R17 - Melbourne vs Brisbane Fri 5/07 7:35pm @ AAMI Park

[mattstormy]

Here is how the team should line up on Friday with as close to a full strength team as possible. Obviously there will be no Jason Ryles for about a couple of weeks (according to Craig in the presser) with his injured knee. Hopefully we can bounce back and recover after the last two defeats.

1. Billy Slater
2. Sisa Waqa
3. Will Chambers
4. Maurice Blair
5. Justin O'Neill
6. Brett Finch
7. Cooper Cronk
8. Jesse Bromwich
9. Cameron Smith (C)
10. Bryan Norrie
11. Kevin Proctor
12. Ryan Hoffman
13. Ryan Hinchcliffe

14. Slade Griffin
15. Tohu Harris
16. Jordan McLean
17. Tim Glasby

[blazza18]

I think we could see Vave and/or Moors on the bench. Team is pretty spot on though.

[Go Storm]

1. Billy Slater/Hampton
2. Sisa Waqa
3. Will Chambers
4. Maurice Blair
5. Justin O'Neill
6. Brett Finch/Slater
7. Cooper Cronk
8. Jesse Bromwich
9. Cameron Smith (C)
10. Bryan Norrie
11. Kevin Proctor
12. Ryan Hoffman
13. Ryan Hinchcliffe

14. Junior Moors
15. Tohu Harris
16. Jordan McLean
17. Vave

[storming]

14. Junior Moors
15. Tohu Harris
16. Jordan McLean
17. Vave

good bench, i dont think we need utilities there. we perform better when its 4 big guys

[Inglis#3]

1. Billy Slater/Hampton
2. Sisa Waqa
3. Will Chambers
4. Maurice Blair
5. Justin O'Neill
6. Brett Finch/Slater
7. Cooper Cronk
8. Jesse Bromwich
9. Cameron Smith (C)
10. Bryan Norrie
11. Kevin Proctor
12. Ryan Hoffman
13. Ryan Hinchcliffe

14. Junior Moors
15. Tohu Harris
16. Jordan McLean
17. Vave

Slater needs to stay as far away from five-eighth as possible. I do however, agree with having the four big boppers on the bench - it has worked well for us in the past and in my opinion we've got enough versatile players without Griffin taking up a bench spot.

[Go Storm]

Look, Slater could become a 5/8 a reckon. And it is a fairdinkum consideration from the Storm coaching staff. Tallis put him on the spot the other night on Footy Show and he admitted that it is a genuine consideration.
Personally I reckon if it was going to happen it should've been done a couple of years ago when Widdop debuted. But, if that's the way they choose to go, Billy is professional and competitive enough to become one of the best 5/8's in the game.
He can't be a Clayton's 5/8 like last night though. Either commit 100% to the position, with Hampton at fullback, or just play Finch as our 5/8.

[Mattpoet]

when we don't have cam we need griffin on the bench as hinchy doesn't do a full 80 at hooker, otherwise we should definitely go with the four big boppers, i would think harris, vave, moors and glasby/garbutt/mclean should be the go

[yourhero]

14. Junior Moors
15. Tohu Harris
16. Jordan McLean
17. Vave

good bench, i dont think we need utilities there. we perform better when its 4 big guys

Yep, love the look of that bench.

I have a bad taste in my mouth after last week. this week cannot roll around quick enough.

[stormy]

Sat night game was the first real beating we have had in a while and I wouldn`t want it to happen again for awhile. I couldn`t imagine being a crappamatta supporter where it happens fairly often. The other games we have lost this season have been by a try or missed conversions so I wasn`t too fussed about it. I have total faith in my CHAMPION TEAM this week.

[Mattpoet]

official list:

1.slater
2.waqa
3.chambers
4.blair
5.o'neill
6.finch
7.cronk
8.j.bromwich
9.smith (c)
10.norrie
11.proctor
12.hoffman
13.hinchcliffe
14.mclean
15.harris
16.vave
17.griffin
18.moors
19.glasby
20.hampton

[blazza18]

Glad too see the captain only miss a week.

Good lookin team, would love to see Hampton grab a spot off the bench.

[steaming stormer]

Glad too see the captain only miss a week.

Good lookin team, would love to see Hampton grab a spot off the bench.

You can only play Hampton if you drop Slade - will depend on what the planned rotation is, but we won't be carrying a back and a utility on the bench

[blazza18]

Well yea obviously. With Cam back we don't really need Slade there at all. I'd just have Hampton with any 3 big forwards as my bench.

[storming]

how many games have we lost this year with 4 big forwards on the bench?

1 Billy Slater
2 Sisa Waqa
3 Will Chambers
4 Maurice Blair
5 Justin O'Neill
6 Brett Finch
7 Cooper Cronk
8 Jesse Bromwich
9 Cameron Smith (c)
10 Bryan Norrie
11 Kevin Proctor
12 Ryan Hoffman
13 Ryan Hinchcliffe

Interchange
14 Jordan McLean
15 Tohu Harris
16 Siosia Vave
18 Junior Moors

i cant see the broncos getting close this week, they traveled to nz last week, then melbourne during an origin period is a big ask

[NevilleB]

Any late changes?