Saturdays first NRL Round 8 match is between Melbourne Storm and Canberra Raiders with the opening kick to commence at 5:30pm local time. The game is to be played at AAMI Park which see’s home team Melbourne Storm hold short priced favouritism in the market and look like they will continue their unbeaten start to the season. View our NRL live scores, odds and results for the game between Melbourne Storm and Canberra Raiders.
WHERE AND WHEN: AAMI Park, Saturday @ 17:30
Opening Odds:
Melbourne Storm $1.14 vs Canberra Raiders $6.00 at Sportsbet Australia
Melbourne Storm $1.45 vs Canberra Raiders $1.57 at Luxbet Australia
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Preview:
It’s Storm vs Raiders on Saturday at 3.15pm, with this match played at AAMI Park. The Raiders will be hard to beat this weekend, and have momentum on their side after a great win against North Queensland in Round 7. Make no mistake though, this will be a tough test for the Raiders, with the Storm keen to prove themselves after their first home loss last week against the Warriors. Cade Umaga was impressive last week, and the Storm will need him to shine again if they want to keep last year’s grand finalists at bay
Teams:
Melbourne Storm:
Billy Slater, Sisa Waqa, Will Chambers, Justin O’Neill, Mahe Fonua, Gareth Widdop, Cooper Cronk, Jesse Bromwich, Cameron Smith, Bryan Norrie, Kevin Proctor, Ryan Hoffman, Tohu Harris
Interchange: Jason Ryles, Junior Moors, Slade Griffin, Lagi Setu, Kenneath Bromwich (one to be omitted)
Canberra Raiders:
Reece Robinson, Sandor Earl, Jack Wighton, Blake Ferguson, Edrick Lee, Terry Campese (c), Josh McCrone, Tom Learoyd-Lahrs, Matt McIlwrick, Brett White, Joel Edwards Jake Foster, Shaun Fensom
Interchange: Anthony Milford, Joe Picker, Dane Tilse, Paul Vaughan, Jarrad Kennedy, Shaun Berrigan
Raiders’ Milford gets charge downgraded
Young Canberra utility back Anthony Milford has had a bizarre grade three dangerous contact charge successfully downgraded to provide a timely boost for his injury-ravaged side against Melbourne on Saturday.
The 85kg elusive back was defending metres off his tryline for the Raiders’ under-20 team last week when he moved forward and took a low-cover position in front of a rampaging 104kg Cowboys forward, catapulting him over the top of himself using his back and shoulders.
Weighing up a suitable punishment for the dangerous contact proved difficult, with coach David Furner adding that no one had ever seen anything quite like it.
However the judiciary downgraded the charge from grade three to grade one during an appeal on Wednesday night, and as Milford only has 75 points accumulated, the exciting young talent is free to play just his second NRL game against the undefeated Storm at AAMI Park on Saturday.
It’s a welcome boost for the injury-depleted Raiders, who have star players David Shillington (ribs), Josh Papalii (knee), Jarrod Croker (knee) and Joel Thompson (toe) currently in the recovery ward.
The Raiders took note of the way the Warriors had moments of success in throwing the ball around against the Storm last week and Furner is keen to have 18-year-old Milford’s unpredictable playing style up his sleeve.
“He’s someone who can cover fullback, can cover halves and nine, he’s a versatile player,” Furner said.
“Against a Melbourne team you need a player of his calibre to try and break their defensive line.”
Halfback Josh McCrone also looks likely to overcome a niggling groin injury to pair with captain Terry Campese in the halves.
Meanwhile, enforcer Papalii says he expects to return to the side after having minor operations on both knees either next week for Newcastle or in round 10 against Cronulla.
“I had my first running session today, it went pretty well,” Papalii said on Wednesday.
“I had both knees done and that’s probably why it’s taking longer than usual.”