Sydney Roosters vs Melbourne Storm: NRL Finals final score, highlights

The Melbourne Storm will make their first-ever trip to the Sydney Cricket Ground when they attempt to make their fourth grand final in a row as they take on defending premiers the Sydney Roosters in a decider rematch from 12 months ago. Join The Roar for live scores and coverage from 7:50pm (AEST).

The Storm are the picture of NRL consistency. They may have only one premiership in the last three years, but to make three deciders in a row, and be just 80 minutes from number four, is an incredible effort.

The way they have kept that run going despite big player turnover at the club is even more impressive, with Craig Bellamy’s side having their best regular season of the lot this time around.

However, there has been a sense of clunkiness sneaking into the Melbourne attack during the back half of the year. So much so that it forced the supercoach to change his side’s spine, before they went and lost their qualifying final at home to the Canberra Raiders.

That surprise result forced the Storm to play an extra game last weekend in the semi-finals, where they had nothing more than a training gallop, blasting past the Parramatta Eels in a blowout victory.

The Roosters, on the other hand, have been more or less perfect. While they missed the minor premiership by a substantial margin, they finished the season with a downhill run and have now had a week off after hammering the South Sydney Rabbitohs in their qualifying final.

With weapons all over the park, the Storm’s defence will need to be as good as it has been all season, with a low-scoring game the likely way for the men in purple to take victory and advance to another grand final.

If Melbourne can’t get their attack right though and keep themselves away from long period of pressure, none of it may matter.

The Storm will be aided by the loss of Jared Waerea-Hargreaves to suspension though, with the Storm now taking a stronger bench into the game, and there being a good chance for Nelson Asofa-Solomona and Jesse Bromwich to lay the platform early.

It should also be noted that the two games between the sides this year have been belters, split by a field goal in extra time during the first leg, and just two points during the return match in Adelaide.

Prediction
The Storm are a very difficult team to back against, especially at this stage of the season, however, in this instance, they are the outsiders for a reason.

Trent Robinson’s side are red-hot, and with the week off, I expect them to go to the decider again, keeping their chances of being the first team to win back-to-back premierships in more than two decades alive.

Roosters by 2.

Be sure to join The Roar for live coverage of this NRL preliminary final from 7:50pm (AEST) and don’t forget to add a comment in the section below.

Game information

Kick-off: 7:50pm (AEST)
Venue: Sydney Cricket Ground, Sydney
TV: Live, Fox League 502, Channel 9
Online: Live, Foxtel app, Foxtel Now, NRL Digital Pass
Betting: Roosters $1.58, Storm $2.35
Overall record: Played 38, Storm 21, Roosters 17
Last meeting: Round 15, Roosters 12 defeated by Storm 14 at Adelaide Oval
Last five: Storm 3, Roosters 2
Record in finals: Played 3, Roosters 2, Storm 1
Record at venue: Never played
Referees: Gerard Sutton, Adam Gee

Sydney Roosters
1. James Tedesco 2. Daniel Tupou 3. Latrell Mitchell 4. Joseph Manu 5. Brett Morris 6. Luke Keary 7. Cooper Cronk 8. Isaac Liu 9. Sam Verrills 10. Siosiua Taukeiaho 11. Boyd Cordner 12. Mitchell Aubusson 13. Victor Radley

Interchange: 14. Angus Crichton 15. Zane Tetevano 16. Nat Butcher 17. Lindsay Collins 18. Sitili Tupouniua 19. Drew Hutchison 20. Jake Friend 21. Ryan Hall

Melbourne Storm
1. Ryan Papenhuyzen 2. Suliasi Vunivalu 3. Curtis Scott 4. Justin Olam 5. Josh Addo-Carr 6.Cameron Munster 7. Jahrome Hughes 8. Jesse Bromwich 9. Cameron Smith 10. Nelson Asofa-Solomona 11. Felise Kaufusi 12. Kenneath Bromwich 13. Dale Finucane

Interchange: 14. Brandon Smith 15. Tui Kamikamica 16. Max King 17. Will Chambers 18. Marion Seve 19. Joe Stimson 20. Tino Faasuamaleaui 21. Sandor Earl

Hide Preview

608

Join the conversation

Scott Pryde

Expert

Scott has penned over 3000 articles and is one of The Roar's longest-serving writers, covering a wide range of sports. When he isn't writing about sport, you'll find him umpiring at the cricket, or on the hill at Kogarah supporting the Dragons.