Round 1 - Sea Eagles vs Storm
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Sea Eagles v Storm: Round 1 preview
NRL.com
Mon 9 Mar 2020
One of the great modern rivalries, there is usually drama when the Sea Eagles and Storm clash.
That was certainly the case in their first meeting last season when Manly won a golden point thriller 11-10 to announce their premiership claims.
Melbourne recorded a big win in the rematch, but Sea Eagles winger Jorge Taufua produced the main highlight by demolishing Cameron Munster with a trademark hit.
Reigning minor premiers the Storm are looking to continue their dominance despite losing some backline power, while Manly are expected to be among the top teams in 2020.
The Rundown
Team news
Sea Eagles: Influential lock Jake Trbojevic is all but certain to be out as he recovers from shoulder surgery. Prop Addin Fonua-Blake (shoulder) is racing the clock to be fit, while Taniela Paseka (ankle) will be watching from the stands. Jack Gosiewski has a back disc infection.
Storm: Interchange hooker Brandon Smith suffered a facial fracture in the All Stars game and won't be back for a few weeks. Nelson Asofa-Solomona (hamstring) is expected to be fit, while Christian Welch (knee) is out.
Key match-up
Tom Trbojevic v Ryan Papenhuyzen. The fullbacks hold the key to their team’s attack at Lottoland. Trbojevic is on the comeback trail from injury while Papenhuyzen is coming off a breakout year at the back for the Storm and will be targeted a lot more by opposition sides in 2020.
For the Sea Eagles to win
Manly's selective offloading ability was a point of difference in their attack last year. Second-phase play could be what's needed to open up the notoriously tight Storm defence.
For the Storm to win
As always, the two Camerons – Smith and Munster – are integral to Melbourne's hopes. Their impact – or lack of – might be what decides the result.
Brett Kimmorley says
Manly are no longer flying under the radar after a wonderful 2019. The home ground advantage is big and I think they'll cause an upset thanks to a Des Hasler coaching masterclass. It's interesting how the Storm keep having to develop players and they lost a few again this year. They couldn't settle on a halfback last season, so I look forward to seeing who plays where for Melbourne and what style they employ in the opening weeks. Sea Eagles by 2.
Stat Attack
Daly Cherry-Evans was the NRL's top 40/20 kicker in 2019, finishing with five. The Storm were the leading team for kick return metres (5,876) and supports (3,631).
And another thing ...
There have been a series of closely-fought battles between these teams but Manly's 40-0 win over Melbourne back in 2008 broke the record for the biggest winning margin in a grand final. The rivalry between the teams is so big there is a Wikipedia page dedicated to it (and a separate one for the "Battle of Brookvale").
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Melbourne Storm head coach Craig Bellamy has selected a near full-strength side to face the Sea Eagles at Lottoland on Sunday.
Nelson Asofa-Solomona - who did not play in a pre-season trial - has been named on the extended bench as he closes in on a return following a hamstring strain. Tui Kamikamica has been named in the NRL starting team for the first time in his 29th first-grade appearance.
Marion Seve has been named at right centre after vying with Brenko Lee for the position during the pre-season, with Justin Olam continuing alongside Josh Addo-Carr on the left edge. It will be Seve's first NRL appearance since round 18 last year, as Storm look to fill the void following the departures of Will Chambers and Curtis Scott.
Harry Grant has been named in the number 14 jersey with Brandon Smith sidelined with a facial fracture. The extended bench also includes NRL rookie Darryn Schonig and the returning Ryley Jacks.
