Check out the match preview and prediction for the NRL Semi-Final clash between the Melbourne Storm and the Sydney Roosters.
MATCHDAY NEWS
MATCHDAY SCHEDULE
Melbourne Storm Vs Sydney Roosters
Venue: AAMI Park, Melbourne
Date: Friday September 15, 7:50pm
MATCHDAY TEAM NEWS
Storm: 1. Nick Meaney 2. William Warbrick 3. Marion Seve 4. Justin Olam 5. Reimis Smith 6. Cameron Munster 7. Jahrome Hughes 8. Tui Kamikamica 9. Harry Grant 10. Christian Welch 11. Trent Loiero 12. Eliesa Katoa 13. Josh King 14. Alec MacDonald 15. Tom Eisenhuth 16. Nelson Asofa-Solomona 17. Tariq Sims 18. Grant Anderson 19. Bronson Garlick 20. Tepai Moeroa 21. Tyran Wishart 22. Sualauvi Faalogo
Roosters: 1. James Tedesco 2. Junior Pauga 3. Paul Momirovski 4. Corey Allan 5. Jaxson Paulo 6. Luke Keary 7. Sam Walker 8. Fletcher Baker 9. Brandon Smith 10. Lindsay Collins 11. Siua Wong 12. Nat Butcher 13. Victor Radley 14. Sandon Smith 15. Egan Butcher 16. Terrell May 17. Angus Crichton 18. Drew Hutchison 19. Naufahu Whyte 20. Zach Dockar-Clay 21. Jake Turpin 22. Nathan Brown
Referee: Ashley Klein
Embed from Getty ImagesMATCHDAY PREVIEW
It’s do-or-die football: for one of these sides their 2023 campaign will end on Friday night. Whether it will be the home side, whose form has recently come to a grinding halt, or the Roosters, who only just scraped into the finals off the back of a last-minute winning streak. Both sides are capable of producing electrifying sequences of play and putting on massive hits, but they also both come into this match affected by injuries.
For the Roosters, who are travelling to Melbourne – a location where they’ve only won four times out of 11 visits – they’ve been dealt a triple blow with Joseph Manu, Billy Smith, and Joseph Suuali’i all unable to play due to injuries sustained in their match against the Sharks. That match also took the Sydney side right down to the wire, only winning by a field goal in the end, and the 80-minute effort required to get themselves over the line could possibly affect the players this week.
Melbourne aren’t without their own issues. In a cruel turn of fate, superstar fullback Ryan Papenhuyzen re-injured himself in the Storm’s loss to the Broncos, after only just returning from a long stint on the sideline previously. They will also most likely be without halfback and chief playmaker Jahrome Hughes, who did not train on Thursday after picking up a calf injury. Tyran Wishart is the expected replacement for the injured Hughes, but he will have a job to do, with his team’s attack against the Broncos last week showing very little promise. The flying Xavier Coates is also out after sustaining an ankle injury, which further limits the Storm’s attacking prowess.
This clash should be tight, with both teams leaving everything they have out on the field. Whilst one side’s season must come to an end, the other will go on to play the Penrith Panthers in the qualifying final – a match that with either team should be one for the ages.
LAST TEN MATCHES
Storm 8, Roosters 2
MATCHDAY PREDICTION
Storm by four points.
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