Expert
Storm
29
Match Complete
Rabbitohs
28
C. Munster | 76 | |||
C. Smith | 75 | |||
C. Blair | 74 | |||
72 | A. Reynolds | |||
70 | C. Murray | |||
C. Blair | 65 | |||
61 | R. Jennings | |||
56 | A. Reynolds | |||
55 | G. Inglis | |||
C. Smith | 45 | |||
C. Smith | 39 | |||
S. Vunivalu | 39 | |||
36 | G. Inglis | |||
S. Vunivalu | 31 | |||
26 | A. Reynolds | |||
C. Smith | 24 | |||
C. Scott | 22 | |||
12 | A. Reynolds | |||
8 | D. Gagai |
5 | Tries | 5 | ||
3 | Conversions | 2 | ||
1 | Penalty Goals | 2 | ||
1 | Field Goals | 0 |
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The Melbourne Storm have the minor premiership and will be looking to take the next step in going back-to-back as they host the South Sydney Rabbitohs with a week off on the line in the first qualifying final. Join The Roar for live scores and coverage from 7:40pm (AEST).
Melbourne, attempting to win their second straight premiership, finished the season with a loss, but will be comfortable with where they stand entering September footy.
They went down to the Penrith Panthers last week, but had a heap of players out for various reasons.
Craig Bellamy’s side are almost back to full strength this weekend, with Billy Slater, Cameron Munster and Suliasi Vunivalu all back in the fold.
While the trio will add plenty of attacking flair to the side, they are still without Nelson Asofa-Solomona up front, and that may be the biggest point of discussion coming into the match.
The strategy to beating the Bunnies has been to control their forward pack this season, slowing down one of the competition’s most in-form players Damien Cook at hooker and their incredibly dangerous left edge.
Control the tempo and win the yardage game and most of the battle to stop South Sydney is won.
The Rabbitohs returned to form last week though and will be full of confidence as they arrive at the finals. After two losses on the trot against the Brisbane Broncos and Canberra Raiders raised questions about where the team was at physically, they responded in cracking fashion, with a 51-10 rout of the Tigers.
South Sydney’s left edge has been dangerous all year, and scoring enough points will be key for them here. The efforts of Cody Walker, Alex Johnston, John Sutton, Greg Inglis and winger Robert Jennings could determine whether they get a week off or not.
They have a horrendous record in the Victorian capital though. With seven games played at AAMI Park and seven at the old Olympic ground, they haven’t tasted success once against Melbourne, so to win a final there will be an uphill battle.
Prediction
This should be an excellent game of footy. South Sydney have set themselves up as the team to beat in Melbourne, but they have a horrendous record in the Victorian capital, and I reckon the experience of Slater and Smith gets the hosts across the line.
Storm by 4.
Be sure to join The Roar for live coverage of the first NRL qualifying final from 7:40pm (AEST) and don’t forget to add a comment in the section below.
Kick-off: 7:40pm (AEST)
Venue: AAMI Park, Melbourne
TV: Live, Fox League, Nine Network
Online: Live, Foxtel app, Foxtel now, 9Now
Betting: Storm $1.78, Rabbitohs $2.05
Overall record: Played 29, Storm 24, Rabbitohs 5
Last meeting: Round 21, Rabbitohs 30 defeat Storm 20 at ANZ Stadium, Homebush
Last five: Storm 4, Rabbitohs 1
Record at venue: Played 7, Storm 7, Rabbitohs 0
Record in finals: Played 2, Storm 1, Rabbitohs 1
Referees: Ashley Klein and Adam Gee
Melbourne Storm
1 Billy Slater, 2 Suliasi Vunivalu, 3 Cheyse Blair, 4 Curtis Scott, 5 Josh Addo-Carr, 6 Cameron Munster, 7 Jahrome Hughes, 8 Jesse Bromwich, 9 Cameron Smith (c), 10 Tim Glasby, 11 Felise Kaufusi, 12 Joe Stimson, 13 Dale Finucane
Interchange: 14 Brandon Smith, 15 Christian Welch, 16 Tui Kamakamica, 17 Kenneath Bromwich, 18 Ryan Hoffman, 19 Brodie Croft, 20 Sam Kasiano, 21 Sandor Earl
South Sydney Rabbitohs
1 Alex Johnston, 2 Campbell Graham, 3 Greg Inglis, 4 Dane Gagai, 5 Robert Jennings, 6 Cody Walker, 7 Adam Reynolds, 8 Tom Burgess, 9 Damien Cook, 10 George Burgess, 11 John Sutton, 12 Angus Crichton, 13 Sam Burgess (c)
Interchange: 14 Hymel Hunt, 15 Cameron Murray, 16 Jason Clark, 17 Dean Britt, 18 Braidon Burns, 19 Tyrell Fuimaono, 20 Tevita Tatola, 21 Matt McIlwrick
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