Round 18 - Storm Vs Knights (Homecoming)
Storm team named;
1. Nicholas Hynes
2. George Jennings
3. Reimis Smith
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. Aaron Booth
15. Tui Kamikamica
16. Chris Lewis
17. Aaron Pene
18. Isaac Lumelume
19. Dean Ieremia
20. Cooper Johns
21. Trent Loiero
1. Nicholas Hynes
2. George Jennings
3. Reimis Smith
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. Aaron Booth
15. Tui Kamikamica
16. Chris Lewis
17. Aaron Pene
18. Isaac Lumelume
19. Dean Ieremia
20. Cooper Johns
21. Trent Loiero
Knights team named;
1. Kalyn Ponga
2. Dominic Young
3. Kurt Mann
4. Enari Tuala
5. Hymel Hunt
6. Jake Clifford
7. Mitchell Pearce
8. Jacob Saifiti
9. Jayden Brailey
10. Daniel Saifiti
11. Tyson Frizell
12. Lachlan Fitzgibbon
13. Mitchell Barnett
14. Connor Watson
15. David Klemmer
16. Josh King
17. Brodie Jones
18. Jack Johns
19. Simi Sasagi
20. Tex Hoy
21. Jirah Momoisea
1. Kalyn Ponga
2. Dominic Young
3. Kurt Mann
4. Enari Tuala
5. Hymel Hunt
6. Jake Clifford
7. Mitchell Pearce
8. Jacob Saifiti
9. Jayden Brailey
10. Daniel Saifiti
11. Tyson Frizell
12. Lachlan Fitzgibbon
13. Mitchell Barnett
14. Connor Watson
15. David Klemmer
16. Josh King
17. Brodie Jones
18. Jack Johns
19. Simi Sasagi
20. Tex Hoy
21. Jirah Momoisea
I had a sh*t feeling this morning that we did get moved and we couldn't even get into Twin Waters/Sunny Coast because the Panthers, Knights, Roosters and Sea Eagles are now at the resort.
https://www.melbournestorm.com.au/news/ ... iti-named/
Storm v Knights: Papenhuyzen, Grant miss out; Frizell, Saifiti named
NRL.com
Tue 13 Jul 2021
Both the Storm and the Knights have had a week to bask in the reflected glory of their whitewashes of opposition teams in round 16.
The Storm were back in Melbourne for their bye after thumping their 2018 grand final rivals the Roosters 46-0 in the 'neutral' venue of McDonald Jones Stadium, due to COVID restrictions.
The venue is the Knights' home ground and two nights later they humiliated the Cowboys 38-0, led by a freshly-returned Kalyn Ponga on the rampage. He scored two tries, set up another two, topped the metres count at 212, made a line break and four tackle busts.
How Ponga pulls up from Origin duties for Queensland may determine how much of a fight the Knights can put up against the Storm.
Remember Melbourne have scored 154 points in their past three wins, conceding just 32. And they have won their past 13 games. And this game is back home at AAMI Park - where they've not played since the round eight win over the Sharks in April.
The Rundown
Team News
Storm: Coach Craig Bellamy has opted to hold back star fullback Ryan Papenhuyzen (concussion) and gun hooker Harry Grant (hamstring) for at least another week to ensure the Storm will have a fully fit first-choice squad for the run to the finals.
That means 2021 revelation Nicho Hynes gets another game in the No.1 jersey and Brandon Smith the chance to extend his try-scoring streak from dummy-half.
Bellamy will monitor the progress of Origin stars Cameron Munster, Josh Addo-Carr, Dale Finucane, Felise Kaufusi and Christian Welch in the days following the final interstate clash.
Tui Kamikamica has been named on the interchange with Welch down to start but the pair swapped places in a late change before their round 16 clash with the Roosters after Welch was selected in the No.10.
