2021 NRL – Canberra Raiders vs Melbourne Storm Preview & Prediction
THE FACTS
When is Canberra Raiders vs Melbourne Storm taking place? Saturday 22nd May, 2021 – 10:35 (UK)
Where is Canberra Raiders vs Melbourne Storm taking place? GIO Stadium, Canberra
Where can I get tickets for Canberra Raiders vs Melbourne Storm? Click here for ticket information on 2021 NRL matches
What channel is Canberra Raiders vs Melbourne Storm on? Sky Sports Arena will be televising selected NRL games in the UK and you can find their schedule here. For Australian broadcasters, you can find a list here
Where can I stream Canberra Raiders vs Melbourne Storm? If televised on Sky Sports, then subscribers will be able to stream the match live via Sky Go. Alternatively, the match will be available to subscribers of Watch NRL
THE TEAM NEWS
CANBERRA RAIDERS
Starting 13: Aekins, Simonsson, Kris, Scott, Valemei, S. Williams, G. Williams, Lui, Starling, Guler, Harawira-Naera, Whitehead, Young – Interchanges: Schneider, Sutton, Horsburgh, James – Reserves: Timoko, Soliola, Havili, Rushton
Unavailable: Harley Smith-Shields (Injured), Charnze Nicoll-Klokstad (Injured), Albert Hopoate (Injured), Jarrod Croker (Injured), Jordan Rapana (Injured), Joseph Tapine (Injured), Jack Wighton (Suspended), Josh Papalii (Suspended), Josh Hodgson (Suspended)
- Canberra Raiders would have feared the worst when they were reduced to 12 men for the final 20 minutes of their game with bottom side Canterbury Bulldogs but they dug deep to avoid an embarrassing loss.
- The Raiders scored two tries following Josh Papalii’s red card as they won for the first time in six matches but they now come into this without the suspended Papalii as well as Josh Hodgson and Jack Wighton who also copped ban’s last week.
MELBOURNE STORM
Starting 13: Hynes, Jennings, R. Smith, Olam, Addo-Carr, Lewis, Hughes, J. Bromwich, B. Smith, Welch, Kaufusi, K. Bromwich, Finucane – Interchanges: Pene, Kamikamica, Eisenhuth, Asofa-Solomona – Reserves: Booth, Johns, Loiero, Ieremai
Unavailable: Max King (Injured), Darryn Schonig (Injured), Brenko Lee (Injured), Cameron Munster (Injured), Harry Grant (Injured), Ryan Papenhuyzen (Injured), Tyson Smoothy (Injured)
- Melbourne Storm’s magnificent run of form with ball in hand continued as they hit the 40-point mark once again, the sixth time in seven matches tha they have achieved that feat, as they were comfortable winners against the 12 men of St. George Illawarra Dragons last week.
- In what was the Storm’s seventh win in a row, they were aided by an early red card handed out to the Dragons’ Tyrell Fuimaono but his tackle on Ryan Papenhuyzen has ruled the star fullback out of this contest.
THE PREDICTION
Canberra Raiders ended their losing streak at five matches last week but it was another poor performance in truth as they struggled to put bottom of the ladder Canterbury Bulldogs to the sword. They showed some real character to fight back from a narrow deficit despite being down to 12 men but they will have to show some serious improvements here, especially as they are now without a trio of key men to suspension. They face reigning premiers Melbourne Storm who arrive on the back of a seven-match winning streak and having posted 40 points in six of their last seven, their quality with the ball should prove too much for the Raiders in this one in and they should be able to cross for at least six tries in the process.