1. Ryan Papenhuyzen
2. Suliasi Vunivalu
3. Marion Seve
4. Justin Olam
5. Josh Addo-Carr
6. Cameron Munster
7. Jahrome Hughes
8. Jesse Bromwich
9. Cameron Smith
10. Tui Kamikamica
11. Felise Kaufusi
12. Kenny Bromwich
13. Dale Finucane
14. Harry Grant
15. Tino Fa'Asuamaleaui
16. Max King
17. Tom Eisenhuth
18. Nelson Asofa-Solomona
19. Brenko Lee
20. Ryley Jacks
21. Darryn Schonig
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Mongs team line up
1. Tom Trbojevic
2. Jorge Taufua
3. Brad Parker
4. Moses Suli
5. Reuben Garrick
6. Dylan "Woman Basher" Walker
7. Daly Cherry-Evans
8. Addin Fonua-Blake
9. Danny Levi
10. Martin Taupau
11. Joel Thompson
12. Curtis Sironen
13. Jake Trbojevic
14. Lachlan Croker
15. Sean Keppie
16. Morgan Boyle
17. Haumole Olakau'atu
18. Toafofoa Sipley
19. Brendan Elliot
20. Tevita Funa
21. Zac Saddler
1. Tom Trbojevic
2. Jorge Taufua
3. Brad Parker
4. Moses Suli
5. Reuben Garrick
6. Dylan "Woman Basher" Walker
7. Daly Cherry-Evans
8. Addin Fonua-Blake
9. Danny Levi
10. Martin Taupau
11. Joel Thompson
12. Curtis Sironen
13. Jake Trbojevic
14. Lachlan Croker
15. Sean Keppie
16. Morgan Boyle
17. Haumole Olakau'atu
18. Toafofoa Sipley
19. Brendan Elliot
20. Tevita Funa
21. Zac Saddler
As the Coronavirus situation continues to unfold over the coming weeks and months, we may see League wide NRL imposed lockouts or shutdowns.Storm Spirit wrote: ↑Tue Mar 10, 2020 11:47 amWill it be in front of an (almost) empty stadium given the unfolding situation in Sydney ?
Not necessarily an NRL imposed empty stadium however.
In the US they are experiencing massive impacts to pro sports.
- They have suspended the NBA and NHL.
- College Basketball is on hold.
- Major League Baseball cancelled the rest of spring training and delayed the commencement of the season.
- NASCAR will play out in front of empty stadiums.
Both the NRL and AFL have had to start considering the prospect of locking out fans and what the 2020 season looks like.
This isn't going away anytime soon either... The next 6 months or so will be all about Coronavirus and the impact it is having across the globe.
I would recommend to anyone that isn't a regular watcher/listener, to check out Youtube for Joe Rogan's podcast with Michael Osterholm (infectious disease expert and Director of the Center for Infectious Disease Research and Policy (CIDRAP) at the University of Minnesota).
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E3URhJx0NSw
Very insightful and informative. Breaks down the legitimate dangers and dispells some common myths.
https://www.melbournestorm.com.au/news/ ... en-record/
Bellamy hopes hot Storm starts keep going on like a broken record
Jonathan Healy
NRL.com reporter
Thu 12 Mar 2020
Melbourne coach Craig Bellamy can't explain why his team has such an amazing record in season openers but he is expecting to be severely tested against Manly on Sunday.
Bellamy has never lost a round one match at the Storm and you need to go way back to 2001 to find the last time that his side was actually defeated in the opening week of the season.
That remarkable record will be tested on Sunday when the Storm travel to Sydney take on their arch rivals at Lottoland and Bellamy said his team must be at the top of their game.
"We work pretty hard during the pre-season and are reasonably fit at the start of a season, but I don’t know whether that is a factor [in the unbeaten round one record]," Bellamy said.
"It will be a great test this week, but I don’t think there is any secret other than good preparation during the pre-season.
"They are a big physical side and they are hard to play anywhere, let alone at Brookvale."
The Storm will be without Origin forward Christian Welch (knee) and reserve hooker Brandon Smith (facial fracture), while Kiwi prop Nelson Asofa-Solomona (hamstring) needs to get through training sessions on Thursday and Saturday if he is to line up.
Inexperienced Samoan international Marion Seve won the race against off-season recruit Brenko Lee to start in the centres for the Storm, but Bellamy does not expect that to be the case for the entire campaign.
"It was a pretty tough decision this week as Brenko had trialled really well," Bellamy said.
