Melbourne will finish in the top 4 with victory over the Gold Coast Titans on Saturday.
MATCHDAY NEWS
MATCHDAY SCHEDULE
Melbourne Storm Vs Gold Coast Titans
Venue: AAMI Park, Melbourne
Date: Saturday August 26, 3:00pm
MATCHDAY TEAM NEWS
Melbourne Storm Vs Gold Coast Titans (AAMI Park, Saturday, 26 August 2023, 15:00)
Storm: 1. Nick Meaney 2. William Warbrick 3. Marion Seve 4. Young Tonumaipea 5. Xavier Coates 6. Cameron Munster 7. Jahrome Hughes 8. Tui Kamikamica 9. Harry Grant 10. Christian Welch 11. Trent Loiero 12. Eliesa Katoa 13. Nelson Asofa-Solomona 14. Bronson Garlick 15. Tom Eisenhuth 16. Tepai Moeroa 17. Alec MacDonald 18. Reimis Smith 19. Ryan Papenhuyzen 20. Chris Lewis 21. Tariq Sims 22. Tyran Wishart
Titans: 1. AJ Brimson 2. Alofiana Khan-Pereira 3. Brian Kelly 4. Aaron Schoupp 5. Jojo Fifita 6. Kieran Foran 7. Thomas Weaver 8. Moeaki Fotuaika 9. Chris Randall 10. Jaimin Jolliffe 11. David Fifita 12. Klese Haas 13. Tino Fa’asuamaleaui 14. Kruise Leeming 15. Isaac Liu 16. Joe Stimson 17. Jacob Alick 18. Keano Kini 19. Joseph Vuna 20. Tony Francis 21. Iszac Fa’asumaleaui 22. Josiah Pahulu
Referee: Chris Butler
Embed from Getty ImagesMATCHDAY PREVIEW
When most fans looked over the fixture list for this week, the Melbourne Storm versus Gold Coast Titans wouldn’t have particularly stood out. At face value – I can understand why. One side is in contention for the top four and the premiership, while the other will more than likely make up the numbers come the end of the season.
What makes it interesting is that you could’ve given that exact same description when these two sides met in round 3 – a match the underdog Titans actually won 38-34.
There are far too many moving pieces for anything to be certain in the wonderful world of rugby league, and if you think there’s anything certain about this fixture – David Fifita would like a word with you…
The Storm will be missing forward Josh King this week, but it is the man in jersey number 19 who attracted all the attention when teams were named.
Star fullback Ryan Papenhuyzen hasn’t played NRL since Round 18 last season and has had a long and frustrating road of recovery back into the squad. Stand-in fullback Nick Meaney has done a fantastic job for Craig Bellamy’s side all season, but Papenhuyzen’s quality can’t be denied. If the Dutchman can come into the side and hit the ground running, it changes the outlook on the 2023 premiership entirely.
Meanwhile, the Titans looked like they may struggle to field a side after Jayden Campbell and Philip Sami went down with injuries in last week’s loss to the Panthers. But the return of veteran half Kieran Foran really helps to solidify the spine, while Jojo Fifita is promoted onto the wing.
As with any game in which the Titans are underdogs, they’ll be relying on the game breaking ability of Fifita and Tino Fa’asuamaleaui to lay the platform for some moments of Brimson Brilliance.
LAST TEN MATCHES
Storm 8, Titans 2
MATCHDAY PREDICTION
Storm by 18 points.
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