The second of the NRL matches today is between Melbourne Storm and St George Illawarra Dragons. The opening kick is set to commence at 3pm local time with the match to be played in Melbourne at AAMI Stadium. Home team Melbourne Storm are the overwhelming favourites for the match and looks very hard to beat. View our match preview as well as team lists for the match.
Round: Round 1, Sunday @ 15:00
Stadium: AAMI Park
Odds:
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
Broadcast:
Preview:
How times change! This match-up between fierce foes would have attracted headline status as a season-opener last year but fast-forward 12 months and on paper it looks decidedly mismatched: the 2012 premiers and World Club Challenge champions hosting the roster-ravaged and key position-challenged St George Illawarra.
That said, perhaps fans shouldn’t discount the passion factor involved, with the Red V essentially playing for coach Steve Price’s NRL career over the opening two months of the 2013 season – and here the embattled mentor goes head to head with Craig Bellamy, the supercoach Dragons management was so keen to lure to their lair. Oh the irony.
Melbourne have had just the one blip on their radar since riding a purple wave to premiership glory in 2012, an uncharacteristic 40-8 trial game defeat to the Raiders a surprisingly unnerving final preparation for their World Club Challenge tilt. However, they put that anomaly behind them with a hard-fought 18-14 victory over Leeds.
Meanwhile the Dragons have experienced a frustrating trial period as they look to life after Ben Hornby, Dean Young and Beau Scott. They have shown glimpses of promise in their losses to the Cowboys (28-22) and Souths (28-10) but will need to make a quantum leap to trouble the Storm who are favourites to snare back-to-back premiership titles in 2013.
Melbourne have just the one change to the 17 that dominated Leeds, with injured winger Sisa Waqa replaced by Matt Duffie. Second-rower Tohu Harris and interchange Lagi Setu make their Storm first grade debuts.
Nathan Fien gets first bite at the Dragons’ No.7 jersey, while out wide Chase Stanley is first-elect right-side centre. In the engine room Michael Weyman returns to the NRL after 10 months on the sidelines and Trent Merrin embarks on a new career at lock. New recruit Bronson Harrison will start from the bench, which numbers five at this stage.
It is quite the challenge for new skipper Ben Creagh – the Dragons haven’t sung their team song in celebration in Melbourne since the finals in 1999. Since then they’ve listened to the Storm’s version on 11 occasions…
Teams:
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)
