Finals Week 1: Storm v Raiders preview
Only one team will survive as Melbourne host Canberra
The 5th placed Melbourne Storm will host the 8th placed Canberra Raiders on Saturday evening in the first elimination final. With both teams fighting to keep their seasons alive, it will surely be an intriguing battle.
Melbourne will be very disappointed to find themselves in this position. Losing two straight games to finish the regular season and slipping out of the top four, the Storm are at risk of exiting in the first week of the finals, a position they haven't been in since 2014. Their recent matches against the Eels and Roosters were hard slogs, and may have taken a lot out of the playing group.
Injuries have had a major impact on Melbourne's season this year, but fans will be relieved to hear that their halfback Jahrome Hughes has been named to return this weekend. Hughes missed his team's round 25 clash due to calf tightness, with Cooper Johns filling in. Last weekend's game against Parramatta wasn't without its casualties, but despite injury clouds both Kenny Bromwich and Nick Meaney have been named to take to the field. On Tuesday afternoon, Meaney was named at fullback, however since Ryan Papenhuyzen's injury the position has mostly been played by Queensland half Cameron Munster. Speculation around Munster's contract situation has been rife throughout the past week, with both his current club and The Dolphins vying for his services from 2024 onwards. However, it has been reported that he has put his contract negotiations on hold for the upcoming finals series, and whatever position he plays in this Saturday there can be no doubt about his importance to the Melbourne Storm. Playing his whole career at the Wests Tigers, David Nofoaluma linked up with the Storm on a loan deal just a few months ago, and he will get his first taste of finals football this weekend when he lines up on the wing. Nofa brought his NRL career try tally to 99 last weekend, and he will be looking to bring up the century in the most important game of his life this Saturday.
It was sheer willpower that the Canberra Raiders displayed in the final rounds of the regular season that earned them a spot in the 2022 finals series. Seemingly destined to miss the top eight for the second year running, the Raiders strung together a four game winning streak to end the home-and-away season that saw them edge out the Brisbane Broncos to eighth place. Winning by a combined margin of 88 points in the last two weeks, the Raiders will be brimming with confidence prior to their trip South. A stunning first half display at Leichhardt Oval last week saw a half-time score of 42-0, the way of the visitors. They have to keep that form going if they're going to continue their run in the 2022 season. Unlike Melbourne, Canberra had the opportunity to rest players last week following Brisbane's loss to the Dragons which all but sealed their finals spot. Raiders half Jack Wighton and second-rower Elliott Whitehead were both late withdrawals from the last round, but they will return from their rest for this do-or-die clash. They will certainly appreciate the week off as the players who took to the field against the Tigers have just a six day turnaround, the shortest of all the finals teams and a point of controversy.
The Melbourne Storm have won five of their last six clashes against the Canberra Raiders, and two of their three finals matches played against them in the past five years.
Last meeting: Round 18 2022 - Storm 16 Raiders 20
Who to watch: Joining Melbourne at the beginning of the season, Xavier Coates has made his mark. At just 21 years of age, and not even 50 games into his NRL career, he has made six appearances for the Maroons over the past three years. Scoring 13 tries in 16 games this season, Coates is signed with the Storm until 2026. He will be hoping for a spot in either the Kangaroos or Kumuls come the World Cup at the end of the year.
After taking a year off from the game in 2020, Sebatian Kris has put in strong showings for Canberra over the past two seasons. Playing the majority of matches this year as a starting centre, he'll line up in that position for the ninth straight game this Saturday. With 25 tries out of only 42 career NRL appearances, Kris will be hopeful of securing a spot in the Kiwi squad that will travel to England in October.
The favourite: The Melbourne Storm are the favourites to bounce back from a disappointing regular season end and keep their season alive in front of their home crowd.
My tip: While Melbourne should get this one done, Canberra have shown in the past month that they will not give up on their season without a fight. Melbourne by 2.
