Storm v Bulldogs preview

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Melbourne Storm v Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs Sunday 4:05pm at AAMI Park, Melbourne / Wurundjeri

While it is still far too early to judge the success of the rebuild at Belmore, this weekend's game with Melbourne will be telling in revealing just how far off Trent Barrett's men are.

The Bulldogs have struggled against the Storm in recent history, losing their past six matches against Craig Bellamy's side. 

And typically, Melbourne has ran away dominant victors in the process, winning three and four of the past five games by 18 points or more.

This is a very different Bulldogs side though, one boasting the second-best defensive record in the league. 

Sure, Barrett's side have had a soft opening to the 2022 season, playing the Cowboys, Broncos and Sea Eagles in the opening three weeks.

But North Queensland just did a number on Brisbane, proving that you can only play what is in front of you and at the moment, while the attack is a work in the progress, the effort is there for the Bulldogs.

And that alone could be enough to keep them right in Sunday's clash with the Storm.
Melbourne suffered its first defeat of the year in dramatic fashion last week, falling 28-24 to Parramatta. 

The Storm are bolstered by two key returns this week, with Harry Grant back at hooker and Xavier Coates also fit to play on the wing. 

While Melbourne is yet to show any signs it could be regressing this year, none of its three performances to open the season were dominant by any means.

A first-up win over the Tigers was impressive given Melbourne's long list of unavailable players, although the following weeks errors and ill-discipline almost proved costly against South Sydney.

That was the case against Parramatta in a high-quality contest and will be a point of improvement for Bellamy's side, who head into round four conceding on average the most penalties in the league.

Last meeting: Round 5 2021 - Bulldogs 18 Storm 52

Who to watch: For the Storm, look for Harry Grant to cause havoc through the middle of the park. Grant made an immediate impact playing off the bench in Melbourne's last meeting with the Bulldogs, setting up a try and running for almost 70 metres in just 53 minutes. Now he is starting, with Brandon Smith coming off the bench and giving the opposition defence no chance to drop off its intensity.

Grant has made just the one appearance this year (against Souths), so match fitness may be a concern returning from a bout with Covid-19 and could see his minutes reduced. But Grant's one game against the Rabbitohs showed just how big an impact he can make, setting up a try, running for over 140 metres and making 40 tackles in a dominant showing. The Bulldogs' big men will have be on high alert for the scheming Grant.

Meanwhile, Sunday's game sees Josh Addo-Carr continue the hunt for his first try in Bulldogs colours and he will do it against his former teammates. Addo-Carr made a name for himself at Melbourne, playing 118 games for the Storm and scoring 96 tries during that period. He is yet to score for the Bulldogs though and has not crossed over the try line since Round 24, which is the second-longest try-scoring drought in his career - the longest being six games according to the Fox Sports Lab.

Addo-Carr knows the ins and outs of the Melbourne system and it will be interesting to see if that gives the Bulldogs an advantage on Sunday. 

The favourite: The Storm are well-backed to finish comfortable winners.

My tip: Look for Josh Addo-Carr to break his try-scoring drought and for the Bulldogs to show how far they have already come in a respectable showing. But in the end, the Storm will have too many weapons in attack with Grant and halfback Jahrome Hughes to put on a show. Melbourne by 16.

1. Ryan Papenhuyzen 19. Nick Meaney 3. Reimis Smith 4. Justin Olam 5. Xavier Coates 6. Cameron Munster 7. Jahrome Hughes 8. Jesse Bromwich 9. Harry Grant 10. Nelson Asofa-Solomona 11. Felise Kaufusi 12. Kenny Bromwich 13. Josh King 14. Brandon Smith 15. Alec MacDonald 16. Trent Loiero 17. Tepai Moeroa 21. Tyran Wishart

1. Matt Dufty 2. Braidon Burns 20. Jake Averillo 4. Brent Naden 5. Josh Addo-Carr 6. Matt Burton 7. Brandon Wakeham 8. Luke Thompson 9. Jeremy Marshall-King 10. Paul Vaughan 11. Corey Waddell 12. Tevita Pangai Junior 13. Josh Jackson 14. Bailey Biondi-Odo 15. Chris Patolo 16. Max King 17. Joe Stimson 19. Reece Hoffman

Referees: Adam Gee; Sideline Officials: Nick Morel, Darian Furner; Video Referees: Ashley Klein;