Knights: A couple of huge ins for the Knights with Tyson Frizell (ankle) and Daniel Saifiti (ribs), who withdrew from the Blues' Origin III squad, making their return from injury. Frizell comes into the second row, pushing Mitch Barnett to lock and Sauaso Sue out of the squad.
Kalyn Ponga was devastating in his comeback match in round 16. The Knights will be hoping he comes through his Maroons duties unscathed and is on deck to tackle the competition front-runners.
Key Match-Up
Mitchell Pearce v Jahrome Hughes: Veteran halfback Pearce meets the man growing into the No.7 role like a hand into a glove, Hughes. The Storm playmaker has just 75 NRL games to his name, and only half as first receiver. Pearce is lining up for his 304th, and every one of them has been at No.7. Both men like to run at the line, and keep an eye out for their unmarked outside backs. Their kicking games will be crucial.
Stat Attack
Knights defenders will need to be on red alert for Nicho Hynes, who is equal with Tom Trbojevic on line-break assists with 20. They share second spot to NRL leader Cody Walker (26). Interestingly, there is no Knights player in the top-20 - the best being Connor Watson (9) in 23rd spot.
Storm v Knights: Papenhuyzen, Grant miss out; Frizell, Saifiti named
NRL.com
Tue 13 Jul 2021
Both the Storm and the Knights have had a week to bask in the reflected glory of their whitewashes of opposition teams in round 16.
The Storm were back in Melbourne for their bye after thumping their 2018 grand final rivals the Roosters 46-0 in the 'neutral' venue of McDonald Jones Stadium, due to COVID restrictions.
The venue is the Knights' home ground and two nights later they humiliated the Cowboys 38-0, led by a freshly-returned Kalyn Ponga on the rampage. He scored two tries, set up another two, topped the metres count at 212, made a line break and four tackle busts.
How Ponga pulls up from Origin duties for Queensland may determine how much of a fight the Knights can put up against the Storm.
Remember Melbourne have scored 154 points in their past three wins, conceding just 32. And they have won their past 13 games. And this game is back home at AAMI Park - where they've not played since the round eight win over the Sharks in April.
The Rundown
Team News
Storm: Coach Craig Bellamy has opted to hold back star fullback Ryan Papenhuyzen (concussion) and gun hooker Harry Grant (hamstring) for at least another week to ensure the Storm will have a fully fit first-choice squad for the run to the finals.
That means 2021 revelation Nicho Hynes gets another game in the No.1 jersey and Brandon Smith the chance to extend his try-scoring streak from dummy-half.
Bellamy will monitor the progress of Origin stars Cameron Munster, Josh Addo-Carr, Dale Finucane, Felise Kaufusi and Christian Welch in the days following the final interstate clash.
Tui Kamikamica has been named on the interchange with Welch down to start but the pair swapped places in a late change before their round 16 clash with the Roosters after Welch was selected in the No.10.
Knights: A couple of huge ins for the Knights with Tyson Frizell (ankle) and Daniel Saifiti (ribs), who withdrew from the Blues' Origin III squad, making their return from injury. Frizell comes into the second row, pushing Mitch Barnett to lock and Sauaso Sue out of the squad.
Kalyn Ponga was devastating in his comeback match in round 16. The Knights will be hoping he comes through his Maroons duties unscathed and is on deck to tackle the competition front-runners.
Key Match-Up
Mitchell Pearce v Jahrome Hughes: Veteran halfback Pearce meets the man growing into the No.7 role like a hand into a glove, Hughes. The Storm playmaker has just 75 NRL games to his name, and only half as first receiver. Pearce is lining up for his 304th, and every one of them has been at No.7. Both men like to run at the line, and keep an eye out for their unmarked outside backs. Their kicking games will be crucial.
Stat Attack
Knights defenders will need to be on red alert for Nicho Hynes, who is equal with Tom Trbojevic on line-break assists with 20. They share second spot to NRL leader Cody Walker (26). Interestingly, there is no Knights player in the top-20 - the best being Connor Watson (9) in 23rd spot.