Warriors v Storm preview

New Zealand Warriors v Melbourne Storm
Mt Smart Stadium - Sunday 2:00pm

We travel across the ditch to picturesque New Zealand on Sunday where two teams with a contrasting past 4 weeks do battle. The Warriors are fresh of the bye having won their previous two games in stylish fashion. They put away the Canberra Raiders with ease a fortnight ago. With the form that Shaun Johnson is showing and the dominant performances of the Warriors huge forward pack there is trouble brewing for the visiting Melburnians. The Warriors have moved to 20 competition points, along with a host of other teams and will no doubt be fighting for the 2 points to continue their mid season charge.

The Warriors are unchanged from their last start win against Canberra, a match where they completely dominated their opponents. If the Storm don't get a good start come Sunday afternoon, then they could face a similar situation.

The Storm are hurting folks. Two straight defeats at the hands of Brisbane and Canterbury has seen them slip from the top 4 and in serious danger of falling out of the top 8 all together. Add to this the Alex McKinnon saga that has dragged Cameron Smith and the Melbourne Storm club as a whole through the mud over the past week and things are tough for the 2012 Premiers. They thankfully welcome back star half back Cooper Cronk who hasn't appeared in a club game since Origin 1. The Storm's defence has still been solid through this barren run but it has been their attack that has suffered minus Cronk and Slater. The burden has fell upon Cameron Smith, who is a mighty player but unfortunately can't do it all. The Storm are an immensely talented squad and if they can record a win away from home against a resurgent Warriors outfit, it might just be the kick start that need to get season 2015 back on track.

In team changes for the Storm, Jordan McLean is out and has been replaced by Ben Hampton, Cooper Cronk returns at half back in a huge in for the Storm.

Last meeting: Round 5 2015 - Melbourne Storm 30 New Zealand Warriors 14

The Storm got the spoils earlier in the season with a convincing win at home. They have also recorded 4 wins in the past 6 against the boys from the long white cloud.

However the Warriors have scored 82 points in their last three games at Mt Smart and don't be surprised to see that extended on Sunday.

5 of the past 6 games between these two clubs (including the past 3 at Mt Smart) have had more than 20,000 fans. I expect another big one on Sunday in what should be a cracking game.

Who to watch: Who else would it be for the Warriors? It's the man of the moment Shaun Johnson. "SJ" has been in sublime touch over the past month with his dazzling footwork, blinding speed and sky high confidence tearing apart opposition defences. In the win over the Raiders, Johnson set up 2 tries, had 1 line break, scored a try himself and kicked 5 goals in a 5 star effort. His 2015 stats make for pleasant reading as well: 948 metres, 12 try assists and 11 line breaks, 6 tries, 44 goals and 2 field goals. He is gearing up for another big end to the season and the Warriors fans couldn't be happier.

Johnson has immense vision and his ability to create something out of nothing is of uttermost importance for the Warriors. He also brings his outside backs into the contest by getting them ball early and in space. Look for this to happen on Sunday, especially with Manu Vatuvei and Konrad Hurrell in good form.

For the Storm they don't have the razzle dazzle that Shaun Johnson has but they have someone even better. Mr Consistency Cameron Smith. Smith has set a standard so high that is seems impossible to meet each week, yet he continues to amaze us with his creative play and mature head.

With the Alex McKinnon saga hanging over his head, I fancy that Smith will come out and have a big day. He is a solid rock defensively for the Storm (averaging over 40 tackles a game) and his running out of dummy half that get his forward pack over the advantage line is the one of the main reasons that the Storm have been so dominant since he came into first grade in 2003. If Smith has space to work and lets his creativity run wild with his passing and kicking, then it's trouble for the Warriors.

The favourite: The Warriors at home have the money flowing in their direction.

My tip: With Cronk back and the club smarting from the media circus surrounding the Alex McKinnon drama, I expect the Storm to come out of the blocks firing. They have more at stake in this clash. The Warriors will make it tough for them however, I expect it to be a high scoring game. Who ever can dominate the ruck early on will take this one out. Storm by 10.

1. Sam Tomkins 2. Tuimoala Lolohea 3. Konrad Hurrell 4. Solomone Kata 5. Manu Vatuvei 6. Chad Townsend 7. Shaun Johnson 8. Jacob Lillyman 9. Nathan Friend 10. Ben Matulino 11. Bodene Thompson 12. Ryan Hoffman 13. Simon Mannering
Interchange: 14. Siliva Havili 15. Raymond Faitala-Mariner 16. Charlie Gubb 17. Albert Vete 18. David Fusitua

1. Cameron Munster 2. Marika Koroibete 3. Will Chambers 4. Hymel Hunt 5. Richard Kennar 6. Blake Green 7. Cooper Cronk 8. Jesse Bromwich 9. Cameron Smith 10. Tim Glasby 11. Kevin Proctor 12. Tohu Harris 13. Dale Finucane
Interchange: 14. Ryan Hinchcliffe 15. Kenneath Bromwich 16. Ben Hampton 17. Felise Kaufusi

Referees: Gerard Sutton, Chris James; Sideline Officials: Nick Beashel, Anthony Elliott; Video Referees: Bernard Sutton, Luke Patten;

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