Round 14 vs Knights

[Mattpoet]

Would love to see this team:

1.Papenhuyzen
2.Vunivalu
3.Chambers
4.Seve
5.Addo-Carr
6.Munster
7.Hughes
8.J.Bromwich
9.C.Smith
10.Asofa-Solomona
11.F.Kaufusi
12.K.Bromwich
13.Finucane

14.B.Smith
15.Welch
16.Kamikamica
17.Grant

18.Walters
19.Olam
20.Vete
21.Fa'asuamealeaui

[Lucas]

Drinkwater instead of Grant. Use him or lose him.

[Storm Spirit]

Drinkwater instead of Grant. Use him or lose him.

agreed

[blazza18]

We're probs gonna lose Grant as well given how well he's playing in the Q cup and being a long shot at FG here. Should contemplate seeing if he can play in the halves.


I wonder if Croft will be "rested" this week. And then not make a more permanent switch until after origin.

[Mattpoet]

I was under the impression that Drinkwater had been charged in Q Cup?

[Teejay]

1.Drinkwater
2.Vunivalu
3.Chambers
4.Seve
5.Addo-Carr
6.Munster
7.Hughes
8.J.Bromwich
9.C.Smith
10.Asofa-Solomona
11.F.Kaufusi
12.K.Bromwich
13.Finucane

14.B.Smith
15.Welch
16.Vete
17.Papenhuyzen

[RobbieRoss]

I was under the impression that Drinkwater had been charged in Q Cup?

That would be horrible timing if it be the case ( I don’t know ).

[RobbieRoss]

I can see from QRL website that Drinkwater was sin binned for 10 mins for a professional foul. No more details are given.

[Mattpoet]

If he's available, I agree with teejay except with Tui for Vete.

[yourhero]

https://www.melbournestorm.com.au/news/ ... 4-preview/

Storm v Knights - Round 14 preview
NRL.com
Tue 11 Jun 2019

Here's the true test of how Newcastle are going. They've won six in a row and knocked off some top teams, but a full-strength Melbourne will be the greatest indication of where they're sitting midway through the season.

It's a tough time to draw the Storm, that is during the Origin period but in a week that falls just before selection so no players are missing.

The Knights have confidence, though, which can make up for a lot in rugby league.

The Rundown

Key match-up
Mitchell Pearce wants another shot at the Blues and he can state his case against the Maroons five-eighth in Cameron Munster. NSW struggled to contain the Storm playmaker in game one, so if Pearce can dominate here, Brad Fittler will have to take notice.

For the Storm to win
It will come through their forwards. The Knights pack were without David Klemmer last week but went toe to toe with the might of South Sydney's big men, but that is still where the Storm can have the most success. Go through the middle, tire them out and the likes of Munster and Cameron Smith can expose them there.

For the Knights to win
They must smother them. Get up quick and don't give them space to move the ball around where their dangerous backline can take advantage. The Storm have fast hands and lots of speed, it's about nullifying the effectiveness of that.

Brett Kimmorley says
The Knights are on fire. They're playing a pretty simple brand of football that relies on enthusiasm and taking the ball over the advantage line and playing it square, and if they can do that and create momentum against the Melbourne Storm it'll be a good test to see where they're at. It's a huge night for Mitchell Pearce – if he's able to ice a victory over the Storm he could win his old Blues jersey back. But if anyone can find a way to stop the Knights it'll be a Craig Bellamy-coached side. Storm by 4.

Stat Attack
Recent head to head against Newcastle doesn't count for much, nearly every team has a good record. With Melbourne though, it stretches further than that. They've won the past six clashes, back to 2016, and the 11 matches before that (going back to 2010) the ledger is 8-3 in the Storm's favour (25-15 overall, one draw).

And another thing ...
A Knights win would complete a top three trifecta for them, having knocked off second and third spot in the Rabbitohs and Roosters their past two matches.

Both those teams were understrength, it could be argued (though the Knights were missing Origin players against Souths too) whereas they will face Melbourne with all their might.

There will be no denying they're a danger team in 2019 if they get up.

[TC]

Same team named as last week.

https://www.melbournestorm.com.au/news/ ... v-knights/

[sallymay]

I was under the impression that Drinkwater had been charged in Q Cup?

Nope no charge

[blazza18]

Not surprised by the same team being named. Would love to give Bellamy some truth serum and ask him about the halfback situation.

[Mofo]

Drinkwater instead of Grant. Use him or lose him.

Too late not to lose him unfortunately..... Damn.

https://coupler-foxsports-com-au.cdn.am ... 20%251%24s

[blazza18]

From Bellamy's presser today. Croft has passed all his tests and has trained the last couple of days, then mumbled a lot so I'm not sure if he'll play *shrugs*.