Sunday’s second NRL Round 14 match is between Melbourne Storm and Newcastle Knights with the opening kick to commence at 3:00pm local time. The game is to be played at AAMI Park with the home team Melbourne Storm hold favouritism in the match. View our preview and teams for the game between Melbourne Storm and Newcastle Knights.
AAMI Park
Sunday 3.00pm
Featured Bookmakers:
Melbourne Storm $1.18 vs Newcastle Knights $5.15 at Sportsbet Australia get a $500 FREE BET on this match
Melbourne Storm $1.19 vs Newcastle Knights $4.90 at Luxbet Australia get a $500 FREE BET on this match
Odds Comparison by NRL Odds:
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| Melbourne Storm | 1.18 | 1.18 | 1.19 | 1.18 | 1.18 | 1.16 |
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Newcastle Knights
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5.15 | 5.15 | 4.90 | 5.15 | 5.15 | 5.10 |
Preview:
After two successive losses and a draw with Manly, the Storm have bounced back in recent weeks to their best with a solid win over the Roosters (26-18) and a comprehensive victory over Cronulla (38 – 6) in their most recent match.
Their Origin stars have had a plenty of time to recover from the first Origin game and at home, will prove hard for a struggling Newcastle to overcome.
The Knights lost their third successive game when beaten by St. George last week (14-8).
It was their fifth loss in the past six weeks and the poor form has seen the Knights slip outside of the eight.
With Gold Coast and Canterbury – two inform sides awaiting the Knights in the next two rounds, the Knights will have to find form and fast.
The last time the Knights got the better of the Storm however was back in Round 23, 2009 – six matches back and expect the Storm to stretch that winning streak to seven here.
Teams:
Melbourne Storm:
Billy Slater, Sisa Waqa, Will Chambers, Maurice Blair , Justin O’Neill, Gareth Widdop, Cooper Cronk, Jesse Bromwich, Cameron Smith (c), Bryan Norrie, Kevin Proctor, Ryan Hoffman, Ryan Hinchcliffe. Interchange: Jason Ryles, Tohu Harris, Junior Moors, Jordan McLean
Newcastle Knights:
Darius Boyd, James McManus, Dane Gagai, Joey Leilua, Kevin Naiqama, Jarrod Mullen (c), Tyrone Roberts, Kade Snowden, Travis Waddell, Willie Mason, Robbie Rochow, Chris Houston, Jeremy Smith. Interchange: Adam Clydsdale, David Fa’alogo, Beau Scott, Korbin Sims, Neville Costigan
Seeing Gower at his first Knights training session prompted comparisons with Allan Langer and something just as rare from the master coach – a smile.
But it was nothing compared to what happened after the notoriously media-shy mentor was asked how he landed the dual international.
“That’s one of the good things you journalists do – you wrote that he was available,” Bennett said of Gower who was playing in the English Super League barely a week ago.
“I happened to read that article. I very seldom read (newspapers) but I was bored and I was sitting at the airport.
“I rang (Knights CEO) Matt Gidley straight away and said `we need to make a phone call’ and he (Gower) didn’t hesitate.
“It was wonderful so I thank you.”
Bennett said he would make a final decision on Saturday on whether to play Gower and hooker Danny Buderus (back) against Melbourne but omitted the pair from his 18-man squad on Tuesday.
However Bennett hinted that Gower would be able to handle being rushed straight into Sunday’s game, citing Langer’s shock 2001 return from the UK that inspired a Queensland Origin triumph.
“I brought Allan Langer back once for an Origin game and he stood up pretty good so I think this guy will stand up,” Bennett said of Gower, a veteran of 18 rugby league Tests for Australia and 14 for Italy in rugby.
“I am sure he will be nervous, it’s a big decision he has made.
“I remember when Alf came home for that game he was extremely nervous.
“But champions are like that – they like to challenge themselves and they don’t invariably let themselves down.
“I am pretty confident he will deliver for us.”
Gower, 35, claimed he was “ready to go” on Tuesday despite last tasting NRL action in 2007.
“My hooker days are over. I’d rather play halfback but we’ll wait and see,” he told reporters.