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Melbourne Storm vs Sydney Roosters Tips - Storm to end Roosters' season

Jeremy Darke

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Last updated: 15 Sep 2023

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Jeremy Darke 15 Sep 2023

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Melbourne Storm vs Sydney Roosters predictions for Friday’s NRL game
Melbourne won both matches against Sydney in 2023
Which team can overcome injury?

Expired

The combination of Harry Grant and Cameron Munster will need to improve after their poor performance against the Broncos last week. (Getty Images)

Melbourne Storm vs Sydney Roosters Tips
Head to Head
Melbourne Storm Form
Melbourne Storm Team News
Melbourne Storm Team List
Sydney Roosters Form
Sydney Roosters Team News
Sydney Roosters Team List

Melbourne Storm vs Sydney Roosters Tips

Both the Storm and the Roosters were battered and bruised in the first week of the finals and will have to overcome injury if they want to be victorious and move on to the 2023 NRL Preliminary Finals.

Both teams have lost some class players which has taken the sting out of this mouth-drooling contest. For me it is the Roosters that are going to suffer the most, lacking creativity in attack for most of the season the loss of Joseph Manu and Joseph Suaali'i will be too harsh for them to overcome.

The Storm were blanked against the Broncos last week and I expect them to be out to make a statement this weekend in attack and will run away with this game 13+. The Roosters’ loss of their outside backs will also open up the door for plenty of tries for the Storm who will score over 23.5 points in the match.

The return of Justin Olam is a danger for the Roosters and I see the Papua New Guinean crossing for at least one try against the new combinations in the backline.

The Storm have won 7 of their last 8 games against the Roosters.
Melbourne beat Sydney twice this season by a margin of 13+.
Melbourne have averaged 29.6 points in attack at home in 2023.
The Roosters will be without 3 of their 4 starting outside backs from last match.

Head to Head

Melbourne took care of Sydney in both of their meetings in 2023, winning comfortably by 13+ in both outings.

However, it wasn't so long ago that the Roosters got up against the Storm at AAMI Park. In round 24 last season Sydney beat Melbourne 18-14, although all three try scorers for the Roosters in that meeting will be missing in the semi-final.

Melbourne have won seven of the last eight against the Roosters, dating back to round 15, 2019.

Melbourne Storm Form

Melbourne were held scoreless against Brisbane in the first week of the finals for the first time since round 14, 2014, against the Cowboys.

The Storm obviously looked disjointed in their 26-0 loss to the Broncos, but surprisingly it was the combinations between their experienced players Harry Grant and Cameron Munster that had the most problem connecting.

The true fitness of Jahrome Huhes was also under question after their halfback had been their most dangerous player in the weeks leading up to his injury.

Melbourne Storm Team News

Melbourne will have to survive their elimination final without Xavier Coates, Young Young Tonumaipea and also Ryan Papenhuyzen who suffered another major injury in their loss to the Broncos.

Justin Olam, Reimis Smith and Alec MacDonald will be their replacements.

Melbourne Storm Team List

1. Nick Meaney

2. Will Warbrick

3. Marion Seve

4. Justin Olam

5. Reimis Smith

6. Cameron Munster

7. Jahrome Hughes

8. Tui Kamikamica

9. Harry Grant

10. Christian Welch

11. Trent Loiero

12. Eli Katoa

13. Josh King

Interchange

14. Alec MacDonald

15. Tom Eisenhuth

16. Nelson Asofa-Solomona

17. Tariq Sims

Reserves

18. Grant Anderson

19. Bronson Garlick

20. Tepai Moeroa

21. Tyran Wishart

22. Sualauvi Faalogo

Sydney Roosters Form

The Roosters got away with their sixth victory in succession, beating the Cronulla Sharks 13-12 at Shark Park to stay alive in 2023.

It was another outstanding defensive performance by Easts who shut down the likes of Nicho Hynes and contained the Sharks to just two tries in the match after a sin bin to James Tedesco and a mountain of reshuffling in their backline.

Sydney Roosters Team News

The Roosters' win against the Sharks came at a cost, losing Joseph Manu (hamstring), Billy Smith (jaw) and Joseph Suaali'i (concussion), who will all be out this week.

Paul Momirovski, Jaxson Paulo and Corey Allan have all been named as replacements.

Sydney Roosters Team List

1. James Tedesco

2. Fetalaiga Pauga

3. Paul Momirovski

4. Corey Allan

5. Jaxson Paulo

6. Luke Keary

7. Sam Walker

8. Fletcher Baker

9. Brandon Smith

10. Lindsay Collins

11. Siua Wong

12. Nat Butcher

13. Victor Radley

Interchange

14. Sandon Smith

15. Egan Butcher

16. Terrell May

17. Angus Crichton

Reserves

18. Drew Hutchison

19. Naufahu Whyte

20. Zach Dockar-Clay

21. Jake Turpin

22. Nathan Brown

Verdict

Melbourne Storm v Sydney Roosters

The outs for the Roosters are just too important and their 6-0 run will come to a halt against Melbourne, who will be out to bounce back from their duck egg against Brisbane.

Melbourne 13+ and to score over 23.5 points is where my money will lie. Justin Olam returns in the centres and will be too hard to handle for the Roosters’ outside back replacements.