Storm v Sea Eagles: Munster back on deck; Wakeham returns
A new chapter is set to be written in one of the great rivalries of the modern era when Melbourne take on Manly on Saturday afternoon.
The teams will head across the Nullarbor to Perth's HBF Park for a crucial clash between two sides desperate to keep their finals hopes alive.
Manly are well-rested after last week's bye and eager to hit the ground running in their bid to climb back into the eight.
The Sea Eagles have lost four in a row but they have strike all across the park and can score points at will.
Defence will be a key area of focus, with Manly struggling in that aspect of the game in recent times.
Melbourne enter the clash battered and bruised after a tough few weeks that have seen Cam Munster, Harry Grant and Jahrome Hughes miss time with injuries.
The Storm currently sit 12th, six points outside the eight and they need to find form to keep a remarkable 15-year finals streak alive.
Match: Storm v Sea Eagles
Round 23 -
home Team
Storm
12th Position
away Team
Sea Eagles
10th Position
Venue: HBF Park, Perth
Match broadcasters:
- WatchNRL
Team News
Storm: The return of gun playmaker Cameron Munster from a knee injury is a huge boost for the Storm. He will partner youngster Hayden Watson in the halves with Jahrome Hughes (hamstring) still sidelined. Tyran Wishart moves to hooker and Trent Toelau slides to the bench. Centre Jack Howarth returns after missing the Bulldogs game with a shoulder injury. Davvy Moale is the new face on the six-man bench in place of Alec MacDonald, who left the field late last week for a head injury assessment and has entered the concussion protocols.
Sea Eagles: Tolu Koula moves back to the centres and Blake Wilson comes in on the wing for his third NRL game of the season. Hooker Brandon Wakeham is back from a calf injury and back-rower Corey Waddell also returns from an ankle injury to fill the void left by Ben Trbojevic (concussion). Kobe Hetherington suffered a ruptured bicep in training yesterday and is scheduled to undergo surgery next week. Fletcher Baker has been added to the bench and is line for a club debut.
Team Lists
Backs
-
Fullback for Storm is number 1 Sualauvi FaalogoFullback for Sea Eagles is number 1 Lehi Hopoate
-
Winger for Storm is number 2 Siulagi Tuimalatu-BrownWinger for Sea Eagles is number 2 Jason Saab
-
Centre for Storm is number 3 Jack HowarthCentre for Sea Eagles is number 3 Tolutau Koula
-
Centre for Storm is number 4 Nick MeaneyCentre for Sea Eagles is number 4 Reuben Garrick
-
Winger for Storm is number 5 Moses LeoWinger for Sea Eagles is number 5 Blake Wilson
-
Five-Eighth for Storm is number 6 Cameron MunsterFive-Eighth for Sea Eagles is number 6 Joey Walsh
-
Halfback for Storm is number 7 Hayden WatsonHalfback for Sea Eagles is number 7 Jamal Fogarty
Forwards
-
Prop for Storm is number 8 Stefano UtoikamanuProp for Sea Eagles is number 8 Taniela Paseka
-
Hooker for Storm is number 9 Tyran WishartHooker for Sea Eagles is number 9 Brandon Wakeham
-
Prop for Storm is number 10 Josh KingProp for Sea Eagles is number 10 Ethan Bullemor
-
2nd Row for Storm is number 11 Cooper Clarke2nd Row for Sea Eagles is number 11 Haumole Olakau'atu
-
2nd Row for Storm is number 12 Oryn Keeley2nd Row for Sea Eagles is number 12 Corey Waddell
-
Lock for Storm is number 13 Trent LoieroLock for Sea Eagles is number 13 Jake Trbojevic
Interchange
-
Interchange for Storm is number 14 Trent ToelauInterchange for Sea Eagles is number 14 Jake Simpkin
-
Interchange for Storm is number 15 Shawn BloreInterchange for Sea Eagles is number 15 Nathan Brown
-
Interchange for Storm is number 16 Davvy MoaleInterchange for Sea Eagles is number 16 Simione Laiafi
-
Interchange for Storm is number 17 Angus HincheyInterchange for Sea Eagles is number 17 Fletcher Baker
-
Interchange for Storm is number 18 Joe ChanInterchange for Sea Eagles is number 18 Jackson Shereb
-
Interchange for Storm is number 19 Jack HetheringtonInterchange for Sea Eagles is number 19 Josh Feledy
Reserves
-
Reserve for Storm is number 20 Gabriel SatrickReserve for Sea Eagles is number 20 Onitoni Large
-
Reserve for Storm is number 21 Stanley HuenReserve for Sea Eagles is number 21 Nicholas Lenaz
-
Reserve for Storm is number 22 Manaia WaitereReserve for Sea Eagles is number 22 Hugo Hart
Storm Ins
- Cameron Munster
- Davvy Moale
- Gabriel Satrick
- Jack Howarth
- Stanley Huen
Sea Eagles Ins
- Brandon Wakeham
- Corey Waddell
- Fletcher Baker
- Hugo Hart
- Jackson Shereb
Storm Outs
- Alec MacDonald
- Jai Bowden
Sea Eagles Ins
- Ben Trbojevic
- Kobe Hetherington
Match Officials
- Touch Judge: Phil Henderson
- Senior Review Official: Liam Kennedy
Last updated:
Stat Attack
- The Storm have won four of their six games played in Perth.
- The Sea Eagles have won five of their last seven games against the Storm.
- Storm winger Moses Leo has scored eight tries in his last eight games.
- Sea Eagles winger Jason Saab has scored eight tries in eight games against the Storm.
- The Storm have conceded more points after 22 rounds than any previous season under Craig Bellamy.
Stats supplied by David Middleton, League Information Services, author of the official annual of the NRL.
