NRL TEAMS - 2024 Round 3
7 hours ago | LeagueUnlimited Media
Rick Edgerton previews the key match-ups in Saturday night's NRL Preliminary Final between the Melbourne Storm and North Queensland Cowboys - the winner to face the Brisbane Broncos in Sunday week's 2015 NRL Grand Final.
WILL CHAMBERS v KANE LINNETT
Two underrated attackers that could be the unlikely hero.
A highly consistent campaigner for a number of years, Chambers cemented his spot in Queensland's Origin side this year gaining some fruitful big match experience along the way. The Storm centre is a key member of their attacking structures and has formed a potent combination on the right edge with Cooper Cronk and Kevin Proctor, not to mention late season bloomer Cameron Munster. His footwork before the line often sees opposition defenders hanging back, which creates extra time for him to either set up his winger or take the line on and gain some extra metres.
An exceptionally underrated member in the Cowboys charge up the table this year has been Kane Linnett. With Johnathan Thurston and Gavin Cooper stealing most of the limelight in the Cowboys left side attack, Linnett is almost the forgotten man. Without him running his lines on the outside, JT & Cooper wouldn't get the room they do. When he does get the ball, he plays with a cool head and can often show quick hands in setting up his winger. A real tradesman at taking some tough runs coming out of trouble, Linnett is also a very strong defender out wide.
WHO HAS THE EDGE? Linnett is a great defender, but those skills will be put to the ultimate test on Saturday night with the Storm's right side attacking raids around Cronk, Proctor and Chambers sure to test his decision making. With his neat footwork and big match experience, Chambers can bring more in attack than his opponent in this one.
JESSE BROMWICH v MATT SCOTT
Trans-Tasman rivals set to duke it out again.
Tagged by many as the best front-rower in the game, Bromwich has had another strong season up front for the Storm. The Kiwi enforcer is at the forefront of everything good Melbourne does, laying a solid platform for his star playmakers to do their thing. Not only is he big and strong, but his footwork before the line and ability to offload through it really make him the complete package and probably the prototype front-rower for the years to come. Not afraid to get down and dirty, his work rate is always high, but the quality of his work is what stands him out from most. Perhaps his biggest accomplishment is making Melbourne's much talked about "Big 3", now the Big 4.
When Matt Scott decides to shift gears from five to six, there's no bookend in the game that can go with him. In one of the more dominant displays from a forward pack in recent memory last week, Scott was the man inspiring his fellow tough men with some dogged charges of the football. He left some noted good defenders on their backsides and will be the key to negating Melbourne's advantage at the ruck. With plenty of big match experience at his disposal, nerves and pressure won't get the better of him so the Storm defensive line better be ready.
WHO HAS THE EDGE? On almost any other occasion, the all round game of Bromwich would be in front, but this isn't any regular game for Scott. After being 18th man in the 2005 Grand Final, a ten year wait and three controversial semi-final exits of late will again have him jumping out of the ground and ripping into the Storm's defensive line.
TOHU HARRIS v ETHAN LOWE
Two toilers of the highest kind clash head on.
When Ryan Hoffman departed across the ditch at the end of last season, a huge hole was expected to be left in Melbourne's back-row. Stepping up to the plate has been the emergence of Harris as an 80 minute workhorse. The Kiwi representative has showed he has a huge motor, never looking like he's running out of gas despite his high work rate. Often troubles lazy defenders around the ruck with some deceptive footwork and can offload if given the chance. A very strong defender, Harris has proven a real disciple in the Craig Bellamy School of wrestle and will be looking to halt the momentum of the Cowboys hard running forwards.
Since breaking into the Cowboys 17 towards the end of last season, Lowe has proven a real find for the North Queensland outfit. Going about his work with a minimum of fuss, Lowe is one of them players that seems to love doing the things others don't, whether it be a tough run in his own half to relieve some pressure or diving on a loose ball. A real solid defender on his right edge, the Cowboys back-rower often brings the oppositions attack to a halt with a copybook tackle. Inside the opposition red zone, he also acts as yet another option for the Cowboys attack, running a strong outside-in line from close range.
WHO HAS THE EDGE? Both are more than handy footballers that will get the job done, but Harris has a bit more ball playing ability in him that could come in handy in a close game.
COOPER CRONK v JOHNATHAN THURSTON
The game's best play-makers face off in epic duel.
The man charged with unlocking the oppositions defence for the Storm, Cronk has had another highly consistent year steering the Melbourne Storm ship. His passing and kicking game have been immaculate as always and will play a key role again for his team. Part of the Storm's potent right side attack, Cronk is one of the few halves in the comp prepared to cross to the other side of the park if that's where his team needs to get to. His support play is first class, always pushing up to the line with his ball runners and backing up many breaks down his right side of the field. Slightly underrated is Cronk's running game. He doesn't run much, but when he does it usually catches the defence by surprise and he has a neat right foot step that can see him slice through. His communication on the field is second to none and leaves his teammates with no doubts as to where they need to be at all times.
When all's said and done, the 2015 season will be remembered as the year that was Johnathan Thurston. About to collect a record fourth Dally M medal, JT has never had a year quite like this one. The Cowboys half has always played at the highest level, but this year has been another level again and the amount of times he's carried his team over the line for a victory has been nothing short of remarkable. Possesses all the skills with his passing, kicking and running games all first class, but his vision and the time he plays with is the difference between him and his peers. Arguably the most competitive player in the game, Thurston is also a solid defender and great support player.
WHO HAS THE EDGE? Both of these champion players will have a major influence on this game, they're simply too good not to. But one gets the sense this is the year for Thurston to conquer his final frontier and achieve his burning desire to deliver North Queensland their maiden Premiership.
THE STORM WRESTLE v THE GUNG-HO COWBOYS
As the old boxing adage goes, "styles make fights" and the styles of these two teams sets up an intriguing match-up to take place.
The Melbourne Storm have forever been the kings of the wrestle and controlling the speed of the ruck, but it almost seems their tactics have again snuck up on everyone towards the ladder stages of this season. Whether their tactics are within the rules or even the spirit of the game is a moot point right now, the referees aren't about to change their interpretations in a Preliminary Final. So again they will be looking to get multiple numbers in the tackle and slow down the Cowboys play the ball and if they succeed, they have a couple of champions in Cooper Cronk and Cameron Smith ready to guide their team to another Grand Final.
On the other side of the coin is the hard and fast style of footy the gung-ho Cowboys play with. Laying the platform are their monstrous forward pack with Matt Scott, James Tamou and Jason Taumololo leading the way. If they can reproduce the performance they put in against the Sharks last week, Melbourne's job of slowing down the ruck will become a whole lot harder. If the Cowboys can negate the Storm's wrestle and get on the front foot, Thurston will be given even more time to weave his incredible magic.
WHO HAS THE EDGE? The Melbourne weather could hold the key. Wet and slippery conditions would play into the Storm's hands and enhance their chances of slowing down the ruck. The forecast however is clear skies, giving the Cowboys every possible chance. Surely, after all the heartache of recent years, the Cowboys will have all the motivation to charge into their opposition at a furious pace. Making that much impact on the defensive line should go a long way to negating Melbourne's wrestle and putting the Cowboys on the front foot.