Round 15: Eels v Storm preview
Rivals face off in top four showdown
The finals come early on Thursday evening as the Parramatta Eels take on the Melbourne Storm in a top four clash at Bankwest Stadium.
Sitting in third position heading into the final quarter of the regular season, the Parramatta Eels will be looking to bounce back from a disappointing showing last week.
Suffering a 14-12 loss against the Dragons to fall three points behind the competition leaders, the Eels will be looking to take advantage of an injury-depleted Storm side.
Managing just two wins against the Storm from nine clashes during Brad Arthur's tenure, the match will be the first time the two teams have met since the Blue and Golds were humbled 32-0 in the semi finals last September.
Naming an unchanged team for the clash, Michael Jennings will play his 100th game for Parramatta, while Reed Mahoney will line up for his 50th NRL appearance after debuting with the club in 2018.
Winning their past eight matches to sit in second position with the best points differential in the league, the Melbourne Storm will be keen to impress in their Bankwest Stadium debut.
Making an emphatic statement with a 24-6 dismantling of the Roosters seven days earlier, coach Craig Bellamy will be banking on his side continuing a strong record in Sydney following four wins from five visits this season.
Missing representative stars Cameron Smith, Cameron Munster, Suliasi Vunivalu, Dale Finucane and Jesse Bromwich to injury and suspension, Sandor Earl and Albert Vete come into the side, while Cooper Johns could make his NRL debut should Jahrome Hughes fail to recover from a groin injury.
Last meeting: Finals Week 2 2019 - Storm 32 Eels 0
Who to watch: Set to become the 28th man to play 100 first grade games at two clubs, Michael Jennings will be looking to overcome a poor personal record against Melbourne. Facing off against the Storm on 21 occasions since coming into grade 13 years ago, the 32-year-old centre has struggled with a 19 per cent success rate and his lowest try tally against any team in the league.
Crossing for seven tries and averaging 114 metres per game this season, Jennings will have a point to prove on Thursday evening as the Eels look to bounce back on home soil.
Making a mammoth impact in his first full season in the top grade, young gun Tino Fa'asuamaleaui will be out to finish his time in Melbourne on a high note. Averaging 130 metres each week as part of a destructive injection of size and power in partnership with Nelson Asofa-Solomona off the bench, the 20-year-old behemoth is considered a bolter to represent Queensland in the end-of-season Origin series.
Named in the starting side for the first time in his career, look for Fa'asuamaleaui to have a big impact as the Storm eye nine wins in a row for the sixth time during Craig Bellamy's tenure.
The favourite: Coming up against a Storm side missing more than 1,100 games of experience, the Eels are expected to capitalise on their injury-affected rivals.
My tip: Losing 19 out of 26 clashes against the Craig Bellamy-coached Storm, the Eels should buck recent history on Thursday night. Eels by 14.
