NRL, ROUND 24, AUGUST 13th, 2023 MELBOURNE STORM v CANBERRA RAIDERS
AAMI PARK, MELBOURNE
The anticipated clash in Round 24 of the NRL is set to unfold at AAMI Park in Melbourne, where the local team, Melbourne Storm, will face off against the visiting Canberra Raiders.
In this pivotal encounter, the fourth spot on the ladder will be fiercely contested by these neighboring NRL teams. Melbourne Storm, with their impressive history at AAMI Park, seeks to overcome a notable challenge posed by the Canberra Raiders, who have been riding high on a five-match winning spree at this very venue.
Recalling their late-season momentum in 2022, Ricky Stuart’s Raiders ignited a surge with a triumph over Melbourne, with a 20-16 victory, followed by an unexpected 28-20 victory over the Storm in the elimination finals.
As we delve into the 2023 season, the Melbourne Storm, under the 21-season stewardship of Craig Bellamy, exhibit an uncharacteristic level of inconsistency. Their performance has oscillated between wins and losses over the span of six weeks, failing to secure more than three consecutive victories throughout the year.
A notable highlight was the commanding 46-16 victory over Parramatta, indicating a potential turning point for their campaign. However, they faced a humbling 26-6 defeat against Penrith, lacking the services of key players Jahrome Hughes and Xavier Coates, who have since been cleared to participate in the upcoming match.
In contrast to their lofty position on the ladder, the form of the Canberra Raiders has been less than stellar. Following consecutive losses against the Warriors (21-20) and Newcastle (28-6), they managed a hard-fought 22-18 win over the Wests Tigers, despite facing challenges in maintaining their lead.
Unfortunately for the Raiders, a season-ending injury has befallen Sebastian Kris, who had been filling the void left by Jarrod Croker. This opens the door for Ethan Strange to make his debut against the Storm, joining his family members John and Jasmin in the NRL/NRLW arena.
The stage is set for an intense battle as Melbourne Storm, boasting a string of six victories at AAMI Park, strive to halt the Raiders’ winning streak on their turf. However, it’s worth noting that the Raiders have suffered only one loss in their past eight away games, maintaining a strong record. This suggests that they could be the underdog value pick, particularly considering their knack for high-scoring matches and a recent history of point-filled encounters.
Key Player Stats:
- Xavier Coates has impressively scored eight tries in his last seven games.
- Cameron Munster has found the try line in four of his last five games at AAMI Park.
- Jordan Rapana has notched five tries in his last eight games against the Storm.
Predictions
In this Sunday afternoon clash at AAMI Park, the fourth-seeded Melbourne Storm takes on the fifth-placed Canberra Raiders. Despite their positions, both teams are entering the match with somewhat lackluster form.
Recent records reveal that Melbourne has encountered losses in three of their last five games, albeit two of them against the formidable Panthers. On the other hand, the Raiders have faced defeats in two of their last three matches, narrowly clinching a victory against the Tigers in their previous outing.
Intriguingly, the Raiders have emerged victorious in their last five meetings against the Storm at AAMI Park, which even included a significant knockout in last season’s finals at the same venue.
Yet, replicating those past triumphs seems challenging for the Raiders this time around. Despite their position on the ladder, their performances have often been characterized by a lack of flair and an emphasis on grinding out narrow wins.
Considering these factors, the advantage appears to lean toward the Melbourne Storm, playing on their home turf and facing a critical must-win situation for both sides.
Storm team: 1. Nick Meaney 2. William Warbrick 3. Marion Seve 4. Young Tonumaipea 5. Xavier Coates 6. Cameron Munster 7. Jahrome Hughes 8. Tui Kamikamica 9. Harry Grant 10. Christian Welch 11. Trent Loiero 12. Tom Eisenhuth 13. Josh King 14. Bronson Garlick 15. Eliesa Katoa 16. Tepai Moeroa 17. Nelson Asofa-Solomona 18. Alec MacDonald 19. Reimis Smith 20. Jonah Pezet 21. Tariq Sims 22. Tyran Wishart
Raiders team: 1. Jordan Rapana 2. Albert Hopoate 3. Ethan Strange 4. Matthew Timoko 5. Nick Cotric 6. Jack Wighton 7. Jamal Fogarty 8. Josh Papali’i 9. Zac Woolford 10. Joseph Tapine 11. Hudson Young 12. Elliott Whitehead 13. Corey Horsburgh 14. Adrian Trevilyan 15. Emre Guler 16. Pasami Saulo 17. Ata Mariota 18. Brad Morkos 19. Matt Frawley 20. Tom Starling 21. Trey Mooney 22. Utuloa Asouma
Referee: Grant Atkins
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