Lachlan Jeffery previews Friday evening’s clash between Melbourne and Gold Coast
MATCHDAY NEWS
MATCHDAY SCHEDULE
Melbourne Storm Vs Gold Coast Titans
Venue: AAMI Park
Date: Friday August 5, 6pm
MATCHDAY TEAM NEWS
Related: NRL Team List Tuesday
Embed from Getty ImagesStorm: 1. Tyran Wishart 2. David Nofoaluma 3. Marion Seve 4. Grant Anderson 5. Dean Ieremia 6. Cameron Munster 7. Jahrome Hughes 8. Jesse Bromwich 9. Harry Grant 10. Nelson Asofa-Solomona 11. Felise Kaufusi 12. Kenny Bromwich 13. Josh King 14. Brandon Smith 15. Tui Kamikamica 16. Tom Eisenhuth 17. Chris Lewis 18. Alec MacDonald 19. Cooper Johns 20. Xavier Coates 21. Jordan Grant 22. Young Tonumaipea
David Nofoaluma will come straight onto the wing after being loaned from Wests Tigers, with Grant Anderson moving to centre, replacing Justin Olam, who is out due to covid. Tyran Wishart replaces Nick Meaney at fullback, while Brandon Smith will make his return from suspension off the interchange. Xavier Coates remains a chance of a return having been named amongst the reserves.
Embed from Getty ImagesTitans: 1. Jayden Campbell 2. Sosefo Fifita 3. Phillip Sami 4. Brian Kelly 5. Patrick Herbert 6. AJ Brimson 7. Tanah Boyd 8. Moeaki Fotuaika 9. Aaron Booth 10. Tino Fa’asuamaleaui 11. David Fifita 12. Beau Fermor 13. Erin Clark 14. Greg Marzhew 15. Herman Ese’ese 16. Isaac Liu 17. Jaimin Jolliffe 18. Sam McIntyre 19. Corey Thompson 20. Toby Sexton 21. Alofiana Khan-Pereira 22. Paul Turner
AJ Brimson moves into the halves alongside Tanah Boyd with Toby Sexton given a “physical and mental break.” Jayden Campbell returns to the starting side at fullback, while Greg Marzhew has been named on the bench.
Referee: Peter Gough
MATCHDAY PREVIEW
The Storm snapped a four-game losing streak against the Warriors last week and need to beat the Titans in order to maintain their position in the top four. The Titans have lost nine straight games and need to win to give themselves a chance to move off the bottom the ladder.
The Storm will be looking for Brandon Smith to provide some much-needed spark off the interchange bench. His experience, along with that of Cameron Munster and Jahrome Hughes, will be invaluable to a Storm side that features a number of young players. They will also be looking for David Nofoaluma to provide some much-needed experience in the outside backs.
The Titans have lost their past nine straight matches and have their worst head-to-head record against the Storm, having lost 18 of their 24 matches, including the past eight straight. They are also yet to taste victory on the road this year and haven’t won at AAMI Park since 2014.
The Titans will see AJ Brimson and Tanah Boyd combine in the halves for the first time as Justin Holbrook looks for new combinations to try and salvage something from the season. They will also be hoping Greg Marzhew can bring his barnstorming Hostplus Cup form to first grade. Tino Fa’asuamaleaui will be looking to make an impression in his first game in Melbourne since leaving the Storm at the end of 2020.
Embed from Getty ImagesINTERESTING FACT
The Storm will field a back five that features no premiership winners for the first time since round 18, 2017.
MATCHDAY PREDICTION
Storm by 12
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