Check out the match preview and prediction for the round 20 clash between the Roosters and the Storm.
MATCHDAY NEWS
MATCHDAY SCHEDULE
Sydney Roosters Vs Melbourne Storm
Venue: Sydney Cricket Ground
Date: Saturday July 15, 7:35pm.
MATCHDAY TEAM NEWS
Roosters:ย 1.ย James Tedescoย 2.ย Daniel Tupouย 3.ย Billy Smithย 4.ย Joseph Manuย 5.ย Joseph Suaaliiย 6.ย Luke Kearyย 7.ย Sandon Smithย 8.ย Jared Waerea-Hargreavesย 9.ย Jake Turpinย 10.ย Lindsay Collinsย 11.ย Victor Radleyย 12.ย Nat Butcherย 13.ย Nathan Brownย 14.ย Brandon Smithย 15.ย Egan Butcherย 16.ย Siua Wongย 17.ย Naufahu Whyteย 18.ย Drew Hutchisonย 19.ย Terrell Mayย 20.ย Corey Allanย 21. Fetalaiga Pauga 22.ย Dylan Napa
Storm:ย 1.ย Nick Meaneyย 2.ย William Warbrickย 3.ย Reimis Smithย 4.ย Justin Olamย 5.ย Xavier Coatesย 6.ย Cameron Munsterย 7.ย Jahrome Hughesย 8.ย Tui Kamikamicaย 9.ย Harry Grantย 10.ย Christian Welchย 11.ย Trent Loieroย 12.ย Nelson Asofa-Solomonaย 13.ย Josh Kingย 14.ย Tyran Wishartย 15.ย Tom Eisenhuthย 16.ย Tariq Simsย 17.ย Bronson Garlickย 18. Grant Anderson 19.ย Alec MacDonaldย 20.ย Jayden Nikorimaย 21.ย Marion Seveย 22.ย Chris Lewisย 23.ย George Jennings
Referee: Grant Atkins
Embed from Getty ImagesMATCHDAY PREVIEW
Right, it’s crunch time now.
Over the Trent Robinson era, the Sydney Roosters have garnered a reputation for underachieving for the first portion of a season, then timing their run of form perfectly and making a push for the premiership. We saw it last year when the Roosters went into the bye with a 7-9 record and put together an eight-game winning streak, rocketing them into the top six.
Incredibly, Easts find themselves in the exact same position now. The same record, coming off a bye, and with eight games remaining. That presents a real opportunity for this squad, particularly with the returns of Billy Smith, Egan Butcher, Joseph-Aukuso Suaalii, and former Melbourne star Brandon Smith. Coming off consecutive two-point losses, the Roosters will be looking to a little SCG magic to revive their season before it’s too late.
The Storm, on the other hand, are sitting nicely in the top four despite performing below the club’s lofty standards on the field. Also coming off a bye, the Storm will be looking to put a 34-16 loss to Penrith at Marvel Stadium behind them and push towards the top two. Craig Bellamy’s men are unchanged heading into this fixture, with Harry Grant, Xavier Coates, and Cameron Munster expected to back up from Origin III.
When these two sides met earlier in the season, Melbourne treated the home crowd to a dominant 28-8 victory, featuring a Xavier Coates hat-trick. The Storm has won six of their last seven matches against the Roosters, but when JWH and NAS clash on Saturday night, history will be the furthest thing from anybody’s minds.
LAST TEN MATCHES
Roosters 3, Storm 7.
MATCHDAY PREDICTION
Storm by 6 points.
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