Winger Matt Duffie has become a casualty of the Melbourne Storm’s leaky right-hand side defence, making way for big Fijian Sisa Waqa in their NRL line-up to face Wests Tigers on Monday night.
While the high-flying Duffie offers plenty in attack, Melbourne coach Craig Bellamy has been concerned about some flimsy defence.
The Broncos ran in five tries to almost topple the Storm last round and all were scored down the right-hand touch line.
According to Fox Sports the Storm have conceded seven of their 12 tries this season on their right side.
While Duffie doesn’t deserve all the blame, the brittle defence against the Broncos couldn’t have come at a worse time for the New Zealander.
Premiership winger Waqa has made a faster than expected recovery from a hand injury that has kept him sidelined since their World Club Challenge win in late February, and impressed in the NSW Cup last week.
The Storm rubbished rumours for the second straight week that star halfback Cooper Cronk wouldn’t play.
The Queensland State of Origin No.7 has starred in Melbourne’s unbeaten start to the season but was rumoured to be injured.
Storm football manager Frank Ponissi said Cronk trained strongly in their final session on Sunday and was a certain starter.
“There’s no doubt whatsoever that Cooper will play,” said Ponissi.
“He missed a session in the week before the Broncos game which is where this started but I can absolutely guarantee you he will play.”
While the Storm halves are settled, the Tigers have a new combination with veteran Braith Anasta replacing rookie playmaker Jacob Miller at halfback as the visitors search for only their second ever win in Melbourne.
Anasta said he wouldn’t play a traditional halfback role alongside five-eighth Benji Marshall.
“I am not playing as a typical halfback, I will be mixing it up with Benji at second receiver and probably like no other halfback in the comp,” Anasta said.
“If I can get him some quality ball then the Wests Tigers will be better for it.”
The Storm are gunning for a club record 13 straight wins.