Round 17: Storm v Sea Eagles preview
Consistency key as Melbourne and Manly meet
The Melbourne Storm will host the Manly Sea Eagles in round seventeen action this Saturday night. While Manly are suffering down in lowly 12th on the ladder, Melbourne are enjoying a return to the peak, sitting 3rd - only two points off the Broncos in first.
The Storm have three straight wins well within their sights, having dealt effectively with challenges from the Cronulla Sharks and the Wests Tigers over the past two weeks. Melbourne backed up their thrashing of Cronulla with a confident 28-6 victory over the Tigers at Campbelltown last weekend - the game that will forever be associated with Alex Twal.
Melbourne have three players set to represent the Maroons on the Wednesday prior to this weekend's fixtures, with all of them initially named to back up in club footy on Saturday night. Melbourne fans will be hoping that Cameron Munster, Harry Grant, and Xavier Coates pull through Game 2 without any significant hiccups.
In other team news for the Storm, Justin Olam is back into the side, meaning Marion Seve loses his spot in the 17. Tom Eisenhuth and Christian Welch make up the new front row, with Nelson Asofa-Solomona named at second row, and Tui Kamikamica not named.
Manly failed to build on their 40 point thrashing of The Dolphins two weeks ago when they faced Parramatta last round. In front of a hostile Commbank crowd, and with Jake Arthur leading the charge in the number 7 jersey, Manly were hindered by an early sin bin to Kaeo Weekes, but were nonetheless outplayed by an impressive Eels team. The 34-4 loss will be a hard one to stomach, but it's crucially important to their season that they find a way to bounce back this week.
Daly Cherry-Evans has been named to take back his halfback spot, with Jake Arthur waiting in the wings if required. DCE will be hoping to get through Origin unscathed so as to lead his team just a few days later. Tom Trbojevic, however, has been named in the reserves, and is thus unlikely to take to the field for Manly this weekend. Manly's only other team news is Ben Condon joining the bench at Samuela Fainu's expense.
This will be the second time these two sides have clashed during the 2023 season, with Manly triumphing by ten points back in round seven on home turf. Melbourne will be confident of getting revenge for that result this weekend.
Last meeting: Round 7 2023 - Sea Eagles 18 Storm 8
Who to watch: Melbourne winger Will Warbrick is enjoying a breakout first season in the NRL. With 11 NRL tries already to his name (in just 14 games), Warbrick starred with a four try haul last weekend against the Tigers. The 25 year old has played in every single game so far this season for the Storm - an unlikely and impressive achievement for someone who made his debut back in round one. Warbrick will be hopeful of adding to his try tally this Saturday.
Opposing Manly winger Reuben Garrick is playing in his 5th season of NRL football for the Sea Eagles, but it feels like he's been around forever. The 2021 Dally M Winger of the Year is a mainstay at Brookvale, and now has over 100 NRL games of experience to his name. The 25 year old is in charge of the kicking duties, and if this game gets close, his conversion success rate will undoubtedly prove to be important.
Favourite: The Melbourne Storm are the strong favourites to get the job done in front of their home crowd.
My tip: I think Melbourne will be far too strong this weekend. Storm by 22.
