guest
The Storm should pay Kelly’s contract money for this week . His inability to pass to his left on many occasions, cost the Gold Coast the win. It was like he was playing for the Storm.
The Barry
Roar Guru
Great summary Jack Wallace’s performance was an interesting one. I remember seeing him against the Sharks last week and thinking he was cooked as a player and how would the Titans phase him out He obviously took the role as pack leader to heart and had a great game. How does Holbrook get that sort of performance out of him when he has Dave and Tino back. I also thought Stone, McIntyre and Joliffe had good games in the pack. Holbrook needs to get these guys stepping up when they’re at full strength and not just playing for Fifita and Fa'asuamaleaui‘s scraps
dogs
Guest
Think the winger, Imerea is from Melbourne.
Hard Yards
Roar Rookie
Thanks for the call Jack.
NorthNarra
Roar Rookie
I thought we and the ref gifted the Knights last week but that was fairy godmother stuff from the Titans to keep Craig's ego at its lofty height. Was barracking Titan even though their loss was our gain but that clown show pass on the hooter to cruel a potential golden point and the Brian Kelly go myself and butcher a certain try had me glad on the bell that the Titans screwed themselves.
Jack Aubrey
Roar Guru
Well after a diabolical performance against the Sharks last week, the Titans will lament the one that got away tonight. They were in the contest from the start, and had a chance to lock things up right to the final play, but as they did all night couldn't get it right down the left hand side of the field. The Storm made some uncharacteristic errors in the second half from their very first set, and it gave Craig Bellamy that look that could kill. Dale Finucane put down an attempted offload on their first set of the second half and the Titans didn't waste time in closing the gap, Brian Kelly latching onto a Ash Taylor grubber to score. In the 54th minute the Storm would hit back. Nicho Hynes throwing the last pass to dot down in the corner. His conversion would be waved away and it would remain a two score game. A few minutes later Jarrod Wallace would cross for the Titans, a real tough try as he got the ball down with defenders all around him to bring the Titans within six. And that is the way it would stay. Despite the Storm making plenty of errors coming out of trouble, the Titans forcing a number of drop-out and Reimis Smith going to the bin, the Titans couldn't level. Most of their opportunities came down the left with Brian Kelly bombing a certain try when he didn't pass to Phillip Sami. Right on the siren, Sami would find some space himself but would throw a bludger of a pass to Esan Masters that ended the game. Much was made of the Storm outs this week, but the Titans were missing a host of players tonight. Anthony Don, Mitch Rein, Tino Fa'asuamaleaui, David Fifita and AJ Brimson amongst others. Some of their young guns stood up, Jayden Campbell was solid on debut, as was Greg Marzhew. Jarrod Wallace really stood up in the pack, and the halves managed to build some pressure but couldn't execute the plays how they wanted. For the Storm it will be 2 points that they will be glad to have after a performance that was at time sloppy by their standards, but that they can be proud of for hanging in and defending their errors. Nicho Hynes, Jahrome Hughes and Brandon Smith were the difference and have been in the absence of other stars. But they will welcome back their Origin contingent and Ryan Papenhuyzen in the weeks to come. The last couple of spots in the eight will come right down to the wire, with no teams particularly staking their claim as it stands. The Titans are still in the frame but will need that effort every week if they want to be there. They host the Roosters and Sea Eagles in the next fortnight and that will be a gauge on where they are at. The Storm face the Warriors and Tigers in the next couple of weeks and will just look to keep on keeping on and pressuring the Panthers who are only one win ahead of them after last nights loss. Thanks for joining me tonight. I'll be back for the Knights vs Eels tomorrow afternoon at 4pm.
souvalis
Roar Rookie
True, yet embarrassingly incompetent was a wisp of knocking over the premiers.
Hard Yards
Roar Rookie
Now I reckon that the Storm will win the Comp this year. I'll assume this was the disastrous game that they had in the plumbing, but now it's out of the system. They were terrible tonight. Luckily for them so we're the Titans.
souvalis
Roar Rookie
That's it, those 3 go quiet as they did for most of the second half and the side barely cope.
Joe
Roar Rookie
Awesome scenes with Jayden Cambell and his family post game!
The Barry
Roar Guru
Finucane looks like he’s been in a MMA bout Games gone soft…
JGK
Roar Guru
Wait until a grand final is decided by that sort of behaviour.
Stormy
Roar Rookie
Dreadful game, Storm, one of the worst I've seen them play. A shame as it was an opportunity for several youngsters to shine, but, nobody took advantage of it. Titans beat themselves - we, certainly, didn't beat them.
The Barry
Roar Guru
You were all over me when I said something similar about Dylan Walker a few weeks back… :laughing: :laughing: :laughing:
Vivalasvegan
Roar Rookie
Mate, he is the Storm's biggest ex factor...
Phil
Roar Rookie
Melbourne was the better side in the end and deserved the win. GC had a real good crack at it but fell short despite being 13 on 12 for ten minutes. The weak link for the Storm is big Nelson. Rival coaches will see that niggling him will get results.
Brisguy51
Roar Rookie
He must have been talking to Anthony Milford.
The Barry
Roar Guru
Titans showed up early but I think the Storm thought they just needed to go through the motions after they put those points on before half time Titans played well in the second half. They got about five sets in a row at one stage with some neat little last play options Storm were un-Storm like. Poor discipline and basic errors Geez, the Titans bombed some chances down the left in that second half with really poor basic catch and pass options
Joe
Roar Rookie
Lucky win. Storm dished up an absolutely rubbish game and were lucky to win this one. Titans can hold their heads high after this one. They served up a team with names I have not heard of until tonight and created so many scoring chances but just couldn’t ice the last passes. Right from the start the Storm were extremely flat and looked like they were playing at half pace. Didn’t give the Titans the respect they deserved and were lucky to get away with a win. Brandon Smith was the stand out player. Hynes was ok but dropped too much ball when the game was on the line. Just lucky tonight. Forgot Jahrome…he was all right as well.