Round 13 - Storm vs Bulldogs

Discussion on anything to do with Melbourne Storm - games, players, rumours - anything!
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yourhero
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Saturday 8th August
3:00pm
Sunshine Coast Stadium, Sunshine Coast

2nd vs 16th.
I don't think that alone tells the entire story though. The Dogs are playing better than their ladder position. They lost to the Dragons a few weeks ago that should have been a win. Then they beat the Knights by 6 and lost to the Eels by 2. They are playing tough, gritty footy.

The Dogs won't have Will Hopoate, Adam Elliott or Joe Stimson. We won't have Smithy, Tui, Brenko, Momirovski and probably King.
Mattpoet
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How will we look this week? Tipping something like:

1.Papenhuyzen
2.Vunivalu
3.Olam
4.Eisenhuth/Hynes
5.Addo-Carr
6.Munster
7.Hughes
8.J.Bromwich (c)
9.B.Smith
10.Welch
11.Kaufusi
12.K.Bromwich
13.Finucane (c)
14.Hynes/Eisenhuth
15.Fa'asuamealeaui
16.Vete/Jacks/Booth (if in the bubble)
17.Asofa-Solomona
18.Vete/Jacks/Booth
19.Vete/Jacks/Booth
20.Schonig
21.Earl

If Booth is not in the bubble then Johns
RobbieRoss
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Thanks Mattpoet. Hoffy has confirmed that Olam was injured but will be back this week. Seve out with a cut head.

Presumably Olam goes over next to Fox. I agree Hynes or Eisenhuth will be next to Suli, with the other on the bench.

If I have read you correctly, if Hynes is at Centre and Eisenhuth on the bench then they will carry another Back on the bench , and if Eisenhuth is at centre then Hynes is the reserve back and Vete plays. I agree with that .

Aaron Booth - that is left field. Have you heard anything about him heading up ?
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sallymay
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Aaron booth is with the squad I think he is in the top 30 so could play if needed
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Pole
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Doggies arent a bad team, I expect a physical game, but they lack the finishing.
Mattpoet
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He's the other specialist hooker so if he's not in contention this week he never will be
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yourhero
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Image

https://www.melbournestorm.com.au/news/ ... of-health/
NRL.com
Mon 3 Aug 2020, 03:31 PM

Perennial contenders Melbourne remain firmly on track for another minor premiership after last week's comfortable disposal of Newcastle.
Cameron Smith's shoulder injury could throw a spanner in the works but Cameron Munster ranks as one of the game's elite playmakers while Jahrome Hughes, Ryan Papenhuyzen and Brandon Smith continue to come into their own as genuine game-breakers.

Coach Craig Bellamy might look like he'll blow a fuse occasionally, but he has the Storm humming along nicely as usual.
The Bulldogs broke a long losing streak with a round 11 upset of the Knights and they were valiant in going down 18-16 to the Eels last week. They'll need to produce something truly special to overcome the Storm.

The Rundown

Team news
Storm: With captain Cameron Smith to miss 2-3 weeks with an AC joint injury, Brandon Smith is expected to slot into hooker. Halfback Jahrome Hughes was assessed for a contact leg injury against the Knights but is fine. Forward Max King (achilles) was slated to return this round or next. Centre Justin Olam missed last week with an ankle problem and could return.
Bulldogs: Few forced changes are expected with no injuries coming out of Sunday's loss to the Eels. Will Hopoate isn't expected back for another couple of weeks at least.

Key match-up
Nelson Asofa-Solomona v Dylan Napa. They are two of the biggest men in the game and their clashes in the middle will rattle the foundations of Sunshine Coast Stadium. Asofa-Solomona has slowly but surely worked his way back to form, while Napa doesn't cross the try-line as often as Melbourne's giant prop, but he can still deliver a brutal body shot and he'll have to make his presence felt on Saturday if the Dogs are any chance.

Stat Attack
The Bulldogs weren't far off causing a huge boil-over when they met the Storm in Melbourne in round four last year. They led 12-6 at half-time and gave their more-fancied opponents all they could handle in the second half in an 18-16 loss. The Storm were more focused in the round 11 re-match, building an 8-0 half-time lead en route to a 28-6 victory.
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Pole
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Interestingly enough, the Bulldogs have the wood over us historically: 21 wins vs 20
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yourhero
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Pole wrote: Tue Aug 04, 2020 8:13 amInterestingly enough, the Bulldogs have the wood over us historically: 21 wins vs 20
That is quite interesting. They are the only club with a winning overall record against us.
blazza18
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Those early 2000s Dogs' teams gave us so man L's. 2013-2016 was another bad run from us, believe we did play them a fair bit without our origin guys in that stretch though.
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yourhero
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Team line-up named. Paps rested.

1. Nicho Hynes
2. Suliasi Vunivalu
3. Tom Eisenhuth
4. Justin Olam
5. Josh Addo-Carr
6. Cameron Munster
7. Jahrome Hughes
8. Jesse Bromwich
9. Brandon Smith
10. Christian Welch
11. Felise Kaufusi
12. Kenneath Bromwich
13. Dale Finucane

14. Ryley Jacks
15. Tino Faasuamaleaui
16. Albert Vete
17. Nelson Asofa-Solomona

18. Darryn Schonig
19. Chris Lewis
20. Cooper Johns
21. Sandor Earl
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yourhero
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Bulldogs team named;

1. Nick Meaney
2. Dallin Watene-Zelezniak
3. Tim Lafai
4. Jake Averillo
5. Marcelo Montoya
6. Kieran Foran
7. Lachlan Lewis
8. Ofahiki Ogden
9. Sione Katoa
10. Dylan Napa
11. Josh Jackson
12. Raymond Faitala-Mariner
13. Luke Thompson

14. Jeremy Marshall-King
15. Aiden Tolman
16. Sauaso Sue
17. Reimis Smith

19. Kerrod Holland
20. Renouf To'omaga
21. Chris Smith
22. Matt Doorey
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Pole
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Hughes and Kaufusi could be late withdrawals, both trying to shake off minor i injuries.

Could be a tough battle if we are missing another two starters.
Mattpoet
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Finucane to be rested and Johns also omitted from squad
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nacho
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I'd rather take the L if it means we try new players to get time and experience.
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