Date: Sunday June 21 2015
Venue: AAMI Park
Kick-Off: 4pm AEST
Storm: 1 Billy Slater 2 Mahe Fonua 3 Will Chambers 4 Kurt Mann 5 Richard Kennar 6 Blake Green 7 Ben Hampton 8 Jesse Bromwich 9 Cameron Smith (c) 10 Tim Glasby 11 Kevin Proctor 12 Tohu Harris 13 Dale Finucane Int: 14 Ryan Hinchcliffe 15 Kenny Bromwich 16 Christian Welch 17 Felise Kaufusi 18 Cameron Munster 19 Hymel Hunt 20 Nelson Asofa-Solomona
Broncos: 1 Darius Boyd 2 Jordan Kahu 3 Jack Reed 4 Justin Hodges (c) 5 Daniel Vidot 6 Anthony Milford 7 Ben Hunt 8 Josh McGuire 9 Andrew McCullough 10 Adam Blair 11 Alex Glenn 12 Matt Gillett 13 Corey Parker Int: 14 Jarrod Wallace 15 Sam Thaiday 16 Corey Oates 17 Matt Parcell 18 Mitchell Dodds 19 Francis Molo 20 Lachlan Maranta
Preview
Melbourne Storm has lost International fullback Billy Slater for the remainder of the season in the lead-up to their clash with second placed Brisbane Broncos at AAMI Park.
This gives Cameron Munster an opportunity to continue his good form in the number one jumper as the fourth placed Storm look to climb the ladder after a disappointing loss to Parramatta Eels on Monday night, a side heavily affected by Wednesday’s Origin match at the MCG.
Decisions on Cameron Smith and Will Chambers will be made closer to the game but it’s expected both will back up. Chambers will be out to silence his critics after a less than impressive effort for Queensland in their eight point defeat.
Brisbane have already indicated they will be without Justin Hodges and Corey Parker. Hodges was never expected to play as they continue to manage his body after a career littered with leg problems. Wayne Bennett opting to rest Parker as the Broncos look to regain equal top spot after North Queensland’s victory over Canberra last night.
Expect this game to be high quality. While Smith is always going to be a key for the Purple Pride to win it could be Tohu Harris being the game changer on the fringe of the ruck. Ben Hunt for Brisbane will be out to remind Queensland selectors that he is worthy of selection in the must-win decider at Suncorp Stadium. At this stage he has both Michael Morgan and Daly Cherry-Evans ahead of him but outstanding performances against the Storm and Newcastle next Friday night could change things.
Melbourne’s record against Brisbane at AAMI Park is impressive winning four of the five matches played. Last year Mahe Fonua’s double helped the Storm to a 22-12 victory.
Prediction
Melbourne Storm to continue their record over Brisbane at AAMI Park in a close one. Storm by 6.
