Storm v Sea Eagles: Munster rested; Saab ruled out
The Storm are nestled comfortably in third spot on the back of a big win over Wests Tigers while Manly's loss to the Eels saw them plummet from eighth to 12th.
Both sides will be sweating on the availability of their Origin stars, who will have three days to rest and recover from Game Two in Brisbane on Wednesday night.
Melbourne's depth was on show at Campbelltown Stadium on Saturday night with Jonah Pezet doing a fine job alongside Jahrome Hughes in the halves and winger George Jennings running for 198 metres in his first game of the season.
The Sea Eagles have struggled for consistency since opening their season with consecutive wins over the Bulldogs and Eels, coming up with just four wins since then to go with seven losses and a draw.
They still sit just one point outside the top eight and can make a charge in the next fortnight if they can knock off the Storm and Roosters ahead of a bye in Round 19.
When the sides met at 4 Pines Park in Round 7 it was the Sea Eagles getting home 18-8, but overall it's the Storm with a 25-17 advantage with one draw in clashes between the pair since 1998 when Melbourne entered the competition.
Sportsbet Betting Preview - Storm v Sea Eagles
Team News
Storm: Cameron Munster won't feature after his Origin heroics, with Jonah Pezet to partner Jahrome Hughes in the halves. Xavier Coates and Harry Grant are set to play, but the hooker will likely split time with Bronson Garlick or Tyran Wishart, who are both on the bench. Powerhouse centre Justin Olam is back for the first time since suffering concussion in Round 14, which bumps Marion Seve out.
Sea Eagles: Fullback Tom Trbojevic won't play after he suffered a torn pectoral in Wednesday's Origin clash, an injury which will sideline him for the rest of the season. Reuben Garrick shifts to fullback and Morgan Harper comes into the centres in jersey No.20. Aaron Woods will start the game at lock and Sean Keppie goes to the bench in a game day swap. Captain Daly Cherry-Evans backs up from Origin. Jason Saab (shoulder) is a late out for the trip to Melbourne, with his place on the wing taken by Raymond Tuaimalo Vaega.
Match: Storm v Sea Eagles
Round 17 -
home Team
Storm
away Team
Sea Eagles
Team Lists
Backs
-
Fullback for Storm is number 1 Nick MeaneyFullback for Sea Eagles is number 4 Reuben Garrick
-
Winger for Storm is number 2 Will WarbrickWinger for Sea Eagles is number 5 Christian Tuipulotu
-
Centre for Storm is number 3 Reimis SmithCentre for Sea Eagles is number 3 Tolutau Koula
-
Centre for Storm is number 4 Justin OlamCentre for Sea Eagles is number 20 Morgan Harper
-
Winger for Storm is number 5 Xavier CoatesWinger for Sea Eagles is number 21 Raymond Tuaimalo Vaega
-
Five-Eighth for Storm is number 22 Jonah PezetFive-Eighth for Sea Eagles is number 6 Joshua Schuster
-
Halfback for Storm is number 7 Jahrome HughesHalfback for Sea Eagles is number 7 Daly Cherry-Evans
Forwards
-
Prop for Storm is number 10 Christian WelchProp for Sea Eagles is number 8 Taniela Paseka
-
Hooker for Storm is number 9 Harry GrantHooker for Sea Eagles is number 9 Lachlan Croker
-
Prop for Storm is number 15 Tariq SimsProp for Sea Eagles is number 10 Toafofoa Sipley
-
2nd Row for Storm is number 11 Trent Loiero2nd Row for Sea Eagles is number 11 Haumole Olakau'atu
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2nd Row for Storm is number 12 Nelson Asofa-Solomona2nd Row for Sea Eagles is number 12 Ethan Bullemor
-
Lock for Storm is number 13 Josh KingLock for Sea Eagles is number 16 Aaron Woods
Interchange
-
Interchange for Storm is number 14 Bronson GarlickInterchange for Sea Eagles is number 13 Sean Keppie
-
Interchange for Storm is number 16 Aaron PeneInterchange for Sea Eagles is number 14 Karl Lawton
-
Interchange for Storm is number 17 Tyran WishartInterchange for Sea Eagles is number 15 Josh Aloiai
-
Interchange for Storm is number 21 Alec MacDonaldInterchange for Sea Eagles is number 17 Ben Condon
Reserves
-
Replacement for Storm is number 18 Kane BradleyReplacement for Sea Eagles is number 19 Jake Arthur
Match Officials
- Referee: Todd Smith
- Touch Judge: Jon Stone
- Touch Judge: Dave Munro
- Senior Review Official: Ashley Klein
Last updated:
Stat Attack
- The Storm have won their past five games at AAMI Park.
- The Sea Eagles have not defeated the Storm twice in one season since 2015.
- Storm winger Will Warbrick has scored eight tries in his past five games.
- Sea Eagles fullback Tom Trbojevic has scored 10 tries in 11 games this season.
- Storm fullback Nick Meaney requires six points to reach 500 career points.
- The Storm have had 170 dummy-half runs in their 14 games while the Sea Eagles have just 92 dummy-half runs.
- The Storm have won five of their seven home games while Manly are 2-4 away from home.
Match: Storm v Sea Eagles
Round 17 -
home Team
Storm
3rd Position
away Team
Sea Eagles
13th Position
Venue: AAMI Park, Melbourne
Stats supplied by David Middleton, League Information Services, author of the official annual of the NRL.
