One of the most anticipated games for Round 1 of the NRL season is between Melbourne Storm and St George Illawarra Dragons. We provide readers for live scores of the match which is set to commence at 3pm local time with the match being played at AAMI Stadium. View our live scores and updates of the match.
WHERE AND WHEN: AAMI Park, Sunday @1500
Melbourne Storm $1.22 vs St George Illawarra Dragons $4.50 at Sportsbet Australia
Melbourne Storm $1.23 vs St George Illawarra Dragons $4.05 at Luxbet Australia
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Melbourne Storm: Billy Slater, Matt Duffie, Will Chambers, Justin O’Neill, Mahe Fonua, Gareth Widdop, Cooper Cronk, Jesse Bromwich, Cameron Smith, Bryan Norrie, Tohu Harris, Ryan Hoffman, Ryan Hinchcliffe
Interchange: Jason Ryles, Lagi Setu, Siosaia Vave, Junior Moors, Brett Finch (one to be omitted)
St George Illawarra Dragons: Gerard Beale, Brett Morris, Chase Stanley, Matt Cooper, Jason Nightingale, Jamie Soward, Nathan Fien, Dan Hunt, Mitch Rein, Michael Weyman, Tyson Frizell, Ben Creagh (c), Trent Merrin
Interchange: Bronson Harrison, Leeson Ah Mau, Matt Prior, Cameron King, Jack Stockwell (one to be omitted)
The History: Played 26; Storm 18, Dragons 7, drawn 1. Melbourne have won seven of the past 10 clashes between the sides.
Last Time They Met: The Dragons upset the full-strength Storm 26-18 at WIN Stadium in Round 21 last season, with star winger Brett Morris scoring a hat-trick of tries.
Morris opened the scoring for the Red V in the seventh minute, snaffling an intercept and out-sprinting the Storm cover defence in a 95-metre dash to the line. Rapid-fire tries to Beau Scott (17th minute) backing up a Morris infield chip kick, and Trent Merrin (23rd minute) charging over from close range off an inside pass from dummy-half Mitch Rein, seized a commanding 18-nil lead for the home side.
However, the Storm rallied, exposing some flimsy defence on the Dragons’ left edge; first Kevin Proctor charged over (35th minute), before Will Chambers’ easy put-down four minutes later saw the sides head to the sheds with an 18-12 scoreline.
Morris edged the Dragons further ahead with another long-range try shortly after the resumption, streaking 90 metres after the Storm spilled the Steeden while pressing the try line. That made it 22-12 and when Morris sliced through for his third try in the 51st minute the Dragons grabbed a 14-point buffer.
Ryan Hinchcliffe crossed in the 67th minute to give the visitors a glimmer of hope but they were kept at bay by a determined Dragons defence.
This was a game in which the stats didn’t tell the story: Melbourne made six line-breaks to the Dragons’ two, while the home side missed 11 tackles more than the Storm. However, the Dragons’ 83 per cent completion rate and modest 10 errors – as well as Morris’ double strike against the run of play – ensured they were competitive.
Match Officials: Referees – Matt Cecchin & Luke Phillips; Sideline Officials – Jeff Younis & Grant Atkins; Video Referees – Shayne Hayne & Justin Morgan.
Televised: Channel Nine – Delayed 4pm (NSW & Qld); Fox Sports 1HD – Delayed 8.30pm.
