Round 7: Storm v Warriors preview
Trans-Tasman rivals face off in belated ANZAC clash.
Originally set to meet at AAMI Park on ANZAC Day two months ago, the Melbourne Storm and the New Zealand Warriors will be looking to bounce back following last-start losses.
Suffering their second defeat of the season in going down 21-14 against Penrith last Friday, the Melbourne Storm will be out to extend their run of dominance over the Warriors to nine straight wins.
Coming under fire from coach Craig Bellamy for failing to show urgency with the game on the line last week, the Storm will be determined to amend on relocated turf as they strive to avoid consecutive losses for the first time in 22 months.
Boosted by the return of representative winger Josh Addo-Carr following the birth of his son, Jahrome Hughes will replace Ryley Jacks in the number seven jersey after missing the past fortnight with a broken hand.
Stunning the league community by parting ways with coach Stephen Kearney in the aftermath of last week's 40-12 loss to South Sydney, the Warriors will be hoping to record a rare victory over their long-time rivals.
Appointing premiership-winning forward Todd Payten as interim coach following previous stints as an assistant at the Tigers and Cowboys, the Warriors will be out to overcome a poor record in ANZAC clashes that has seen the side manage two wins and a draw over the past decade.
Losing Wayde Egan, Gerard Beale and Eliesa Katoa from the team that went down to the Rabbitohs seven days earlier, Chanel Harris-Tavita, Ken Maumalo and Isaiah Papali'i will come into coach Payten's squad.
In a milestone match for a number of players, Blake Green, Peta Hiku and Agnatius Paasi will bring up 50 appearances for the club, while David Fusitua will become the 24th man to reach 100 appearances for the Warriors
Forced to shift the match to Netstrata Jubilee Stadium following a rise in coronavirus cases in Victoria, the Storm have won four of six appearances at the venue, while the Warriors have emerged with two premiership points just once from five visits.
Last meeting: Round 13 2019 - Warriors 10 Storm 32
Who to watch: Becoming the latest in a long line of young players to come through the ranks at the Storm, forward Tino Fa'asuamaleaui has provided plenty of impact off the bench over the first six rounds. Making the most metres of any Melbourne forward in the loss to Penrith last Friday, the 20-year-old has provided Craig Bellamy with a strike weapon reminiscent of Nelson Asofa-Solomona upon his introduction to first grade five years ago. Penning a lucrative deal to join the Titans next season, look for the Junior Kangaroos and Samoan representative to cause plenty of havoc against the under-siege Warriors.
In the wake of one of the most controversial weeks in the club's history, Warriors forward Tohu Harris will be determined to respond through his actions on the field. Missing much of last season with a foot injury, the 28-year-old Kiwi international has returned bigger and better in 2020, averaging career best numbers in excess of 180 metres and 40 tackles per game. Possessing the versatility to play in the halves - as was the case in the corresponding fixture last season - look for Harris to leave nothing in reserve as the Warriors chase their first win against the Storm since 2015.
The favourite: Holding a 66% success rate over the Warriors during Bellamy's tenure, the Storm are heavily favoured to bounce back on Friday evening.
My tip: While the Warriors did stun the Storm 16-10 shortly after parting ways with Matthew Elliott midway through the 2014 season, the shock of Kearney's dismissal is unlikely to end in anything but a Melbourne victory. Storm by 16.
