Thursday nights NRL match is between last years NRL Grand Final contenders the Melbourne Storm and Canterbury Bulldogs. the match is set to commence at 8:05pm local time with the match being played in Melbourne. The Storm are the clear favourites to win again at home. View the full match preview and teams.
Odds:
Melbourne Storm $1.25 vs Canterbury Bulldogs $4.00 at Sportsbet Australia
Melbourne Storm $1.22 vs Canterbury Bulldogs $4.40 at Luxbet Australia
Preview:
The Bulldogs are in damage control in the lead-up to this Thursday’s grand final rematch with premiers Melbourne – not because of off-field indiscretions or internal disharmony but rather the daunting prospect of matching motors with a Storm side that has made an irrefutable statement of intent over the opening fortnight of the 2013 premiership.
Last Saturday’s clash between Melbourne and North Queensland in Townsville was supposed to provide a gripping contest between two closely matched units, with the Cowboys tipped by many as potential grand finallists even at this early stage. But the Storm bucketed down on their parade, emerging with an almost effortless 32-10 victory that sent shivers down the spines of the 14 other NRL coaches.
And with Ben Barba’s return reportedly at least another week away, Bulldogs coach Des Hasler knows his side will need to produce something special if they are to gain a much-needed psychological advantage over a Storm team they will meet at least twice this season, with a return ‘bout’ scheduled in Round 18 before any semi-finals action.
Of particular concern for Hasler as he preps his squad is the fact this week’s opponent North Queensland didn’t do a whole heap wrong on the stats sheet last week, yet emerged way off the mark on the scoresheet. Each side completed at roughly 70 per cent; made six line-breaks; shared 12 errors apiece as well as 29 missed tackles. The Cowboys seemingly were more creative, winning the offloads 15-9. Yet Melbourne was a 22-point better side at fulltime. Yikes.
Meanwhile Canterbury got on the board in 2013 with a hard-fought 20-16 win over a Parramatta side that bore little resemblance to the inept unit lumped with the wooden spoon last year. It was very much a tale of two halves – both sides failed to trouble the scoreboard attendant in the second 40 – and ultimately it was the Bulldogs’ ability to break the defensive line (four line busts to two) that proved the difference.
In team news, Melbourne will be sweating on the fitness of star fullback Billy Slater after he suffered a hamstring twinge in the win over the Cowboys. Slater has been named but will be monitored in the lead-up.
Nevertheless the Storm have two forced changes: Ex-Knight Junior Sa’u comes in at left centre for the injured Justin O’Neill, while Junior Moors joins the interchange to cover for the suspended Siosaia Vave who will miss one week.
Bulldogs coach Des Hasler has named an unchanged line-up, with Tim Lafai the extra man in jersey No.19.
Teams:
MELBOURNE STORM:
Billy Slater, Matt Duffie, Will Chambers, Junior Sa’u, Mahe Fonua, Gareth Widdop, Cooper Cronk, Jesse Bromwich, Cameron Smith, Bryan Norrie, Tohu Harris, Ryan Hoffman, Ryan Hinchcliffe
Interchange: Jason Ryles, Lagi Setu, Slade Griffin, Junior Moors, Maurice Blair (one to be omitted)
CANTERBURY BULLDOGS:
Drury Low, Mitch Brown, Josh Morris, Krisnan Inu, Sam Perrett, Josh Reynolds, Kris Keating, Aiden Tolman, Michael Ennis, Martin Taupau, Tony Williams, Josh Jackson, Greg Eastwood
Interchange: Dene Halatau, Dale Finucane, David Klemmer, Tim Browne, Tim Lafai (one to be omitted)