"We think there are a couple of other things we want him to work hard on, so we have gone for Marion this week.
"[Lee] is a very talented footy player and I am sure he will play a lot of first grade this year."
Bellamy is also still hopeful Paul Momirovski will land in Melbourne at some stage during the season, although the veteran coach seemed frustrated by the entire situation when asked about the likelihood of the Wests Tigers centre moving south any time soon.
It was proposed Momirovski would move to the Storm for one season in a loan deal for young hooker Harry Grant, but Bellamy didn't want to speculate on the chances of that eventuating.
"It’s been going on for a long period of time," he said.
"There has been two or three stages where it has been on for sure and then it has been off for sure.
"I don’t really want to say anything because it will probably change again tomorrow."
And while the Storm's neighbours at AAMI Park in AFL clubs Collingwood and Melbourne are taking big steps to protect their players from the spread of the COVID-19 virus, Bellamy said it was business as usual for his side for the time being.
Collingwood cancelled an open training session with fans on Wednesday, while the Demons have moved their AFL program almost an hour away to Casey Fields as clubs try and stop the disease from reaching their players and coaching staff.
"Some of our staff in the office have been told to work from home if they can as it is the health of our players which is the number one priority," Bellamy said.
"We are certainly taking some precaution ... but it's business as usual in regards to training and everything else."
Bellamy hopes hot Storm starts keep going on like a broken record
Jonathan Healy
NRL.com reporter
Thu 12 Mar 2020
Melbourne coach Craig Bellamy can't explain why his team has such an amazing record in season openers but he is expecting to be severely tested against Manly on Sunday.
Bellamy has never lost a round one match at the Storm and you need to go way back to 2001 to find the last time that his side was actually defeated in the opening week of the season.
That remarkable record will be tested on Sunday when the Storm travel to Sydney take on their arch rivals at Lottoland and Bellamy said his team must be at the top of their game.
"We work pretty hard during the pre-season and are reasonably fit at the start of a season, but I don’t know whether that is a factor [in the unbeaten round one record]," Bellamy said.
"It will be a great test this week, but I don’t think there is any secret other than good preparation during the pre-season.
"They are a big physical side and they are hard to play anywhere, let alone at Brookvale."
The Storm will be without Origin forward Christian Welch (knee) and reserve hooker Brandon Smith (facial fracture), while Kiwi prop Nelson Asofa-Solomona (hamstring) needs to get through training sessions on Thursday and Saturday if he is to line up.
Inexperienced Samoan international Marion Seve won the race against off-season recruit Brenko Lee to start in the centres for the Storm, but Bellamy does not expect that to be the case for the entire campaign.
"It was a pretty tough decision this week as Brenko had trialled really well," Bellamy said.
"We think there are a couple of other things we want him to work hard on, so we have gone for Marion this week.
"[Lee] is a very talented footy player and I am sure he will play a lot of first grade this year."
Bellamy is also still hopeful Paul Momirovski will land in Melbourne at some stage during the season, although the veteran coach seemed frustrated by the entire situation when asked about the likelihood of the Wests Tigers centre moving south any time soon.
It was proposed Momirovski would move to the Storm for one season in a loan deal for young hooker Harry Grant, but Bellamy didn't want to speculate on the chances of that eventuating.
"It’s been going on for a long period of time," he said.
"There has been two or three stages where it has been on for sure and then it has been off for sure.
"I don’t really want to say anything because it will probably change again tomorrow."
And while the Storm's neighbours at AAMI Park in AFL clubs Collingwood and Melbourne are taking big steps to protect their players from the spread of the COVID-19 virus, Bellamy said it was business as usual for his side for the time being.
Collingwood cancelled an open training session with fans on Wednesday, while the Demons have moved their AFL program almost an hour away to Casey Fields as clubs try and stop the disease from reaching their players and coaching staff.
"Some of our staff in the office have been told to work from home if they can as it is the health of our players which is the number one priority," Bellamy said.
"We are certainly taking some precaution ... but it's business as usual in regards to training and everything else."