Storm v Wests Tigers: Welch stood down; Twal sidelined
Perennial contenders Melbourne romped to their 15th win of the season with last week's demolition of the Cowboys.
The Panthers deserve all the attention and hype being thrown their way in 2020, and that probably suits the likes of Craig Bellamy and Cameron Smith just fine.
The Storm finish the season with a road game against the fading Dragons and will no doubt embrace the challenge of stealing the Panthers' thunder (and the Roosters for that matter) when push comes to shove in the post-season.
The Tigers bowed out of finals contention with last week's narrow loss to Souths and are playing for pride over the final two weeks of the season.
Match: Storm v Wests Tigers
Round 19 -
home Team
Storm
2nd Position
away Team
Wests Tigers
10th Position
Venue: Sunshine Coast Stadium, Sunshine Coast
The rundown
Team news
Storm: Christian Welch (stood down) and Isaac Lumelume were the first cuts from the Melbourne squad 24 hours out from kick-off. Tino Fa'asuamaleaui is Welch's replacement at prop after his COVID-19 breach saw him stood down by the club.
Brandon Smith and Max King join the bench, with Ryley Jacks and Paul Momirovski dropping out of the extended squad on game day.
Fullback Ryan Papenhuyzen is out for another week as he manages an achilles injury. The Storm have won 17 consecutive games in Queensland.
Wests Tigers: Alex Twal is sidelined with illness so Matt Eisenhuth starts at lock and Jacob Liddle joins the bench. Tommy Talau and Michael Chee-Kam dropped off the reserves list an hour before kick-off. Jock Madden was the other player omitted from the 21-man squad on Friday.
Joey Leilua has replaced Talau at centre and Josh Reynolds is set to take over from suspended halfback Luke Brooks. Sam McIntyre has been named in the back row with Luke Garner to the bench. Russell Packer and Zane Musgrove earned bench call-ups with Elijah Taylor and Jacob Liddle dropped.
Wests Tigers have defeated the Storm in two of their past three clashes.
Match: Storm v Wests Tigers
Round 19 -
home Team
Storm
away Team
Wests Tigers
Team Lists
Backs
-
Fullback for Storm is number 1 Nicholas HynesFullback for Wests Tigers is number 1 Adam Doueihi
-
Winger for Storm is number 2 Suliasi VunivaluWinger for Wests Tigers is number 2 David Nofoaluma
-
Centre for Storm is number 3 Brenko LeeCentre for Wests Tigers is number 3 Joseph Leilua
-
Centre for Storm is number 4 Justin OlamCentre for Wests Tigers is number 4 Chris Lawrence
-
Winger for Storm is number 5 Josh Addo-CarrWinger for Wests Tigers is number 5 Asu Kepaoa
-
Five-Eighth for Storm is number 6 Cameron MunsterFive-Eighth for Wests Tigers is number 6 Josh Reynolds
-
Halfback for Storm is number 7 Jahrome HughesHalfback for Wests Tigers is number 7 Benji Marshall
Forwards
-
Prop for Storm is number 8 Jesse BromwichProp for Wests Tigers is number 8 Josh Aloiai
-
Hooker for Storm is number 9 Cameron SmithHooker for Wests Tigers is number 9 Harry Grant
-
Prop for Storm is number 15 Tino Fa'asuamaleauiProp for Wests Tigers is number 10 Thomas Mikaele
-
2nd Row for Storm is number 11 Felise Kaufusi2nd Row for Wests Tigers is number 11 Sam McIntyre
-
2nd Row for Storm is number 12 Kenneath Bromwich2nd Row for Wests Tigers is number 12 Luciano Leilua
-
Lock for Storm is number 13 Nelson Asofa-SolomonaLock for Wests Tigers is number 15 Matthew Eisenhuth
Interchange
-
Interchange for Storm is number 16 Tom EisenhuthInterchange for Wests Tigers is number 14 Zane Musgrove
-
Interchange for Storm is number 17 Tui KamikamicaInterchange for Wests Tigers is number 16 Russell Packer
-
Interchange for Storm is number 18 Brandon SmithInterchange for Wests Tigers is number 17 Luke Garner
-
Interchange for Storm is number 20 Max KingInterchange for Wests Tigers is number 21 Jacob Liddle
Match Officials
- Referee: Gerard Sutton
- Touch Judge: Todd Smith
- Touch Judge: Peter Gough
- Senior Review Official: Ashley Klein
Last updated:
Key match-up
Cameron Smith v Harry Grant. It's the master versus the apprentice, the teacher versus the student. With the incomparable Smith the first-choice hooker at Melbourne until he no longer wants the job, Grant got sick of hanging around as his very capable understudy and joined the Tigers on a loan basis.
He has been one of the Tigers' best this season and will be back with the Storm one day, but until then Grant will be relishing the chance to go head to head with the man some say is the greatest ever.
Stat attack
The Storm only have to reflect on last year's narrow escape against the Tigers to rid themselves of any potential complacency ahead of Saturday night's battle. The Tigers led 12-8 at half-time in that round 10 clash in enemy territory and 22-14 with 11 minutes to play. Melbourne narrowed the gap to 22-20 with Marion Seve's converted try and stole a 24-22 victory when Will Chambers crashed over for the go-ahead try with less than three minutes remaining.
