The Stats Zone
· Ash Wheldon

2019 NRL – Melbourne Storm vs Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs Preview & Prediction

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THE FACTS

When is Melbourne Storm vs Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs taking place? Sunday 7th April, 07:05

Where is Melbourne Storm vs Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs taking place? AAMI Park

What channel is Melbourne Storm vs Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs on?
UK – Sky Sports Arena
Australia – Fox Sports

Where can I stream Melbourne Storm vs Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs?
UK – Sky Sports subscribers can stream the match via Sky Go
Australia – https://www.telstra.com.au/tv-movies-music/sports-offer

Where can I get tickets for Melbourne Storm vs Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs?
Melbourne Storm – https://tickets.nrl.com/team/500021

Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs – https://tickets.nrl.com/team/500010

THE TEAM NEWS

MELBOURNE STORM

Head Coach: Craig Bellamy

Starting 13: Hughes, Vunivalu, Chambers, Scott, Papenhuyzen, Munster, Croft, J. Bromwich, C. Smith, Asofa-Solomona, F. Kaufusi, K. Bromwich, Finucane – Interchanges: B. Smith, Welch, Kamikamica, Seve – Reserves: P. Kaufusi, Walters

Unavailable: Scott Drinkwater, Joe Stimson, Tom Eisenhuth, Josh Addo-Carr

  • Melbourne’s impressive start to the season was taken to another level as they hammered Penrith last week and prevented the Panthers from scoring a single try as they ran out big winners.

  • The Storm have laid down a big marker for the season and will prove difficult to stop if they can maintain this level of performance with Craig Bellamy getting his troops into magnificent form to begin the year.

  • Melbourne have suffered a late blow with flying winger Josh Addo-Carr having to withdraw from the line-up because of personal reasons but young rookie Ryan Papenhuyzen will be given a chance to show what he can do in the only change for the Storm.

CANTERBURY-BANKSTOWN BULLDOGS

Head Coach: Dean Pay

Starting 13: Meaney, Okunbor, Holland, Hopoate, R. Smith, Cogger, Lewis, Tolman, Marshall-King, Napa, Jackson, Harawira-Naera, Martin – Interchanges: Lichaa, Ogden, Elliott, C. Smith – Reserves: Montoya, Sue

Unavailable: Fa’amanu Brown, Renouf To’omaga, Brandon Wakeham, Kieran Foran

  • After two extremely poor efforts, Dean Pay’s decision to wield the axe paid off as his Canterbury side picked up their first win of the season in a battling display over Wests Tigers.

  • The Bulldogs still have plenty of work to do but picking up that first win was important and will look to build on it but face a tough task doing that here as they travel to Melbourne to face the unbeaten Storm.

  • Canterbury have suffered a huge blow ahead of the game with influential five-eighth Kieran Foran ruled out with an ankle injury which sees Jack Cogger come into the side whilst Rhyse Martin will start at lock with Adam Elliott reverting to the bench.

THE PREDICTION

Melbourne have set the standard in the NRL so far this season and look the team to beat as we head into Round 4. They host a Canterbury side who picked up their first win of the season against Wests Tigers last week but will won’t find it as easy going against the Storm. Melbourne have dominated every game so far this year and this could be a similar story with Canterbury feeling the loss of five-eighth Kieran Foran with the Storm able to rack up another big win.

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