VENUE & TIME: Mt Smart Stadium, Saturday July 17, 5.30pm (AEST)
COVERAGE: Channel 9 HEAD TO HEAD Warriors 10, Storm 13, Drawn 2
LAST TIME: Storm 40 - Warriors 6 at Etihad Stadium, Round 19, 2009.
WALKING WOUNDED:The Warriors welcome back a host of talent this week. Brent Tate, Brett Seymour, Kevin Locke and Lance Hohaia bolster the side. Their recoveries are tempered by the loss of Isaac John, who sustained a season-ending knee injury last week. The Warriors' best prop Sam Rapira can't be too far away from returning and Jacob Lillyman makes his comeback via the Auckland Vulcans in the NSW Cup. The only changes for the Storm sees Cameron Smith to start at hooker for Ryan Hinchcliffe and Ryan Hoffman added as an 18th man.
FORM: Very contrasting. The home side has won four on the trot and confidence is high heading into this clash. Last week, despite being flogged by referee Shane Hayne, they held firm repeatedly on their own line to secure a 21-6 win over the Panthers. Melbourne has lost four of its last five, including its past two. But the Storm haven't lost three in a row since 2002, such has been their fraudulent dominance of the competition. Their roster is daunting, they have the talent to beat anyone and they will not be taken lightly by the Warriors. It remains to be seen how the news of the salary cap audit will impact on the Storm, last time it created unity that saw them smash the Warriors 40-6. The strain in mounting and how will they fair this time is anyone's guess.
WHO'S HOT: It's always about the big four when you play the boys from Australia's sporting capital. Cooper Cronk and Cameron Smith will be the orchestrators around the play the ball and inside channels, with a lurking Billy the kid and a leaping Greg Inglis awaiting their celebratory moments. Stephen Kearney is another intriguing factor as the Storm's assistant and Kiwis coach has inside knowledge about a number of the Warriors players. Defence was hot for the Warriors last week and in conditions expected to be cold and wet on Saturday this will again be a key. Fatigue could be a factor after last week's gruelling victory, but there should be enough returning talent to combat that. The young forwards continue to be consistent, aggressive and dominant up front. They take no prisoners and have no fear for name players.
WE THINK:Melbourne's form suggests there is unease at the club. Players must be looking over their shoulders to see who will be cut next. The audits finding were released on Thursday and that is an unwelcome distraction. Trying to manufacture motivation without being able to accrue any competition points, is also taking its toll. But the feared roster remains until the end of the season and it's sure to topple many teams in its path. But at home, in the cold, with the crowd behind them and confidence brimming – the Warriors will back themselves to get the job done. Warriors by 6.
Teams:
Warriors:
1. Lance Hohaia, 2. Kevin Locke, 3. Brent Tate, 4. Jerome Ropati, 5. Manu Vatuvei, 6. James Maloney, 7. Brett Seymour, 8. Jesse Royal, 9. Aaron Heremaia, 10. Russell Packer, 11. Simon Mannering (c), 12. Lewis Brown, 13. Micheal Luck