NRL Round 21 St George-Illawarra Dragons v Melbourne Storm Preview

The Storm are in danger of running out of puff after they started the season on fire and had people suggesting whether or not they could go through the entire season without a loss. What a difference a couple of months can make. The Storm have now lost the billing of number 1 team on the ladder and are two points behind the Bulldogs in equal second with the Rabbitohs. Perhaps it is a post Origin hang over for their stars or perhaps teams have figured out how to beat them. What ever it is they need to figure it out as soon as possible. They certainly have a relatively "tough" task as they travel up to Wollongong to face a Dragon's side that is fighting for their season to stay alive. Things have not gone to plan for them this season and they seem very desperate. But in the same breath, they also look as though they are uninterested on the field. Some players seem to be just going through the motions and are not showing much fight at all. Their performances deserved to be questioned as their fans cannot understand how a similar team to the one that won the grand finals a few years ago are now struggling to make the Top 8. Perhaps it is due to an ageing roster or even a lack of creativity in attack. Regardless of what the problem is, (and I've been saying it for a number of weeks) coach Steve Price needs to make the tough calls on his squad. If they thought they could get their season back on track here, then they need to think again. The Storm will be aiming to do the same and will have more to play for considering how they have lost their billing as the team to beat. It all set the stage for a very interesting clash and one that again will prove a telling game to the make up of the Top 8 and every teams run home.


St George-Illawarra Dragons
The Dragons season is nearly done and dusted but coach Steve Price still persists with roughly the same group of players week in and week out. If something is not working you generally aim to find a way to make it work, but Price is remaining extremely loyal. But loyalty will not keep him in a job much longer if these dismal performances continue. A side not has to be mentioned about Beau Scott who in parts of the game against the Rabbitohs, appeared as though his mind was already focussed towards Newcastle next season. This is not a good sign. Scott has been moved to the centres this week as Matt Cooper has suffered a leg injury that could keep him out for around 4 weeks. Matt Prior comes into the second row to cover for Scott's move, but they're the only changes. Dean Young, who was on the receiving end of a controversial knock from Greg Inglis, has been named to start at lock but it would be very surprising to see him take the field. The Dragons have also named an extended bench which now has Prior not on it and Will Matthews named alongside Leeson Ah Mau. One of those player will be expected to miss out. Same players named, so will it be the same mynotinious Dragons team? They surely have to spring a surprise here to catch the Storm off guard but you would think that they do not hold the potential to do so.

Melbourne Storm
The big news for the Storm in this clash is the long awaited return of superstar Billy Slater after being injured in SOO 2. But coach Craig Bellamy was quick to suggest that Slaters impending return should not spark the Storm back into their early season form that saw them dominate the first part of the competition. NRL fans of fellow Top 8 clubs will be definitely watching this game with interest some are now suggesting that the Storm are beatable. Slaters return now shifts Gareth Widdop from fullback, back to 5/8. The 5/8 against the Eels, Rory Kostjasyn, shifts back to the bench. Will Chambers comes back into the centres and speedster Justin O'Neill drops out of the team. There is also a few changes in the forwards that has seen Ryan Hinchcliffe moved from the bench to start at lock and Todd Lowrie now starting off the bench. Richie Fa'aoso will make his first start from the bench for the Storm since his midseason transfer from the Knights. So the Storm have done the opposite to the Dragons. Even though they are having players returning from injury, they are not afraid of making a few changes to the team to shake up performances. If the Storm win, perhaps it could be an idea for the Dragons to try...all be it, too late. Despite Bellamy's comments, Slater will definitely make an improvement when the Storm have a back line movement where the fullback is involved.


Recent History
Overall = Dragons 6 - Draw 1 - Storm 18
Last 5 games = Dragons 1 - Storm 4
At WIN Stadium = Dragons 2 - Draw 1 - Storm 3


Odds
TAB Sportsbet = Dragons $2.75 Storm $1.47
Centrebet = Dragons $2.72 Storm $1.48
Sportsbet = Dragons $2.70 Storm $1.48
Betfair = Dragons $2.80 Storm $1.52


Verdict
While it won't be panic stations just yet for the Storm if they were to lose this game, it would certainly act as inspiration for other teams to demonstrate that they're beatable. But they're on a horror run at the moment and need to get things right. The inclusion of Slater will definitely boost the away teams potentcy in attack. I mentioned it above, the ball movement to the outside backs will be a lot more fluent with and the outside backs should receive the ball with plenty of space. They also have a forward pack that has lost a certain amount of pride in recent weeks after being dominated by lesser packs. This is their time to stand up and be counted as a genuine forward pack to fear.


Suggested Bet
Storm -3.5 @ $1.90 (Best bet of the Weekend!)


Right side, Strong side = First try scorer Sisa Waqa ($11) and/or Will Chambers ($13) - The inclusion of Slater should help these guys receive the ball in better attacking positions. The Dragons also have a player in Beau Scott "out of position" in the centres and he does look uninterested.


Good luck!
Scooby
@scoobystips