The only game on Monday for NRL Round 10 is between Melbourne Storm and Manly Sea Eagles. The opening bounce is set to commence at 7:00pm with the game to be played at AAMI Park in Melbourne. The favourite for the match is home team Melbourne Storm who are coming off back to back loses. View our preview and teams for the game between Melbourne Storm and Manly Sea Eagles.

Featured Bookmakers:

Melbourne Storm $1.50 vs Manly Sea Eagless $2.65 at Sportsbet Australia get a $500 FREE BET on this match

Melbourne Storm $1.44 vs Manly Sea Eagles $2.85 at Luxbet Australia get a $500 FREE BET on this match

Odds Comparison by NRL Odds:

Melbourne Storm	1.50	1.45	1.44	1.45	1.50	1.50
Manly Sea Eagles	2.65	2.80	2.85	2.80	2.65	2.65

Preview:

Melbourne host Manly in the final match of the round and surprisingly, both clubs come into this game having lost two of their past three matches.

Melbourne had their fifteen game winning streak broken by Canberra in Round 8 (24-20) and then struggled against the Penrith last week who, after jumping to an early lead, were able to defy Melbourne’s challenges late and scored a 12-10 win.

Neither performance is what we’ve come to expect from Melbourne and had no genuine excuse in either loss.

With Sydney Roosters next week and then losing several key players to Origin duty, Melbourne must win this game.

Manly’s loss to Souths (20-12) and last week to Roosters (16-4) were separated by a hard fought win over St. George (24-18) in round 8.

Each of these games has been tough encounters and will serve as good preparation for the Storm who by their own admission, have been poor.

The Storm beat Manly twice last year (both high-scoring games) and are a professional unit capable of turning it around and have to no option at the current moment in time but to win here.

Teams:

Melbourne Storm:
Billy Slater, Sisa Waqa, Will Chambers, Justin O’Neill, Mahe Fonua, Gareth Widdop, Cooper Cronk, Jesse Bromwich, Cameron Smith (c), Bryan Norrie, Kevin Proctor, Ryan Hoffman, Tohu Harris. Interchange: Jason Ryles, Junior Moors, Maurice Blair, Slade Griffin, Lagi Setu.

Manly Sea Eagles:
Peta Hiku, Jorge Taufua, Jamie Lyon (c), Steve Matai, David Williams, Kieran Foran, Daly Cherry-Evans, Brenton Lawrence, Matt Ballin, Brent Kite, Anthony Watmough, Justin Horo, Glenn Stewart. Interchange: David Gower, Tom Symonds, Jamie Buhrer, George Rose, James Hasson

No alarm bells for Storm skipper Smith

Captain Cameron Smith insists there are no alarm bells ringing for NRL premiers Melbourne but the timing of their mini-slump could have major implications for their season.

After losing their past two games, including to lowly Penrith last round, Melbourne next face fourth-placed arch-rivals Manly and are then away to the third-placed Sydney Roosters.

Then, following a bye, they must battle through State of Origin time, when kingpins Smith, Billy Slater and Cooper Cronk will be mostly absent on Queensland duty.

Two weeks ago the talk was about the Storm’s club record run of 15 straight wins.

Now coach Craig Bellamy is looking to revive the hunger to compete in his second-placed team after saying he couldn’t remember seeing as many blank eyes at halftime as in Sunday’s 12-10 loss to Penrith.

Smith on Tuesday acknowledged the winning streak, which included last year’s finals series and the taxing pre-season World Club Challenge trip to England, could have finally taken a mental and physical toll.

“I think it’s always going to take energy to be up for that long, there is no doubt about that,” he said.

“But that’s not an excuse, we are not losing matches because we are tired, we are losing because we are not playing our best football, as simple as that.”

Smith insisted there was nothing significantly wrong with his team or their game plan.

“There are no signs to me sticking out that guys aren’t pulling their weight,” he said.

“There are certain areas of our game we aren’t doing well and at this level, you can’t be five or 10 per cent off or you find yourself on the wrong side of the scoreboard.”

Nor did he see the back to back losses as a real issue.

“When the Storm lose a game, or back-to-back matches, people think that there is something critically wrong with the team,” he said.

“The reality is we are seven and two, which is a pretty good record.

“A lot of teams down the bottom of the ladder would swap positions in a heart beat.”

Manly were beaten by the Roosters in a bruising encounter on Monday but they always lift to face the Storm and are sure to do so again at AAMI Park on Monday.

Smith said the Storm were used to it because every side got revved up to take on the defending champions.

“Our goal this week is to go out and play the best we can; we need to because we are playing Manly,” said Smith.

“They will be coming down here to knock us off.”