Melbourne Storm
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Manly-Warringah Sea Eagles
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Finals footy gets underway tonight when the Melbourne Storm take on the Manly Sea Eagles at Sunshine Coast Stadium. Join The Roar for live scores and commentary of the qualifying final from 7:50pm (AEST).
It’s the best time of year for a footy fan – finals time. Kicking us off in 2021, this one promises to be a classic, with the winner progressing through to a preliminary final. While the Storm don’t get the advantage of playing at AAMI Park, they get the next best thing; playing at their home away from home in Queensland.
With a top-two spot sewn up weeks ago, Melbourne have followed a resting policy recently, which has perhaps had an impact on their performances. They took out the minor premiership last weekend with an uninspiring 28-16 win over the Sharks, but saw their remarkably 19-game winning streak ended by the Eels the week prior.
The real bright light out of last week’s performance was the return to form of Ryan Papenhuyzen, who crossed for a hat-trick. If he can repeat the dose this weekend, Manly will be doing well to smother the Storm’s attack.
The cavalry are back for the Storm for finals action, headlined by Cameron Munster, who has been named but will need to pass a fitness test. George Jennings and Reimis Smith return to the backline, with Nicho Hynes getting a seat on the bench. Jesse Bromwich, Christian Welch, Felise Kaufusi and Kenny Bromwich all are back in the pack. The big absence for Melbourne is Josh Addo-Carr, who is sidelined with a hamstring injury.
It’s hard to believe that Manly have made the top four after losing their first five games. It’s also no coincidence that their resurgence started with the return of Tom Trbojevic, who is odds on to claim the Dally M medal.
Apart from individual brilliance, he also makes players around him look like world-beaters. This was on display again against the Cowboys last week, with Reuben Garrick and Jason Saab co-stars in the 46-18 win. If the Storm are to win, they need to minimise Tommy Turbo’s impact as much as they can.
Manly take on a much more settled appearance, though hooker Lachlan Croker is a big out after pulling up with back soreness during the week. Karl Lawton will start in his place, with Josh Aloiai also returning at prop and Toafofoa Sipley missing out on the 17.
Prediction
Like most finals, this is going to be won in the forwards.
If the Manly pack can gain the ascendency, Daly Cherry-Evans will be kicking for the corners, putting Jennings and Isaac Lumelume under plenty of pressure.
However, I think the Melbourne forwards have a slight edge, and their bench holds a clear advantage against the Sea Eagles’ interchange.
On that basis, I think that the Storm will move one step closer to another grand final.
Melbourne Storm by 4
Game information
Kick-off: 7:50pm (AEST)
Venue: Sunshine Coast Stadium
TV: Channel Nine, Fox League
Online: Kayo Sports, Foxtel Now, Foxtel GO, 9Now
Betting: Storm $1.37, Sea Eagles $3.10 (odds via PlayUp)
Teams
Melbourne Storm
1. Ryan Papenhuyzen 2. George Jennings 3. Reimis Smith 4. Justin Olam 5. Isaac Lumelume 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. Tui Kamikamica 16. Nelson Asofa-Solomona 17. Nicho Hynes | 19. Tom Eisenhuth 21. Marion Seve
Manly Sea Eagles
1. Tom Trbojevic 2. Jason Saab 3. Brad Parker 4. Morgan Harper 5. Reuben Garrick 6. Kieran Foran 7. Daly Cherry-Evans (c) 8. Josh Aloiai 15. Karl Lawton 10. Martin Taupau 11. Haumole Olakau’atu 12. Josh Schuster 13. Jake Trbojevic
Bench/Reserves: 14. Dylan Walker 16. Sean Keppie 17. Taniela Paseka, 20. Curtis Sironen | 18. Toafofoa Sipley 19. Moses Suli
Brendon
Roar Rookie
Mate I was merely answering his question as to what is whine vs fair criticism. I didn't say the ref favoured Manly or Melbourne. If he was favouring Melbourne, then Jurbo would have been sitting down for a professional foul. And as for the forward pass, 2nd shot from in front showed it was clearly forward, kayo showed the reply. Dunno about channel 9.
steveng
Roar Rookie
Brendon, what about that DCE forward pass that was a 100% try, what did you think? Grant Atkins is renowned for doing things like that, especially when this guys record is that he continually panelises us more than any other ref in the comp e.g. against the Panthers in two encounters this year, which was in R11 and R23 his tally is, Panthers 23 penalties to ours 10, mid you we are supposed to be the 2nd least panelised side in the comp and in other games we have never given that many penalties away! How ironic that Grant Atkins was the ref in both games? No whinge here but, refereeing patterns can't be justified by always excusing a refs stats as mere coincidences either!
