Canterbury Bulldogs v Melbourne Storm
Adelaide Oval, 7.00pm (SA Local Time)
Bulldogs $2.75, Storm $1.45
Bulldogs: Ben Barba, Steve Turner, Josh Morris, Jamal Idris, Jonathan Wright, Kris Keating, Trent Hodkinson, Aiden Tolman, Michael Ennis, Sam Kasiano, Frank Pritchard, Andrew Ryan , David Stagg. Interchange: Greg Eastwood, Martin Taupau, Corey Payne, Dene Halatau.
Storm: Billy Slater, Matt Duffie, Dane Nielsen, Maurice Blair, Sisa Waqa, Gareth Widdop, Cooper Cronk, Jesse Bromwich, Cameron Smith (c), Bryan Norrie, Adam Blair, Kevin Proctor, Ryan Hinchcliffe. Interchange (from): Rory Kostjasyn, Sika Manu, Adam Woolnough, Jaiman Lowe, Anthony Quinn, Justin O’Neill, Beau Champion.
This week it’s welcome to Adelaide! The national competition heads west to the city of churches for a match up that will have the Bulldogs endeavouring to find a place in the top 8 against a Storm side looking to maintain their hold on 1st place.
As if the Canterbury side’s task wasn’t tough enough, it got tougher thanks to the withdrawal of Michael Ennis with blood on his lung. The Dogs have yet to decide on their rearranged line up which could see either Kris Keating or Josh Reynolds play hooker whereas in the 5/8th stakes it could again be Kris Keating or Ben Roberts.
No problems for the Storm who will welcome back their 3 origin start albeit a little weary from their success on Wednesday night.
The Storm are the team to tip here. Coach Craig Bellamy is a master of getting the best out of players in the face of adversity, this time the adversity being having 3 tired players backing up from Origin. The Dogs have been struggling on their own only having won 2 from their last 8 as it is and losing Ennis will really hurt them.
Mike’s Best Bet: $63 on the Storm -3.5 @ $1.72
Starting Bank: $2000, Current Bank $2496.00
(Team lists sourced from nrl.com.au)
