Storm v Roosters Preview
NRL.com
http://nrl.com/News/Latest/tabid/10244/default.aspx?id=52418
Olympic Park
Friday 7.35pm
WHILE this game is nearly a top-of-the-table clash (second on points differential versus fourth) and both sides still have massive chances of clinching the minor premiership, in truth the gap between their consistency in performance could not be greater.
The Storm have won five of their past six, their only narrow stumble occurring three weeks ago to the Warriors in Auckland.
They smashed the Titans in round 21, then doggedly repelled wave after wave of Sea Eagles attacking raids last week at Brookvale Oval to cement another crucial win over Manly.
But the Roosters?
Look them up in the dictionary and youd half expect their definition to read hot and cold.
Theyve lost three of their past five including demoralising upsets at the hands of the Titans (at home!), Raiders and Eels. But those losses were sandwiched by two wins including a stirring demolition of the Sea Eagles.
In short, fans just dont know what to make of them: they could come out and smack the Storm by 20, or they could fail to post a point for the second time this season. (Although, the latter is the more likely.)
Against the Sea Eagles the Storm showed they still know how to grind out a win against the top sides and its likely theyll come up against a similar sort of opponent this week in the Roosters in regards to expansive attack but while the Sea Eagles defence proved resolute the Roosters have some work to do there.
While the Storm side is unchanged from last week it will be a very different Roosters combination to the one that fell to the Eels.
Prolific try-scoring winger Shaun Kenny-Dowall is out until the finals; hes replaced by the experienced Brent Grose.
In the pack, skipper Craig Fitzgibbon misses the week with an ankle strain Braith Anasta has been handed the C next to his name.
Willie Mason shifts to lock to cover for Fitzy, James Aubusson replaces the dumped Riley Brown at hooker, while Lopini Paea has been elevated to the starting 13.
Shane Shackleton and Toyota Cup pivot Ben Jones are newcomers to the bench with Shaun Foley named 18th man.
Watch out Storm: Brad Fittler knows he wont beat the Storm in a wrestle.
The Roosters need to smash this game open with plenty of points.
To that end their danger men are Anthony Tupou and Amos Roberts.
Tupou ranks third in the NRL for offloads with 40 and Roberts ranks fifth in the NRL for line breaks with 12.
Put the combination together and the potential is there for some explosive play from anywhere on the park.
Watch out Roosters: Two things to watch.
The first is their compressed defence the Storm are masterful defenders and wont get sucked into being forced towards the sidelines by the apparent vacant spaces.
Their attacking arsenal doesnt need to as illustrated by their brilliant chip, regather, offload try to Israel Folau last week.
Secondly they need to shut down the obvious: Billy Slater.
Most penetrative runner in the NRL (19 line breaks) and top return runner of kicks (1501 metres) by a massive 410 metres over second-ranked Preston Campbell.
Why do teams keep kicking to him?
Where it will be won: If theyre to be a chance the Roosters need to play up-tempo footy in attack but slow the game down when the Storm have the ball.
Ironically, thats exactly the secret to the Storms continuing success.
The Roosters will also rely on another typical workhorse contribution from Kiwi international back Sam Perrett.
Hes darted the ball back 327 times this season, second only to the Tigers Chris Heighington; with Kenny Dowell missing every metre he makes will be crucial.
The History: Played 17, Roosters 9, Storm 8. Wow given the Storms imposing record over the past three seasons its hard to believe they could have lost back-to-back clashes to any side but thats what the Roosters have done, winning 26-16 late last year and 10-6 this year, both at the SFS.
The Storm hold a 6-3 advantage at Olympic Park.
Conclusion: There were good signs for other teams last week when Cam Smith was seen whingeing to referee Tony Archer on several occasions about his side not getting a fair deal.
Were sure it only looked that way to Smith, but the lesson learned is the Storm can become flustered and lose focus when under pressure.
The trick is applying the pressure.
Look for James Aubusson, Smiths understudy at the Storm before he left to join the tri-colours, to apply plenty of needle to his former mentor.
This is a must-win game for the Roosters if they are to maintain their dream of a crucial top-two finish.
Theyve been in the frame for a long way this season and the danger now is they are seemingly running out of condition well down the home straight.
The Sea Eagles lost nothing in their gallant defeat last week; the Roosters, should they lose, cant afford anything less than that sort of loss themselves here.
Match officials: Referee Shayne Hayne; Sideline Officials David Abood & Steve Chiddy; Video ref Bill Harrigan.
Televised: Channel 9 Live 7.30pm (NSW), delayed 9.30pm (Qld); Fox Sports 2 Delayed 11.30pm.
* Statistics: NRL Stats.