Joel Erickson
Roar Guru
I just think he's a reserve-grade footballer, maybe fringe first-grader at best. There's a reason Canterbury didn't want him in their squad.
andyfnq
Roar Rookie
Think he's gone past Tevita based on tonight. Is it just poor skills or was he gushy of J Olam? Either way, he cruelled your mob, must have been hard to watch sorry
andyfnq
Roar Rookie
Titans for the upset, so get your fwd pack ready for Fifita and co. Good luck and see you in the GF :thumbup:
Joel Erickson
Roar Guru
He had a bad game, it happens to everyone. I seem to remember the best fullback in history throwing away a World Cup at one point, didn't change his standing in the game.
andyfnq
Roar Rookie
Not sure Smith saw it at all
andyfnq
Roar Rookie
Not tonight he wasn't
Rolando
Roar Rookie
Manly choked it seems. Not enough line speed nor conviction in defence as you need in finals footy. Somehow Des didn’t get them up for this match. They needed their big players to inset and assert themselves ( both Trbojevic brothers and DCE). Why they didn’t is a bit mysterious. Just not enough energy?
Stormy
Roar Rookie
Don't think we have any other option, Joe. Sorry, still think his defence is poor in many ways.
Brendon
Roar Rookie
Oh very fair point, I have no doubt that my eyes are painted purple. I was merely trying to suggest criticism is fair if there is any doubt the ref was wrong, but if it's blatant then it kind of loses its effect.
zonecadet
Roar Rookie
'Coasted' over he last 4 or 5 games, just doing enough to get through, juggling line-ups and covering injuries and/or suspensions as is usual for this team it seems. Then Finals time and Boom! Out comes the structure, the precision, the effort, the game-plan and then the reward. 40 points, again. Against a top 4 team all the while keeping Turbo in check such that his impact was ordinary. But come tomorrow night and the commentators will be hyping Penrith all over again. We've seen this movie before and liked how it ended.
Joel Erickson
Roar Guru
Point taken, but you're also saying that as a Melbourne fan. And I'm a Manly fan, so I also can't have an objective view of any game they play (for the record, I don't think the refereeing had anything to do with the result tonight). I tend to think if the neutrals are saying the refereeing was bad, it probably was. If it's just fans of the two teams commenting, the refereeing was probably fine.
Brendon
Roar Rookie
I think it's bad when there is no way it's correct. The call on thr Garrick knock on, warrents a criticism. Claiming Jurbo didn't deserve to be penalised would be a whinge.
Geoff from Bruce Stadium
Roar Rookie
That game could only be enjoyed by a one eyed Storm supporters Walter - it was a boring non contest - which is unfortunate as it was building up to be a great game before the match. But full credit to the Storm - they played very well and never gave Manly a sniff. Some of the Manly players were exposed while others put in their poorest performances for some time.
Ken
Guest
The whining by manly fans on here is embarrassing it's like they aren't men but little kids screaming about how everyone is against them, id laugh if it wasn't so pathetic, much like their team tonight, you lost u git smashed, it wasn't even close , the vest fullback on the field wasn't turbo , go score length of the field tries against the cowboys cus you're not doing that rubbish against us, pretenders with their bitter fans throwing tantrums lol
Joey
Guest
Wow what’s Freddy going to do now with his Tom-Tom pre game love story chapter 2?
Joe
Roar Rookie
JAC will be back for the prelim...would have played if they had to play next week.
He would have to, next week is do or die.
Joe
Roar Rookie
Craig just said Paps didn't do any training at all for 7 weeks! No wonder he was rusty as, probably lost all the fitness which makes him the player he is.