NRL, MAGIC ROUND, MAY 6th, 2023 MELBOURNE STORM v SOUTH SYDNEY RABBITOHS
SUNCORP STADIUM,BRISBANE
A blockbuster showdown awaits on Saturday night as the Rabbitohs and Storm collide at Suncorp Stadium.
South Sydney are the form team in the competition, coming into this clash on the back of four consecutive victories over the Bulldogs, Dolphins, Panthers and Broncos.
Campbell Graham is scoring tries for fun, while Latrell Mitchell and Cody Walker are firing on all cylinders.
The Rabbitohs made a statement last week, crushing the ladder-leading Broncos 32-16 at this very venue.
However, the Bunnies will be on guard here having lost eight of their last nine games against the Storm – including in Round 5 earlier this season by eight points.
Meanwhile, the Storm haven’t been convincing all season, but they’ve moved into the top four courtesy of last week’s bye.
Melbourne should be fresh heading into this encounter, with their last game coming on ANZAC Day, where they barely held on at home against the Warriors.
There’s been something miss at the Storm all season and they will need to be operating at the peak of their powers to win this game.
Storm team:
1. Nick Meaney 2. William Warbrick 3. Reimis Smith 4. Justin Olam 5. Xavier Coates 6. Cameron Munster 7. Jahrome Hughes 8. Nelson Asofa-Solomona 9. Harry Grant 10. Christian Welch 11. Trent Loiero 12. Eliesa Katoa 13. Josh King 14. Bronson Garlick 15. Aaron Pene 16. Tom Eisenhuth 17. Tariq Sims 18. Tyran Wishart 19. Grant Anderson 20. Tepai Moeroa 21. Jordan Grant 22. Jonah Pezet
Rabbitohs team:
1. Latrell Mitchell 2. Alex Johnston 3. Isaiah Tass 4. Campbell Graham 5. Taane Milne 6. Cody Walker 7. Lachlan Ilias 8. Tevita Tatola 9. Damien Cook 10. Hame Sele 11. Michael Chee Kam 12. Jacob Host 13. Cameron Murray 14. Jed Cartwright 15. Jai Arrow 16. Liam Knight 17. Thomas Burgess 18. Josiah Karapani 19. Blake Taaffe 20. Daniel Suluka-Fifita 21. Ben Lovett 22. Dean Hawkins
PREDICTION.
The Rabbitohs are in much better form, but the Storm’s dominant H2H in this matchup is also tough to ignore.
Rabbitohs have won their last four games
Storm have lost three of their last four games at Suncorp
Under 41.5 points has landed in five of the last seven meetings
The last three meetings have produced 36 points or less (18-10 earlier this season)
Five of the last six meetings have been decided by a 1-12 margin
Campbell Graham has scored nine tries in his last five games & scored in three of his last four appearances against the Storm
Alex Johnston has scored just three tries this season – he’s on one of the driest runs of his career, so backing him to turn things around in a big game. Johnston scored in his last game vs Storm
Cameron Munster has scored a try in four of his last five games
I think there will not be too much between these sides at full time. The Rabbits will start as favorite, but I like the Storm. I think the Storm can pull this off by 1 point, only.
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