Storm won’t take Roosters lightly in NRL

Melbourne admit they were complacent in their tight win over last-placed Newcastle but won’t make the same mistake in their Saturday night NRL clash with the Sydney Roosters.

Storm second-rower Kevin Proctor said his team were determined to get off to a fast start at AAMI Park against the second last-placed Roosters.

Of Melbourne’s 10 losses last season, six were to sides outside the eight and Proctor said they didn’t want to slip back into that pattern.

They are also determined to mark leading prop Jesse Bromwich’s 150th NRL game for the club with a win.

“I think we got a little bit complacent last round (against Newcastle),” Proctor said.

“They started a lot harder than us and were running the ball harder and got on top of us early.

“We’ve got to make sure we start well this week, especially against the Roosters who have got a good pack who can really hurt you and, if we don’t start well, we’ll get dusted.”

With the Storm running second and one of the premiership favourites, Proctor said their scalp could be a prized possession for teams out of finals contention like the Roosters.

While crushed 46-0 in round 14 in the Roosters’ worst loss of the season, in their last match at AAMI Park back in 2015, they were only beaten by a Cooper Cronk field goal.

The Roosters also showed they weren’t far off the mark on Monday night as they pushed ladder leaders Cronulla to the final whistle.

“When they played against us in Melbourne last time, they should have beat us so they would have taken a lot of confidence out of that game as they played really well so we need to be better,” Proctor said.

The team remain hopeful barnstorming winger Marika Koroibete will recover from an ankle injury to play.

Proctor said the burly Fijian had been limping around the club but he still backed him to play.

“He was hobbling around but heals so quick that you never know with Marika,” he said.

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