2015 NRL Match Preview: Canberra Raiders vs Melbourne Storm
Date: Sunday 12th April
Venue: GIO Stadium
Kick-Off: 2pm
Teams
Canberra Raiders:
1. Jack Wighton 2. Edrick Lee 3. Jarrod Croker 4. Sisa Waqa 5. Jeremy Hawkins 6. Blake Austin 7. Sam Williams 8. Josh Papalii 9. Josh Hodgson 10. Dane Tilse 11. Jarrad Kennedy 12. Iosia Soliola 13. Shaun Fensom Interchange: 14. Glen Buttriss 15. Frank-Paul Nuuausala 16. Paul Vaughan 17. Mark Nicholls
Melbourne Storm:
1. Billy Slater 2. Mahe Fonua 3. William Chambers 4. Kurt Mann 5. Marika Koroibete 6. Blake Green 7. Cooper Cronk 8. Jesse Bromwich 9. Cameron Smith (c) 10. Jordan McLean 11. Kevin Proctor 12. Tohu Harris 13. Dale Finucane. Interchange: 14. Ryan Hinchcliffe 15. Tim Glasby 16. Dayne Weston 17. Felise Kaufusi.
Last Ten Meetings
Melbourne Storm 28-14 Canberra Raiders – July 19th 2014
Canberra Raiders 24-22 Melbourne Storm – April 20th 2014
Canberra Raiders 4-68 Melbourne Storm – August 4th 2013
Melbourne Storm 20-24 Canberra Raiders – May 4th 2013
Melbourne Storm 12-40 Canberra Raiders – July 7th 2012
Canberra Raiders 19-24 Melbourne Storm – March 3rd 2012
Canberra Raiders 0-26 Melbourne Storm – July 17th 2011
Melbourne Storm 12-20 Melbourne Storm – May 14th 2011
Melbourne Storm 36-12 Canberra Raiders – August 1st 2010
Canberra Raiders 6-17 Melbourne Storm – May 15th 2010
Preview:
Round 6 of the 2015 NRL season sees Melbourne Storm visit Canberra Raiders on Sunday afternoon at the GIO Stadium.
The Raiders go into this one off the back of an impressive 29-16 win over a struggling Manly Sea Eagles as they picked up their second victory of the season in a dominant display.
Melbourne picked up a third victory of the season by punishing a poor Warriors outfit 30-14 at AAMI Park to climb to fifth in the ladder.
Canberra has been a happy hunting ground for the Storm, as the Raiders’ 24-22 victory in April of last season is their only victory in the last five meetings of these sides at GIO Stadium.
Josh Hodgson has been in brilliant form for the Green Machine as he led his new side to victory with a man of the match performance in round 4 and has shown that it didn’t take him long to find his feet.
His biggest test yet will arguably be proving himself against one of the greats in Cameron Smith, and if he can get the upper hand in the battle of the nines he will once again prove his metal in this competition.
Marika Koroibete was in the mood against NZ Warriors and his two try display was key to their victory, so the hosts better watch out for the dangerous wingman if they are to pick up the points in this one.
Edrick Lee will most likely be the man with that task of stopping Koroibete as the two big wingers lock horns.
Sisa Waqa will face his former team mates in this one and has already become a fans favourite with his new side while playing in the centres, so the job of keeping him quiet will fall to Will Chambers setting up an epic battle out wide.
Canberra have the chance to build on their win last week and to set a platform for their season to take off, however, Melbourne are in a good position and are in great form so they will be tough to beat.
Prediction: Raiders were impressive last week but so were Melbourne. The men in purple seem to be close to their best and they should continue their good run of results in Canberra. Storm by 12.
