South Sydney Rabbitohs
10
Match Complete
Melbourne Storm
18
| C. Graham |  | 59 | ||
| 44 |  | N. Meaney | ||
| 43 | | C. Munster | ||
| 22 | | N. Meaney | ||
| 21 | | W. Warbrick | ||
| L. Mitchell | | 11 | ||
| C. Walker | | 10 | ||
| 8 | | N. Meaney | ||
| 6 | | J. King |
| 2 | Tries | 3 | ||
| 1 | Conversions | 3 | ||
| 0 | Penalty Goals | 0 | ||
| 0 | Field Goals | 0 |
Round 5 of the NRL premiership continues tonight when the South Sydney Rabbitohs take on the Melbourne Storm at Accor Stadium in Sydney. Join The Roar for live scores and commentary from 8pm (AEDT).
If there is anything we can take away from the first four weeks of this season, it is that it may be the tightest race in years. It could well be harder to make ground from behind this year, so early wins become important. That is exactly the case for these two teams.
The Rabbitohs bounced back into the winner’s circle last week with a golden point victory over Manly, This game obviously meant a lot to the Souths players, with the passing of John Sattler, and their joy was obvious when Lachlan Ilias kicked the winner.
Ilias has been a big improver this season, taking some pressure off Cody Walker. His combination with Keaon Koloamatangi continues to develop. Latrell Mitchell hasn’t quite been at his damaging best so far this season and it may be tonight that he brings his A game.
Hame Sele comes back from concussion and will come off the bench. Alex Johnston suffered a slight cork last weekend but has been named to play,
The Storm got their second win of the season last round with a 24-12 win over the Tigers at AAMI Park. Melbourne never really looked like losing but also didn’t put the Tigers away like we would have expected before the season began.
The Storm have been hard hit by injury but it is more than that. They have lost a lot of experience, especially in their pack. It is going to take some time for the youngsters in the team to get used to the rigours of weekly NRL football.
There’s just the one change to last week’s team, with Tom Eisenhuth joining the bench and Tyran Wishart missing out. Jonah Pezet remains at halfback with Jahrome Hughes again out with suspension.
Prediction
Last season, this would have been billed as a blockbuster.
I expect the Storm to be brave but, simply, they don’t have enough class throughout their line up at the moment.
At home, the Rabbitohs should be too strong.
Rabbitohs by 12
Game information
Kick-off: 8pm (AEDT)
Venue: Accor Stadium, Sydney
TV: Nine, Fox League
Live stream: Kayo Sports
Betting: Rabbitohs $1.67, Storm $2.21 – odds via PlayUp
Teams
Rabbitohs
1. Latrell Mitchell 2. Alex Johnston 3. Isaiah Tass 4. Campbell Graham 5. Izaac Tu’itupou Thompson 6. Cody Walker 7. Lachlan Ilias 8. Daniel Suluka-Fifita 9. Damien Cook 10. Thomas Burgess 11. Keaon Koloamatangi 12. Jacob Host 13. Cameron Murray
Interchange: 14. Jed Cartwright 15. Michael Chee Kam 16. Davvy Moale 17. Hame Sele
Storm
1. Nick Meaney 2. William Warbrick 3. Reimis Smith 4. Justin Olam 5. Xavier Coates 6. Cameron Munster 7. Jonah Pezet 8. Tui Kamikamica 9. Harry Grant 10. Christian Welch 11. Trent Loiero 12. Eliesa Katoa 13. Josh King
Interchange: 14. Bronson Garlick 15. Alec MacDonald 16. Tariq Sims 17. Tom Eisenhuth
Poss
Roar Rookie
:laughing: :laughing: :laughing:
GB
Roar Rookie
That is exactly how I see it. No player should be an exception to the standard a coach holds the rest of his playing squad to. If I was Latrell I would have been too embarrassed to look his teammates in the eyes after the game. Apparently Wayne Bennett allowed Latrell to disappear to his farm in rural NSW and miss training early in the week. That is a bad precedent to set. Now JD has carried on this practice. No player should be treated like Caesar. Leaders and marquee players need to set an example for the rest of the team both on and off-field which includes training sessions. Latrell can't be allowed to cut corners or coast through games. Next week I would play Latrell at left centre with Tass on the wing and bring little Galago (Blake Taaffe) into FB. Tell Latrell when his effort and performance improves he will get to play FB and not before.
Stormy
Roar Rookie
All good - we are all individuals & see things differently.
DP Schaefer
Roar Rookie
And a Bellamy size 10.....
Vivalasvegan
Roar Rookie
He was fantastic
andrew
Roar Rookie
Andrew Moore and his co commentators gave Latrell a real serve after the game GB ,saying his performance was way below par. He’s a lazy player compared to Turbo and Teddy and even Gutherson. It seems to me that Demetriou doesn’t want to upset Latrell and just lets him play his own game, with little involvement.
GB
Roar Rookie
Latrell wasn't even a Ford Fiesta with 4 flat tyres tonight.
GB
Roar Rookie
Yes the HIA was when he went face first into the turf after a phenomenal try saving effort by former Bulldog Nick Meaney. I wasn't overly hopeful about Souths chances tonight. They won't be hitting their straps until their forwards are all back on deck. Tatola and Arrow in particular.
Easy target
Roar Rookie
I get where you're coming from. But for running hookers markers being allowed to get away with not being square will 100% affect your game. I wish I had your attitude towards not letting refereeing decisions affect how you see the game/players, but I can't help myself
Ghosthound
Roar Rookie
Tales of the Storm’s demise appear to have been greatly exaggerated
Ghosthound
Roar Rookie
It seemed the Souths’ fans just booed whenever the Storm had the ball - they don’t seem to have heard of or understood the story of the boy who cried wolf.
Andy J
Roar Rookie
I’m a titans fan. A team defending like they care if the opposition score! If only!
Andy J
Roar Rookie
That was a gutsy performance, far from clinical but just kept turning up
Poss
Roar Rookie
He must of left the Ferrari in the garage tonight GB!!!!!! :laughing: :laughing: :laughing:
The Barry
Roar Guru
I know you’re mucking around but I don’t look at that stuff as luck. Was the Johnson HIA when he almost scored? I was surprised it was a grade 1… Souths up tempo game has looked really good at times this season even when they’ve lost but it came unstuck tonight. Too many loose passes and kept letting the pressure off To be fair the Storm scrambled superbly. Against a lesser team Souths might have played poorly but still got away with it. I’m pretty sure if Souths brought their A game they would have won I had a win on the Panthers game but unfortunately put most of it on Souths. Oh well Good luck next week… you should hope the Dogs beat the Cowboys on Sunday as we seem to be playing better off the back of a loss than we do when we win :stoked:
Stormy
Roar Rookie
I look at the players & try not to let refs' decisions enter into my comments. Whatever is called is what you deal with. Refs/umps never change there calls. I don't think I'm overly harsh, but I respect your opinion if you think I am.
souvalis
Roar Rookie
Loeiro played his seasons' best.
GB
Roar Rookie
Update: The FOX Sports commentary team just agreed with me. They looked at the Rabbitohs first 10 games and said; "that is a tough, tough draw!"
Gus O
Roar Rookie
This decision was ridiculous. Burgess was trying to reach out to score - how was that NOT the definition of trying to score? There has to be an investigation, someone has to be accountable!
Gus O
Roar Rookie
Stripped? That was a ridiculous decision. How was Burgess not reaching out to try to score? They must be looking at different footage in the bunker, what I can see on the replays does not support that decision.