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Dragons
14
Match Complete
Storm
16
| 74 |  | C. Smith | ||
| J. Field |  | 69 | ||
| M. Ravalawa |  | 67 | ||
| 62 | | C. Smith | ||
| 60 | | J. Hughes | ||
| J. Field | | 58 | ||
| 37 | | C. Smith | ||
| 18 | | C. Smith | ||
| 16 | | J. Stimson | ||
| J. Field | | 8 | ||
| J. Latimore | | 6 |
| 2 | Tries | 2 | ||
| 2 | Conversions | 2 | ||
| 1 | Penalty Goals | 2 | ||
| 0 | Field Goals | 0 |
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On paper, it looks like an almighty mismatch, but the St George Illawarra Dragons will still hold out hopes of causing one of the biggest upsets of the season when they take on the Melbourne Storm in Wollongong. Join The Roar for live scores and coverage from 7:50pm (AEST).
The Storm come into this match at the top of the ladder and absolutely cruising. They are six competition points to the good on their nearest rivals, and over 100 points up on for and against.
While thre will have to be a drop off at some point, which inevitably will lead to a loss, the chance of that being this week looks incredibly slim.
They have lost some players to Origin of course, but the story of the week really belongs with the unbelievably understrength Dragons.
They are without the injured James Graham, suspended Tariq Sims and Origin bound Ben Hunt, Corey Norman, Paul Vaughan and Tyson Frizell. It means they lack experience, penetration in attack and control in the halves, as well as a lot of their defensive muscle.
Making matters worse for the Red V, they are in ordinary form, despite a win over the Cowboys last week keeping them alive and just giving them a little to cling onto.
When you run through the two named teams coming into the game though, it doesn’t even look close. Darren Nicholls and Jai Field will run out in the halves against the might of Brodie Croft and the on debut Billy Walters, while Ryan Papenhuyzen comes from the bench as Jahrome Hughes and Cameron Smith round out the spine.
It’s in the forwards where the Storm have the big edge though. The Dragons, at their best, can lay a claim to best forward pack in the league, however, four of the five players who make that possible are out.
Insteas, Blake Lawrie and Jeremy Latimore will start up front against Jesse Bromwich and Neslon Asofa-Solomona, and if there is a bigger mismatch anywhere in the competition this year, I’m yet to hear of it.
In short, this looks like it could be a trouncing.
Prediction
It’s hard to see this going any other way than a Storm win, and while the weather might keep it in check, it still shapes up like it’ll get fairly ugly for a struggling Red V.
Storm by 20.
Be sure to join The Roar for live coverage of the 2019 NRL season from 7:50pm (AEST) and don’t forget to add a comment in the section below.
Kick-off: 7:50pm (AEST)
Venue: WIN Stadium, Wollongong
TV: Live, Fox Sports 502, Channel 9
Online: Live, Foxtel App, Foxtel Now, Kayo Sports, 9Now, NRL Digital Pass
Betting: Storm $1.39, Dragons $2.95
Overall record: Played 35, Storm 25, Dragons 1, Drawn 1
Last meeting: Round 17, 2018 – Storm 52 defeat Dragons 30 at AAMI Park, Melbourne
Last five: Storm 3, Dragons 2
Record at venue: Played 11, Dragons 5, Storm 5, Drawn 1
Referees: Ben Cummins, Dave Munro
St George Illawarra Dragons
1. Matt Dufty, 2. Jonus Pearson, 3. Euan Aitken, 4. Timoteo Lafai, 5. Mikaele Ravalawa, 6. Jai Field, 7. Darren Nicholls, 8. Korbin Sims, 9. Cameron McInnes, 10. Jeremy Latimore, 11. Jacob Host, 12. Luciano Leilua, 13. Blake Lawrie
Bench: 14. Josh Kerr, 15. Reece Robson, 16. Patrick Kaufusi, 17. Mitchell Allgood, 18. Jordan Pereira, 19. Jackson Ford, 20. Lachlan Timm, 21. Tristian Sailor
Melbourne Storm
1. Jahrome Hughes, 2. Suliasi Vunivalu, 3. Justin Olam, 4. Solomone Kata, 5. Sandor Earl, 6. Billy Walters, 7. Brodie Croft, 8. Jesse Bromwich, 9. Cameron Smith, 10. Nelson Asofa-Solomona, 11. Joe Stimson, 12. Kenneath Bromwich, 13. Brandon Smith
Bench: 14. Albert Vete, 15. Tino Faasuamaleaui, 16. Tui Kamikamica, 17. Ryan Papenhuyzen, 18. Marion Seve, 19. Tom Eisenhuth, 20. Max King, 21. Harry Grant
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