2014 NRL finals preview: Melbourne Storm vs Canterbury Bulldogs

2014 NRL finals preview: Melbourne Storm vs Canterbury Bulldogs

Cameron Smith can lead the Storm all the way - provided he can take the field. (AAP Image/Action Photographics, Ian Knight)
Related coverage

    Melbourne Storm news
    Canterbury Bulldogs news
    NRL news
    2014 NRL Finals - Match previews, information and team lists news


In the final elmination final of the 2014 NRL Finals series Melbourne Storm host Canterbury Bulldogs at AAMI Park this Sunday in a rematch of the 2012 Grand Final.

This season is remarkably different to 2012, when the Bulldogs finished minor premiers and the Storm had an axe to grind, after being stripped of their 2007 and 2009 Premierships. The Storm ran out victors in a hard-fought 14-4 contest which, while uninspiring from the Storm, displayed their grit discipline.

This year, Melbourne finished sixth, and Canterbury limped into seventh spot with a loss to the Gold Coast in Round 26. Neither side has been sounding any warning signals to the top-three sides, but three wins in their last five games will have the Storm in a better position than the Bulldogs to progress from the first round of finals victorious.

The Storm were too strong for a Brisbane Broncos side lacking energy and conviction last Friday, with Mahe Fonua and Ryan Hoffman finishing some superb moves orchestrated by Cooper Cronk and Cameron Smith. The experience of the Queensland and Australian captain truly shone through, as did the on-field intelligence of Cronk.

Concerningly for the Storm, their talismanic hooker is in doubt for their first finals-week clash, sustaining an ankle injury early in the Round 26 game, but is rated a 50-50 chance of playing despite still being in a ‘moon-boot’.

Smith’s potential replacement Ryan Hincliffe remains positive when queried about Smith’s fitness.

“He is a bit of a freak [in playing through injuries] but I can’t answer that question,” Hinchcliffe said.

“We all hope he comes up, we really hope that he does but if he doesn’t we will have to move on and get on with the job.”

The Bulldogs have beaten the Storm twice this season already, although with only two wins in their last eight games, victory at AAMI Park may be beyond them.

Des Hasler’s side will be without Sam Kasiano (ankle), Tim Browne (Skull Fracture), Chase Stanley and Lloyd Perrett, but will be buoyed by the return of impact player Frank Pritchard.

Interestingly, it’s Canterbury with the wood over Melbourne recently, with their exciting 6-2 finish in Round 18 this year being the last game the two sides played. It was a starchy effort from the Sydney-siders, with Melbourne pressing late for a victory.

Before that, it’s an entirely different story, with the Bulldogs handing Melbourne consecutive floggings, 40-12 in Round 4 and 39-0 late last year. They are one of few clubs with a positive recent record against the Storm, a club with an enviable record against almost every team in the competition.
Last five meetings
Winners     Score     Venue     Round     Season
Canterbury-Bankstown     6 – 2     AAMI Park     Round 18     2014
Canterbury-Bankstown     40 – 12     NIB Stadium     Round 4     2014
Canterbury-Bankstown     39 – 0     ANZ Stadium     Round 18     2013
Melbourne     22 – 18     AAMI Park     Round 3     2013
Melbourne     14 – 4     ANZ Stadium     Grand Final     2012

If Smith plays, the Storm should have carry their form edge over the Bulldogs to a victory here. If he doesn’t they lose a heap of big match temperament and finals experience. His loss would even the ledger significantly here for the Dogs, but even if he does play, don’t expect him to be at 100 per cent fitness. It’s not just that, either. As you see in the stats below, he’s made over 900 tackles this NRL season, and has one of the highest workrates in the competition.

For the Dogs, if their backrowers Tony Williams and Josh Jackson, benchman Frank Pritchard fire, the Storm could be in for a torrid night. With Pritchard on the mend, and T-Rex still not quite hitting his straps, it’s a big if.
Player stats
Player     Josh Jackson     Michael Ennis     Tony Williams     Bryan Norrie     Cameron Smith     Will Chambers
Points     24     24     23     24     22     21
Tries     4     4     3     1     2     11
Goals     0     1     0     0     68     1
FG     0     1     0     0     1     0
Points     16     19     12     4     145     46
Tackles     721     898     385     521     923     345
Run metres     2277     757     2454     2046     1309     2737

Storm team list:
1. Billy Slater
2. Sisa Waqa
3. William Chambers
4. Mahe Fonua
5. Marika Koroibete
6. Ben Roberts
7. Cooper Cronk
8. Jesse Bromwich
9. Cameron Smith (c)
10. Bryan Norrie
11. Kevin Proctor
12. Ryan Hoffman
13. Ryan Hinchcliffe

Interchange
14. Tim Glasby
15. Tohu Harris
16. Junior Moors
17. Jordan McLean
18. Dayne Weston
19. Justin O’Neill

Bulldogs team list:
1 Sam Perrett
2 Corey Thompson
3 Josh Morris
4 Tim Lafai
5 Mitch Brown
6 Josh Reynolds
7 Trent Hodkinson
8 Aiden Tolman
9 Michael Ennis (c)
10 James Graham
11 Josh Jackson
12 Tony Williams
13 Greg Eastwood

Interchange
15 Dale Finucane
16 David Klemmer
17 Frank Pritchard
19 Moses Mbye
20 Reni Maitua
21 Harlan Alaalatoa
22 Pat O’Hanlon

Join The Roar for live scores and coverage from 4:10pm AEST Sunday afternoon, and stick around for highlights after the match.