3 minute read
Melbourne Storm are the form team in the NRL right now and they will take some stopping when the St George/Illawarra Dragons head to AAMI Park on Saturday.
Currently on a four-game winning streak and sitting top of the ladder, Melbourne look like the team to beat in this moment.
The Dragons meanwhile are one of a host of teams battling for a top-eight finish and Saturday's game might see them take a hit in their hopes of playing finals footie this season.
. What: Melbourne Storm v St George/Illawarra Dragons
. Where: AAMI Park, Melbourne
. When: 17:30 (AEST), Friday 2nd August
. How to watch: Kayo, Foxtel
. Odds: Melbourne Storm 1.11, St George/Illawarra Dragons 6.60
Storm gaining momentum
Melbourne have the minor premiership in their sights and they have a great chance to claim the J.J. Giltinan Shield for the first time since 2021.
The Storm were the last team other than Penrith to win an NRL grand final and Melbourne currently find themselves four points above defending champions the Panthers going into this week's games.
While results have been good, Melbourne boss Craig Bellamy will know his side can improve on their performance in their 32-14 win over Parramatta Eels last time out.
On a positive note, it was a game that saw playmaker Cameron Munster make his return from a groin injury and he came through the encounter unscathed.
Munster gets a starting role this week, with Tyran Wishart moving to the interchange and Sua Faalogo becoming the 18th man.
Given their recent record, Melbourne are unsurprisingly the favourites at 1.11 to claim the two points on Saturday, while the Storm are 1.82 with -19.5 in the Line market.
Dragons facing daunting task
Every game matters for the Dragons at this stage of the season and Saturday provides the sternest test of their remaining games.
It's been a tough run for this side, especially having played reigning champions Penrith in their last outing, a game which they lost 46-10.
Proceeding that, the Dragons lost to third-place Sydney Roosters, in a run of matches they will be happy to put behind them.
In positive news, Tyrell Sloan returns to fullback, while Mat Feagai has been forced to miss out due to a head knock.
Toby Couchman is suspended for the trip to Melbourne, so his brother Ryan comes onto the bench this week, while Blake Lawrie has also been called up to the interchange.
This game will come too soon for Ben Murdoch-Masila, who is still recovering from a foot injury.
The Dragons will know the size of the task ahead of them, having only won one of their last six games against the Storm.
It was all the way back in 1999 the last time the Dragons won in Melbourne, while the Storm have won 17 of their last 18 games at AAMI Park.
This might well feel like another long 80 minutes for the Dragons, who are 6.60 to cause a shock and end that 25-year wait for success in Melbourne.
