As we have seen over the last sixteen months, anything can happen in the current NRL climate, and that will be especially true when the Sydney Roosters host the Melbourne Storm at McDonald Jones Stadium in Newcastle this Thursday night.
Recent History: Sydney Roosters vs Melbourne Storm
Easts and Melbourne meet for the 43rd time since the Storm's inception in 1998 - with the opposition holding a slender ledger with 24 wins to the Tricolours' 18, including the Round 6 match up down in the Victorian capital.
While the Storm have won the last three contests, the Roosters have taken victory when the stakes have been at their highest, which of course includes the emphatic 21-6 Grand Final victory in 2018 and the 2019 Preliminary Final which saw the Tricolours advance to the Grand Final in a tense 14-6 win.
Melbourne currently sit at the top of the table thanks in part to a twelve-match winning streak, which includes their last round 66-16 victory over the Wests Tigers. The Tricolours, on the other hand, will be looking to bounce back from defeat against the Penrith Panthers with a victory over their modern-day rivals.
It will of course be the first time the Roosters have played Melbourne in Newcastle, however, it won't be the first time in the Club's 113 year history they have hosted a match at McDonald Jones Stadium, having done so against Parramatta in the 1994 Tooheys Challenge Cup pre-season competition.
The Red, White and Blue will also head into the match with a strong record at McDonald Jones Stadium, having won four of their last five matches at the venue.
How They Line Up
Trent Robinson's side has a number of changes following their Round 15 clash.
Captain James Tedesco once again lines up at fullback, joined alongside Daniel Tupou, Josh Morris, Joseph Manu and Matt Ikuvalu who make up the rest of the backline.
Lachlan Lam and the returning Sam Walker line up in the halves, while Jared Waerea-Hargreaves, Sam Verrills and Siosiua Taukeiaho have been named to start in the front row.
The returning Angus Crichton and Sitili Tupouniua - who plays his 50th NRL match - are joined by Isaac Liu to round off the forward pack in the back row and at lock respectively.
Match: Roosters v Storm
Round 16 -
home Team
Roosters
away Team
Storm
Team Lists
Backs
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Fullback for Roosters is number 1 James TedescoFullback for Storm is number 1 Nicholas Hynes
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Winger for Roosters is number 2 Daniel TupouWinger for Storm is number 2 George Jennings
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Centre for Roosters is number 3 Josh MorrisCentre for Storm is number 3 Reimis Smith
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Centre for Roosters is number 4 Joseph ManuCentre for Storm is number 4 Justin Olam
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Winger for Roosters is number 21 Joseph-Aukuso SuaaliiWinger for Storm is number 5 Josh Addo-Carr
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Five-Eighth for Roosters is number 6 Lachlan LamFive-Eighth for Storm is number 6 Cameron Munster
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Halfback for Roosters is number 7 Sam WalkerHalfback for Storm is number 7 Jahrome Hughes
Forwards
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Prop for Roosters is number 8 Jared Waerea-HargreavesProp for Storm is number 8 Jesse Bromwich
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Hooker for Roosters is number 9 Sam VerrillsHooker for Storm is number 9 Brandon Smith
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Prop for Roosters is number 10 Siosiua TaukeiahoProp for Storm is number 15 Tui Kamikamica
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2nd Row for Roosters is number 11 Angus Crichton2nd Row for Storm is number 11 Felise Kaufusi
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2nd Row for Roosters is number 12 Sitili Tupouniua2nd Row for Storm is number 12 Kenneath Bromwich
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Lock for Roosters is number 13 Isaac LiuLock for Storm is number 13 Dale Finucane
Interchange
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Interchange for Roosters is number 15 Egan ButcherInterchange for Storm is number 10 Christian Welch
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Interchange for Roosters is number 16 Daniel Suluka-FifitaInterchange for Storm is number 14 Aaron Booth
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Interchange for Roosters is number 17 Fletcher BakerInterchange for Storm is number 16 Chris Lewis
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Interchange for Roosters is number 18 Drew HutchisonInterchange for Storm is number 17 Aaron Pene
Reserves
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Reserve for Roosters is number 5 Matt IkuvaluReserve for Storm is number 21 Trent Loiero
Match Officials
- Referee: Adam Gee
- Touch Judge: Liam Kennedy
- Touch Judge: Chris Butler
- Senior Review Official: Ashley Klein
Last updated:
Adam Keighran, Egan Butcher, Daniel Suluka-Fifita and Fletcher Baker have been named on the interchange bench, while Drew Hutchison, Ben Thomas, Freddy Lussick and Joseph Suaalii round off the extended bench.
The Melbourne Storm's changing line up has mixed results, with Jesse and Kenny Bromwich returning to the side, while Nelson Asofa-Solomona, Tom Eisenhuth and Harry Grant have been omitted due to suspension and injury respectively.
Key Matchup: Sam Verrills vs Brandon Smith
Two of the best young no.9s in the competition face off this week with two very different seasons thus far.
Sam Verrills has been dogged by injuries through season 2021, firstly returning via a lengthy ACL rehabilitation process, before sustaining one of the most obscure injuries you'll see in Rugby League - a semi-detached retina - which has limited him to three games this season.
Brandon Smith, on the other hand, has been fighting it out for the starting hooker spot with Harry Grant and gets his chance to stamp his authority over his teammate, who is currently sidelined with a hamstring strain.
Despite a lack of game time, Verrills has shown he is all class when it comes to craftsmanship at dummy-half, and has kept up with his opposite - who has featured in all but one match - with a better tackle efficiency (95%) while averaging just two tackles less per game.
Both Premiership-winning rakes will be looking to guide their respective forward packs when they run out on Thursday night, so make sure you keep an eye on the battle between the men in the middle.
What They Said
“I’m looking forward to it this week and obviously if we could get back to the SCG as soon as possible it would be good, but at the moment I’m not complaining about getting up there, I’m quite keen." - Utility Adam Keighran
“We’ve had some great rivalries in the past and I think it’s up to us to prove that on Thursday night. I felt like we were physical last time we played them and now it’s time to go a step further." - Head Coach Trent Robinson
“We can’t do much about it but adjust to the rules and come into training and prepare and that’s where it’s at." - Winger Daniel Tupou
Your Verdict
Having enjoyed the week off through representative round, with players returning for both sides, the final ten rounds of the regular season begins now for the Sydney Roosters - and what better litmus test than the top of the table Storm?
Can the Tricolours keep in touch with the top four? Thursday night will be the perfect indication as the two competition heavyweights come together in what will no doubt be a blockbuster match.
For those outside of the Greater Sydney area, Sydney Roosters Members can redeem their tickets here, while members of the general public can purchase their tickets here.
