Round 23 - Storm vs Titans

Discussion on anything to do with Melbourne Storm - games, players, rumours - anything!
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yourhero
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Sunday 25th August
2:00pm
AAMI Park

I would like to think that we put a cricket score on the Titans and end a fortnight of intense negativity. But every time I think we will come out ready to play exceedingly well, we tend not to...

In the past 5 games, the Titans have lost all 5 and conceded an average of 41.2 points.
We have only lost 4 games all year but 2 of those have come in the last 4 weeks.

The Titans are under pressure to perform well after a string of very poor performances.

Post try celebrations involving wrestling moves and forks to the camera would be appreciated. Not our style - and I appreciate that this can somewhat be construed as disrespect to the Titans - but I would still like to see it.
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yourhero
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Also, of our 4 losses this year, 3 have been at home. With Bellamy touching on complacency a couple of times this year, is that just more weight to that argument?
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https://www.melbournestorm.com.au/news/ ... 3-preview/

Storm v Titans - Round 23 preview
NRL.com
Mon 19 Aug 2019

It's first versus last and the signs aren't good for the Titans, as the Storm look to atone for last week's surprise home loss to Canberra.

Melbourne were cruising to a statement-making win when they led the Raiders 18-0 and watching them let it slip was akin to watching Tyson hit the canvas against Douglas.

It was their second loss on home turf in three weeks and it's the last thing Craig Bellamy wanted with a home final or two around the corner.

Unfortunately for the Titans the Storm will be out to vent some of their frustration on Sunday and it could get ugly very quickly.

The Rundown

Key match-up
Brodie Croft and Ryley Jacks were vying for the same spot when they were teammates at the Storm. Croft ultimately emerged as Craig Bellamy's first-choice halfback and Jacks packed his bag for the Gold Coast. Jacks will be fired up to remind Bellamy of his talents.

For the Storm to win
Defence has to improve after they let the Raiders in for 22 unanswered points last week, as does the composure of some of their experienced campaigners. Bellamy will demand sharp attention to detail and won't accept any complacency, laziness or ill-discipline one week after watching his team invite the Raiders back into the contest.

For the Titans to win
Hands down it will be the upset of the season and one of the biggest in the last decade if they somehow produce a win. They will need to play a near-perfect game in attack and defence and hope the competition leaders are way off their game. If they can defy the odds and keep it close, maybe they can snatch it at the death.

Brett Kimmorley says
I think the Storm, who gave up an 18-point lead and lost last week, will be seething. I think that is a nice, timely reminder for them a few weeks out form the semi-finals. They copped criticism for wrestling and tackling techniques, and I think they will respond. The Titans might be the team they respond against. I’d love to see some of the Titans forward – apart from Jai Arrow – stand up and help him out a bit. Storm by 18

Stat Attack
Melbourne are the NRL's best team for returning kicks, gaining 4,513 metres - well ahead of the second-placed Roosters (4,183). The Storm are equal leaders with the Bulldogs for completions (80%).

And another thing ...
The Titans stunned the Storm with two quick tries for an early 12-0 lead when they met in Round 18 on the Gold Coast. Melbourne soon hit back, but the home team hung tough to trail 22-18 at half-time. It was all Melbourne after the break, as Ryan Papenhuyzen, Cameron Smith and Justin Olam all scored in the second half to set up a 38-18 victory.
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I just want us to absolutely smash the Titans . A huge win would cement the minor premiership with 2 weeks to go.
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yourhero
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Storm team named:

1. Jahrome Hughes
2. Suliasi Vunivalu
3. Will Chambers
4. Justin Olam
5. Josh Addo-Carr
6. Cameron Munster
7. Brodie Croft
8. Jesse Bromwich
9. Cameron Smith
10. Nelson Asofa-Solomona
11. Felise Kaufusi
12. Kenneath Bromwich
13. Dale Finucane

14. Brandon Smith
15. Tui Kamikamica
16. Joe Stimson
17. Ryan Papenhuyzen

18. Curtis Scott
19. Tom Eisenhuth
20. Max King
21. Harry Grant
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yourhero
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The wombat is back! :-D :-D
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Titans team named:

1. Michael Gordon
2. Jesse Arthars
3. Kallum Watkins
4. Brian Kelly
5. Phillip Sami
6. Tyrone Peachey
7. Ryley Jacks
8. Moeaki Fotuaika
9. Mitch Rein
10. Jai Arrow
11. Kevin Proctor
12. Sam Stone
13. Nathan Peats

14. Alexander Brimson
15. Jai Whitbread
16. Jarrod Wallace
17. Brenko Lee

18. Bryce Cartwright
19. Tanah Boyd
20. Anthony Don
21. Jack Stockwell
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Have Tui or Stimson done enough in recent weeks to keep their spots heading into the finals? Or are they not used enough where it probably doesn't matter?
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yourhero
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If the Titans run out 1-17, I have no idea how the make-up of their bench is a good mix.
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blazza18 wrote: Tue Aug 20, 2019 5:13 pm Have Tui or Stimson done enough in recent weeks to keep their spots heading into the finals? Or are they not used enough where it probably doesn't matter?
Stimson, yes has done enough IMO. Shown some good versatility playing in the middle and in the centres as well as back row. Tui, well he's lucky Welch is injured and Tino hasn't really grabbed his chance.
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Tino not even in 21, and not named in QCup . Hope he is ok. We need him in the mix for finals.
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sallymay
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Hmm. Tino is only young maybe nrl is too much for him atm
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sallymay wrote: Tue Aug 20, 2019 9:18 pm Hmm. Tino is only young maybe nrl is too much for him atm
WTF does THAT mean Sally...

You appear to know something...
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yourhero
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Tino was a little unlucky last week in that when he was on the field, we couldn't hold onto the ball. He only received the ball twice for two runs (19m). He did get OK minutes (21mins) so a part of it is that he needs to force his way into the middle and put his hand up for a run. Likely he is still a bit intimidated out there by his more experienced teammates.
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yourhero wrote: Wed Aug 21, 2019 8:05 am Tino was a little unlucky last week in that when he was on the field, we couldn't hold onto the ball. He only received the ball twice for two runs (19m). He did get OK minutes (21mins) so a part of it is that he needs to force his way into the middle and put his hand up for a run. Likely he is still a bit intimidated out there by his more experienced teammates.
This is precisely what has concerned me about our forwards at various stages this year, and certainly in the second half of the Raiders game - they simply weren't putting their hands up for a run when we needed them to.

There were numerous times where we hung on defensively for a set (or multiple sets), only to have to force our way out of our own end via our smaller backs - they were easy pickings for the Raiders defense, and it wasn't until the 4th or 5th tackle that a forward got involved (if at all). Two runs in 21 minutes for Tino is pathetic, unless he was a tackling machine in his time on the field (does 15 tackles in 21 minutes qualify?), and Stimson's stats are worse! Throw in Papenhuyzen's lack of game time (seriously, WTF?!), and we didn't get much out of our bench at all!
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