08 :: R21 Fri :: Storm 44 Titans 4 @ Olympic

[Timmah]

​

v

MELBOURNE
1. Billy Slater, 2. Steve Turner, 3. Matt Geyer, 4. Israel Folau, 5. Anthony Quinn, 6. Greg Inglis, 7. Cooper Cronk
8. Jeff Lima, 9. Cam Smith (c), 10. Brett White, 11. Michael Crocker, 12. Ryan Hoffman, 13. Dallas Johnson

Interchange: 14. Jeremy Smith, 15. Adam Blair, 16. Sika Manu, 17. Antonio Kaufusi

GOLD COAST
1 Preston Campbell, 2 Jordan Rapana, 3 Gavin Cooper, 4 Brett Delaney, 5 Jordan Atkins, 6 Ashley Harrison, 7 Josh Lewis
8 Brad Meyers, 9 Clint Amos, 10 Michael Hodgson, 11 Anthony Laffranchi, 12 Daniel Conn, 13 Josh Graham

Interchange: 14 James Stosic, 15 Will Matthews, 16 Luke Swain, 17 Luke O’Dwyer
Reserves: 18 Selasi Berdie​

Referee

Tony De Las Heras
Sideline Officials: David Abood & Adam Devich; Video Referee: Russell Smith​

Schedule
Gates 5:15pm -- Toyota 5:15pm -- NRL 7:35pm​

Related Matches
Toyota Cup R21 Storm v Titans @ Olympic, Fri 5:15pm
NSW Cup R17 Central Coast Storm v Wentworthville @ Kanwal, TBC
QLD Cup R20 Central v Ipswich @ Browne, Sat 7:30pm
QLD Cup R20 Tweed Heads v Wynnum Manly @ Cudgen, Sun 3:00pm​

 

[Rovelli]

Backlash from the Storm after a shock loss to the Warriors. Titans clearly on the slip-slope, sad that injuries have derailed another playoff-headed season. Big win for the Storm is the only logical result to be honest.

 

[wittyfan]

Yep, Storm were very much below their best yesterday and will be looking get back on track in the race for the minor premiership.

Storm by 32.

 

[cupid]

I still think if Storm were playing a good side they would loose this week but since not Storm by 18

 

[kia ora storm]

Storm win by 20...they will be on a mission this week to send a message to Manly and the Roosters in coming weeks.

Gi will turn it on and score a hatrick.

 

[Rogue.9]

Storm by about 30. I think they will pissed about last week and the titans are going to pay for it

 

[AILD]

sides usually named by now hey? cant find it anywhere.

 

[Butters]

Melbourne 54-4

 

[AILD]

Melbourne 54-4

what about the full-time score tho?

 

[Hutty1986]

Storm comfortably.. Titans just don't have the troops to compete with the grapplers

 

[Knights_Premiers]

This will get nasty.

 

[Syren]

Good to see the name Josh Lewis back in first grade.

 

[kia ora storm]

Hoffman needs to be dropped or rested...playing very average.

Would have been good to give Proctor or Tolman some game time this week.

 

[gong_eagle]

Storm v Titans Preview
NRL.com
http://nrl.com/News/Latest/tabid/10244/default.aspx?id=52199


Olympic Park
Friday 7.45pm
ONE team wants to get their minor premiership assault back on track, the other needs to turn things around to even get a shot at the finals.
It certainly sets the scene for a great clash in the windy city on a Friday night, as the Storm try to run down the front running Manly – and the Titans try to run down anyone in the top eight.
Both sides enter this clash on the back of defeat, the Storm losing a close one to the Warriors and the Titans getting pummelled by Canberra, so both will be desperate to get back in the winner’s circle.
The boys from Melbourne are currently running second but a loss could potentially move them to fourth and also could be the end of their dream to win three minor premierships in a row.
The Gold Coast lads have now slipped to ninth on percentages.
A win could see them rejoin the top eight but at the very least it will keep them in striking distance. However a loss could see them slip as low as 12th.
Melbourne welcome Billy Slater back from suspension, with his return at fullback seeing Steve Turner move back to the wing and Brett Anderson miss the cut.
Prop Brett White also returns, which sees Adam Blair revert to the bench and Russell Aitken return to the NSW Cup.
The Gold Coast has dropped halfback Brad Davis with his spot going to Josh Lewis, while Michael Henderson is out suspended, allowing Brad Meyers to slip back in at prop.
Daniel Conn also returns to the back row which sees Luke Swain go to the bench while Matthew Cross is also out and Selasi Berdie has been added as an 18th man.
Watch out Storm: While they don’t have the biggest forward pack in the universe, the Titans will still look to go through the Storm if they get the chance.
If you dissect the try-scoring data for the Gold Coast side you realise they have scored 24 tries up the middle of the field, which is more tries in the middle than any other side in the NRL.
But the Storm defence has been strong as always, leaking only nine tries up the guts so far this year, which is bettered only by Manly.
Watch out Titans: It’s time the Titans really tightened up their defence, particularly around the ruck.
The Storm are aware the Titans have now conceded seven tries from dummy-half – the equal most in the NRL – and with Cameron Smith on the books at Melbourne this could prove decisive.
Smith is a genius at knowing when to run and where to direct traffic so this could be a game where he really excels.
Where it will be won: In the middle.
The Titans can’t win this game unless they get physical and try to do a Melbourne on Melbourne.
They need to try to dominate in the rucks, something that is unlikely as they have made the fewest dominant tackles in the NRL by far.
Their defence has to improve from the past month – it has seen them leak on average 36 points a game – otherwise the Storm could significantly boost their for-and-against column.
The Titans need to be aggressive, just like the Dragons were a fortnight ago; otherwise they will be simply outclassed and outgunned.
The History: Played 2; Storm 1, Titans 1.
The Titans beat the Storm 18-0 earlier this season however it was during the Origin period where 10 regular Storm starters and their coach were unavailable.
The only match played between the two clubs in Melbourne was late last season with the Storm winning 50-6.
Conclusion: It is shaping as another heavy loss for the Titans, particularly as the Storm lost last week, something they really hate.
Josh Lewis has been thrown in the deep end at halfback but hopefully he starts swimming rather than drowning.
The NRL has thrown up upsets throughout the year, as it does every year, but it is unlikely this game will be one of them. Back the Storm unless you’re desperate.
Match officials: Referee – Tony De Las Heras; Sideline Officials – Adam Devcich & David Abood; Video ref – Russell Smith.
Televised: Channel 9 – Live 7.30pm (Qld), Delayed 9.30pm (NSW); Fox Sports 2 – Delayed 1.00am.
* Statistics: NRL Stats.

 

[Coaster]

Im a hardened Titans supporter, but even i will be happy if we walk away from the game at 50-0, anything under that will be a true test of character.

 

[Captian_Klutz]

Im a hardened Titans supporter, but even i will be happy if we walk away from the game at 50-0, anything under that will be a true test of character.

It's gonna be cold and wet.

The Titans should be aiming for a 32 - 10 loss.



(I'm tipping 42-4) :sch:

 

[BWNB]

Storm 13+

 

[God-King Dean]

52 - 0 Storm.

 

[byrne_rovelli_fan82]

I'll be there tonight!!
Yep the resident rugby league stalker is back to work

 

[kia ora storm]

A wet game will keep the score low....maybe under 100 !!!.