The first match in the National Rugby League finals series will see Melbourne Storm play the South Sydney Rabbitohs at AAMI Park.
TEAM FORM GUIDE
MELBOURNE STORM
Melbourne are coming off a close loss to Penrith to finish the regular season, however they were without a few key players and still pushed the Panthers. The Storm have struggled in the last month with the loss to Penrith, an unconvincing two-point win over a 14th-placed Gold Coast, a 20-4 win over wooden spooners Parramatta and losses to fellow finalists Cronulla and Souths.
SOUTH SYDNEY RABBITOHS
Souths have also struggled for the last month. While they decimated the Tigers 51-10 last week, they came off tough losses to Canberra, Brisbane and Sydney Roosters. It’s hard to gauge form at the back end of the season, with players rested for a gruelling finals series, as well as players dealing with niggling injuries.
SQUAD NEWS
MELBOURNE STORM
Billy Slater, Cameron Munster, Suliasi Vunivalu and Brandon Smith were all out last week with various injuries/personal problems but are back in the 17 this week. Brodie Croft is on the extended bench and is a chance of starting at halfback with Craig Bellamy admitting he’s still undecided whether Croft or Jahrome Hughes will partner Munster in the halves. Croft is joined by Sandor Earl, who is a chance to return to first grade after a long layoff with his well-publicised drug suspension. Ryan Hoffman is in jersey 18 after a miraculous recovery from a knee injury which looked almost certain to end his career early. He has been working tirelessly to return for a fairytale finish to a great career.
SOUTH SYDNEY RABBITOHS
The Rabbitohs are unchanged after their big win over the Tigers. Greg Inglis returned last week and made a huge impact. His leadership makes a massive difference to the Rabbitohs’ attack and when he’s on he is simply unstoppable. Souths also get a lift after it was announced that Sam Burgess extended his contract for another four years, so I’m sure the big fella will be fired up. Souths have arguably the best forward pack in the comp this year with a pack full of rep players and Damien Cook is one of the favourites to take out the Dally M after a breakout year that earned him his Origin debut and becoming a frontrunner for the Australian hooker position.
PREVIEW
They met in round 21 with Souths winning 30-20 after Cook was the gamebreaker with a 45m solo try in the 62nd minute, burning both Slater and Josh Addo-Carr with his great footwork and acceleration from dummy half. Round 21 was the game where Cameron Smith went off early with the ankle injury, but he looks good for the finals series.
Melbourne have missed Vunivalu’s kick returns the last few weeks. He is a big body who is willing to take the big hit ups to give his forwards a rest and get them out trouble with solid metres after contact. He will be raring to go since not returning after half time in the win over Parramatta in round 23. The biggest question mark is who will play in the halves, with Hughes named at halfback but Croft touted as a late inclusion after some good performances at the back end of the regular season (after some time in reserve grade to build up his confidence). Hughes has been great in the games he’s played, either at halfback or fullback, and his versatility would be welcome in case anything happens to Slater.
The match up to watch is the number nines with the GOAT Smith up against Cook (the man who will likely replace Smith in the Australian jersey). Cook got the win last time, but there’s no-one in the game with better game management than Smith. His versatility is one of his biggest strengths and when Brandon Smith comes onto the field it gives Cam Smith the freedom to float around and play in the halves or even in a ball-playing lock role. Cook is dangerous in a different way with his running game his biggest strength. Whenever the markers aren’t square, and he sees some tired defenders, he is a chance of darting out of dummy half and beating any defender to score. No matter the outcome you can bet these two guys will have a major impact.
KEY STAT
Melbourne have won eight of the last 10 against Souths, with one of those wins coming in Golden Point and one being a 64-6 win in round 25 last year. Times have changed, with Souths looking hungrier while Melbourne are the defending premiers, still at the top of their game but with some of their stars at the back end of their careers.
SQUADS
MELBOURNE
1. Billy Slater, 2. Suliasi Vunivalu, 3. Cheyse Blair, 4. Curtis Scott, 5. Josh Addo-Carr, 6. Cameron Munster, 7. Jahrome Hughes, 8. Jesse Bromwich, 9. Cameron Smith (c), 10. Tim Glasby, 11. Felise Kaufusi, 12. Joe Stimson, 13. Dale Finucane.
Interchange: 14. Brandon Smith, 15. Christian Welch, 16. Tui Kamikamica, 17. Kenneath Bromwich.
Reserves: 18. Ryan Hoffman, 19. Brodie Croft, 20. Sam Kasiano, 21. Sandor Earl.
SOUTHS
1. Alex Johnston, 2. Campbell Graham, 3. Greg Inglis (c), 4. Dane Gagai, 5. Robert Jennings, 6. Cody Walker, 7. Adam Reynolds, 8. Tom Burgess, 9. Damien Cook, 10. George Burgess, 11. John Sutton, 12. Angus Crichton, 13. Sam Burgess.
Interchange: 14. Hymel Hunt, 15. Cameron Murray, 16. Jason Clark, 17. Dean Britt.
Reserves: 18. Braidon Burns, 19. Tyrell Fuimaono, 20. Tevita Tatola, 21. Matt McIlwrick.
THE IMPORTANT DETAILS
Date: Friday, September 7 2018
Venue: AAMI Park
Kick-off: 7:40pm AEST
WHO WILL WIN?
This could go either way, but I think the finals experience of the Storm will be too much and they will get the win at home.
Storm by four.
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https://nothingbutleague.com/2018/09/04/nrl-team-news-week-1-finals/
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