S26E17 Preview – Pride in the jersey
Saaturday night's alright for fighting, get a little action in
It’s been a busy week, so much so that I didn’t need to watch an old Storm game this week. Instead I was watching the thrilling conclusion to the first Ashes test at 4:21am AEST on Wednesday morning. Long live test cricket.
To keep things Storm related though, enjoy this from the Storm’s socials last week 🧱 🏏
For Origin chat, go here:
Stat pack
This will be Melbourne’s fifth match on 24 June, with previous matches often affected by Origin absences. Melbourne defeated the Dragons in 2007 at Olympic Park 28–6, then lost to the Bulldogs in 2012 at Mackay (20–4), the Titans in 2013 at Robina (18–12), and the Roosters in 2017 at Adelaide (25–24).
Melbourne have a 25-17-1 record against Manly with the only draw coming in dire conditions at AAMI Park in 2013. Manly have won five matches in Victoria, leaving AAMI Park with the points in 2015, 2018 and 2019; also winning once at Olympic Park in 2008 and at Docklands in 2010.
Three Melbourne players have been sent off in matches against the Northern Eagles or Manly Sea Eagles — Rodney Howe in 2000 for a high tackle for which he would be exonerated by the NRL match review, Adam Blair in 2011 for his part in the Battle of Brookvale, and Curtis Scott in 2018 when his punches fractured the eye socket of Dylan Walker.
Aaron Pene is the highest-placed Melbourne player on the list of current players yet to score a try in the NRL, having played 30 games (16 with Melbourne). Garret Crossman (35 matches), Nathan Friend (34) and Ben Cross (32) all played 30+ games for Melbourne without scoring a try, but all scored after leaving the Storm.1
Team line-up
Nick Meaney
Will Warbick
Remis Smith
Justin Olam
Xavier Coates
Cameron MunsterJahrome Hughes
Tom EisenhuthHarry Grant
Christian Welch ©
Trent Loiero
Nelson Asofa-Solomona
Josh King
Bronson Garlick
Tariq Sims
Aaron Pene
Tyran Wishart
Kane Bradley
Chris Lewis
George JenningsAlec MacDonald
Jonah Pezet
Sualauvi Fa’alogo
Referee: Todd Smith
Preview
As expected, Melbourne had a number of personnel changes from the team that defeated Wests at Campbelltown, with Cameron Munster, Harry Grant, Xavier Coates, Justin Olam, and Christian Welch all named to return. The first three players will be hoping to back up from Origin duty on Wednesday night.
When the team list was released on Tuesday, it threw a lot of Storm fans for a loop: where was Tui Kamikamica?
The answer came 90 minutes later, with the big Fijian forward on the injury report with a calf strain. Also joining Kamikamica on the injured list is Marion Seve with a broken jaw. Seve did leave the field for a HIA late in the match against the Tigers, so I went back to watch the replay and it just looks like he was caught high by a shoulder in a regulation tackle during his last involvement in the match.
Pending the ability of the Origin players to back-up, I expect there might be some tinkering with the squad on Saturday, especially with the bench rotations. It will be fun though to see Tom Eisenhuth in jersey number 8, putting him in the Melbourne Storm cohort to have started in both the outside backs and the front row of the forward pack.2
Editor’s note: Tom Eisenhuth is out of the team.
Justin Olam returns this week, surely with a score to settle from April. Expecting some big runs and tackles from the PNG centre, against a team he has scored 10 tries against from 10 matches.
Praise be the club’s digital media for putting out this masterpiece this week:
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On the other side of the field, the visitors will be sweating on the availability of their Origin players — captain Daly Cherry-Evans and their talisman Tom Trbojevic.3 DCE wasn’t the total difference in the last meeting in April, but his playmaking abilities are a key part of their gameplan.
With the assistance of the officials, Manly were able to get the job done at #FortressShithole in April, with Melbourne desperately missing Nick Meaney on that night. If Melbourne are able to get their spine on the park this week, I expect this game might go a little different. However with Manly playing hot (against the Raiders and Dolphins) and cold (everyone else) since the round 7 clash, it can be hard to get a read on what they’ll throw up this week at AAMI Park. For a team scared of inclusiveness, joy and rainbows, it’s amusing how little pride Manly has in their jersey. Perhaps their decision to hire Anthony Seibold set the tone for their mediocre season thus far.
Would like to see Melbourne extend this little winning run since the nadir against the Cowboys. With the forecast looking like there could be cold and only a little damp conditions at AAMI Park, there should no excuses for putting in a solid effort. This team is still a work in progress at the moment, but they really can’t afford a slip up this week.
Crossman (77 career NRL matches) and Cross (95 career NRL matches) would eventually break their droughts by scoring tries in Super League, but not in the NRL.
Eisenhuth is scheduled to finally play his 50th NRL match next week, after making his NRL debut with Penrith in 2012.
Manly’s season ended by injury to Trbojevic during Origin II. You’d think it cruel, but it isn’t.