R25 SNF - Melbourne v Gold Coast

[Timmah]

SUNDAY NIGHT FOOTBALL

MELBOURNE v GOLD COAST
Olympic Park Stadium, Melbourne VIC :: Sunday 2 September
Gates open 5:00pm, Curtain Raiser 5:15pm
First Grade Kickoff 7:00pm

TV Live on FOXTEL, Check Local Guides
Web LeagueUnlimited LIVE UPDATE
Radio Live Broadcast on Triple M Sydney.

GET TICKETS HERE.

Jared Maxwell
Sideline Officials: Alan Shortall, Gavin Badger
Video Referee: Sean Hampstead

Melbourne Storm lineup
1. Billy Slater
2. Matt Geyer, 3. Matt King, 4. Israel Folau, 5. Anthony Quinn
6. Greg Inglis, 7. Cooper Cronk
8. Ben Cross, 9. Cam Smith (c), 10. Brett White
11. Clint Newton, 12. Ryan Hoffman
13. Dallas Johnson

Int - 14. Jeremy Smith, 15. Steve Turner, 16. Michael Crocker, 17. Jeff Lima
18. James Aubusson

Gold Coast Titans lineup
1. Chris Walker
2. Jake Webster, 3. Mat Rogers, 4. Brett Delaney, 5. Matthew Petersen
6. Preston Campbell, 7. Scott Prince (c)
8. Anthony Laffranchi, 9. Nathan Friend, 10. Michael Hodgson
11. Gavin Cooper, 12. Mark Minichiello
13. Luke Swain

Int - 14. Daniel Conn, 15. Ian Donnelly, 16. Josh Graham, 17. Luke O Dwyer
​

LOWER GRADES
CURTAIN RAISER Eumemmerring Secondary College v Parade College, Bundoora

 

[gong_eagle]

Storm V Titans preview

Wednesday, August 29, 2007
http://nrl.com/News/MatchReports/MatchReportsArticle/tabid/336/NewsId/6817/Default.aspx Here’s an opportunity for the Minor Premiers to build on the momentum of their big win last week against an under-strength Titans outfit that’s bound to be feeling a little flat after the goal of a top-eight berth in their inaugural season eluded them.
The Storm ruthlessly accounted for the Bulldogs away from home last week, scoring 30 unanswered points in a 22-minute blitz that included a hat-trick of tries to centre Israel Folau in just nine minutes.
They’d been a little scratchy before that in their wins over the Eels, Broncos and Sharks and last week’s effort has Craig Bellamy all smiles.
The Titans appeared destined for the semis mid season but injuries to key players derailed their campaign; they’ve won just two of their past nine games.
On paper it’s a tough one to “get up” for – a win won’t see them climb any higher than their current 10th place while the worst case scenario is they’ll fall to 11th if the Roosters lose to the Rabbitohs. Either way, that will equal if not exceed the expectations of most prior to the season.
But the Titans will be hugely motivated for this – here’s their chance to knock off the benchmark team for 2007, who will in all likelihood figure in the grand final, if not win the premiership. Imagine the confidence that will leave them with over the off-season…
The Storm are at full strength for this clash, with Matt King returning from a one-week absence and Anthony Quinn shifting to the wing with Will Chambers relegating back to Premier League.
Believe it or not, 20-year-old Greg Inglis racks up his 50th first grade game here.
The Titans have lost inspirational prop Luke Bailey, who broke his hand last week.
Watch out Storm: Creative forward Anthony Laffranchi has arguably been the Titans’ best pack player this season.
This week he shifts to prop to cover for Bailey and should prove a headache at times with his offloads and strong running. He ranks sixth in the NRL for hit-ups, averaging almost 19 runs a game for 129 metres a game. He also has the fourth most offloads in the comp with 44.
Watch out Titans: Where do you start? We could pretty much pick any player and pinpoint some serious strengths.
But given Titans’ half Scott Prince is the man with the job of gaining his side field position with the boot, we’ll suggest they be wary of Billy Slater, who’s making 139 metres per game from the back for the Storm, Steve Turner and Israel Folau.
The trio have a combined 43 of the Storm’s combined 121 line breaks for the season and are always dangerous.
Where it will be won: There’s been a definite consolidation of “safety” play among the Storm in recent weeks – they offloaded just twice against the Bulldogs and just once the week before against the Eels.
As a consequence they are now the team least likely to offload in attack, with 8.4 offloads a game the least of any team in the comp. Interesting that in their “scratchy” period the month before they offloaded 40 times in four games…
Half Cooper Cronk has upped the ante with the boot – over the past six rounds he’s out-kicked his opponents 779 metres to 396 metres, gaining the side valuable territory and position.
They’re showing great discipline which should continue in their game plan in this one.
The History: Yet to play.
Conclusion: In our preview of the Storm v Bulldogs clash last week we wrote:
“It’s likely the Storm will go to the air and target Folau and Chambers, who have incredible vertical leaps.”
Well, they did, and Folau scored two tries from kicks out wide. They’d be mad not to try it again – the Titans defuse just 55 per cent of cross-field kicks.
Worryingly for the Titans they’ve leaked more than 30 per cent of their 89 tries conceded on their left-hand side – Folau’s attacking zone.
The Storm haven’t been beaten at Olympic Park all year and it’s not about to happen here. But well done Titans on an awesome debut season.
Match officials: Referee – Jared Maxwell; Sideline Officials – Alan Shortall & Gavin Badger; Video ref – Sean Hampstead.
Televised: Foxsports 3 – Live 7.00pm.
* Statistics: NRL Stats.

 

[Timmah]

Statistically speaking (from Big League magazine)

Head to head
Never met

Last met
Never met

Big wins
Never met

Grand Finals
Never met


Betting TAB Sportsbet
Melbourne 1.25 Gold Coast 3.75

 

[Eelectrica]

With Bailey out and Melbourne tuning up for the finals, I think the Titans are going to get killed here.
If they can be within 20 of Melbourne by the end they'll have probably exceeded expectations for this one.

 

[paulquinn49]

Can someone tell me if Bellamy has decided to rest any players as of 6pm (Teams confirmed 1 hour before kickoff)

I reckon he will rest some players now he knows he is playing Brisbane.

 

[Fast Eddie]

This has to be one of the least cared about matches this year.

 

[wittyfan]

And most predictable.....

 

[Y2Eel]

Didnt even relise the game was on till i looked at the live scores...

 

[Timmah]

16 gone

Storm 16-0

 

[Bman26]

22 gone 20-0 ktc.

 

[DragonPunk]

Make that 20-0 KTC, Melbourne are just carving it up atm.

 

[innsaneink]

Beautiful try to Quinn

 

[Bman26]

14/14 completions for melbourne.

edit: 15/15

 

[Bman26]

bah. 16/17 i think.

 

[Timmah]

Scoring stopped all of a sudden... still 22-0.

 

[ByRd]

28-0 Half time, king scores on the siren

 

[wittyfan]

The Titans are completely out of their league here.

 

[Bman26]

62% possesion to melbourne, thats ouch.

 

[Rovelli]

34-0...could be a whitewash

 

[Timmah]

Could be? Already is!