The first of the NRL semi finals is between Melbourne Storm and Manly Sea Eagles. The game is to be played at AAMI Park in Melbourne with the opening kick at 7:45pm local time. View our live NRL scores and results.
This should be a beauty!
Despite both clubs playing it down, there is no denying there is a lot of bad blood and deep history between these two sides.
In the 2007 Grand Final, Melbourne inflicted a 26 point defeat (34-8) on Manly but only twelve months later, the Sea Eagles exacted their revenge in dominating style, recording an emphatic 40-0 victory.
The rivalry has continued ever since and hit fever pitch in the round 25 of last year’s regular season when Adam Blair and Glen Stewart ignited an all in brawl on their way to the Sin Bin.
This year, the sides have met only the once, back in Round 15 and although both sides scored four tries apiece, Melbourne, off the boot of Cameron Smith, edged to hard earned victory 26-22.
Manly entered the finals as the leading Premiership contender but in a very physical encounter in Week 1 of the finals – against Minor Premiers Canterbury, they sustained several injuries and a narrow defeat (16-10).
That loss had them taking on the Cowboys last week and despite several contentious refereeing decisions clouding the final result, Manly were the better side and accordingly, registered a 22-12 victory.
Melbourne, who finished the season in second position on the ladder, have had an easier time of things in comparison, easily accounting for South Sydney (24-6) in the first week
of the finals and in the process, gaining home ground advantage for this clash and more importantly, last week off.
Melbourne Storm $1.60 vs Manly Sea Eagles $2.40 at Sportsbet Australia
Melbourne Storm $1.60 vs Manly Sea Eagles $2.38 at Luxbet Australia
Melbourne Storm:
1.Billy Slater, 2. Sisa Waqa, 3. Dane Nielsen, 4. Will Chambers, 5. Justin O’Neill, 6. Gareth Widdop, 7. Cooper Cronk, 8. Jesse Bromwich, 9. Cameron Smith, 10. Bryan Norrie, 11. Sika Manu, 12. Ryan Hoffman, 13. Ryan Hinchcliffe
Interchange:14. Todd Lowrie, 15. Jason Ryles, 16. Jaiman Lowe, 17. Kevin Proctor, 18. Rory Kostjasyn, 19. Mahe Fonua, 20. Richie Fa’aoso (three to be omitted)
Sea Eagles:
1.Brett Stewart, 2. Jorge Taufua, 3. Jamie Lyon, 4. Steve Matai, 5. Dean Whare, 6. Kieran Foran, 7. Daly Cherry-Evans, 8. Jason King, 9. Matt Ballin, 10. Brent Kite, 11. Anthony Watmough, 12. Tony Williams, 13. Glenn Stewart
Interchange: 14. Jamie Buhrer, 15. Joe Galuvao, 16. Darcy Lussick, 17. Vic Mauro, 18. George Rose (one to be omitted)
Referees: Matt Cecchin/Tony Archer
Video Referee: Russell Smith/Sean Hampstead
