The Cumberland Throw

Match Preview – Storm vs Eels (Qualifying Final 2)

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Date: Saturday 9th of September

Venue: AAMI Park

Kick off: 4:10 pm

Head Referee: Ben Cummins

Assistant Referee: Chris Sutton

Head to head: Played 32, Storm 19, Eels 13

Head to head odds: Storm ($ 1.18), Eels ($ 5.10)

Broadcast: Live Channel Nine (Broadcast kick off: 4:00pm)

 

Last four encounters:

01. Eels 22, Storm 6 at AAMI Park (2017

02. Storm 18, Eels 6 at Pirtek Stadium (2016)

03. Eels 26, Storm 22 at AAMI Park (2015)

04. Storm 28, Eels 10 at Pirtek Stadium (2015)

 

Foreword:

I’ve been writing Eels match previews for almost four years, and for that entire period my beloved Eels have fallen short of the finals every season.

Whilst it’s been a pleasure delivering match previews to my readers, I hoped that one day I would be posting an Eels preview in September. This week, the opportunity has finally come, so read on as I present my inaugural Parramatta Eels finals series match preview.

Preview:

Saturday nights 2nd Qualifying final of the 2017 NRL Telstra Premiership pits minor premiers, the Melbourne Storm against the fourth placed Parramatta Eels. Both teams ended their home and away season with wins and should enter this match with a great deal of confidence.

There was only one clash between these two teams this season and on that night the Eels came out victorious against an Origin impacted Storm.

Though the experts gave little credit to the Eels for that win, a victory over Melbourne at their home ground would give the blue and golds a great deal of confidence, perhaps laying the foundation for a monumental upset.

The Storm are overwhelming favourites to win this but anything can happen in the NRL and upsets are an almost weekly occurrence. The Eels will certainly be approaching this clash with a great deal of self belief.

Value Bet:

My value bet for this one is to take the Parramatta Eels at the line with a plus 12.5 start; this is at $1.91 via Sportsbet (all odds via Sportsbet).

In the first try favourites market, the Melbourne Storm have Suliasi Vunivalu at $6 and Josh Addo Carr at $8 whereas the Parramatta Eels have Semi Radradra at a very good value of  $10 and Kirisome Auva’a way out at $17.

Interesting fact:

The Melbourne Storm maybe overwhelming favourites but the recent history sees the blue and golds winning their past two encounters with the Storm at AAMI Park in Melbourne. The Storm have not beaten the Eels in Melbourne since 2014.

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Danger man: This week’s danger man is Melbourne Storm halfback Cooper Cronk.

Whilst Cronk is scheduled to part ways with the Storm at seasons end, the talented half would be very determined to go out in the best way possible, perhaps claiming one more premiership win. The proud Queenslander is the ultimate competitor and an asset for any team. It’s often big games like this one where Cronk delivers his best football. You only have to look to countless Origin games as evidence of the difference he makes between his team winning and losing.

In my opinion, Cronk is the biggest big game player as he always arises to the occasion. If the Eels stand any chance of defeating the Storm, they must shut him down – a task much easier said than done. Look for Eels enforcers Kenny Edwards and Beau Scott to try to cause some grief to the Storm’s spine.

 

Team lists:

 

Melbourne Storm (finished 1st in the home and away regular season)

01. Billy Slater

02. Suliasi Vunivalu

03. Will Chambers

04. Curtis Scott

05. Josh Addo Carr

06. Cameron Munster

07. Cooper Cronk

08. Jesse Bromwich

09. Cameron Smith

10. Jordan McLean

11. Felise Kaufusi

12. Tohu Harris

13. Dale Finucane

14. Kenny Bromwich

15. Nelson Asofa Solomona

16. Tim Glasby

17. Slade Griffin

18. Jahrome Hughes

19. Robbie Rochow

20. Joe Stimson

21. Young Tonumaipea

Coach: Craig Bellamy

Late mail: Expect the Storm to line up 1 through 17 with no late changes.

 

Parramatta Eels (finished 4th in the home and away regular season)

01. Will Smith

02. Semi Radradra

03. Michael Jennings

04. Brad Takairangi

05. Kirisome Auva’a

06. Corey Norman

07. Mitchell Moses

08. Daniel Alvaro

09. Cameron King

10. Tim Mannah (C)

11. Manu Ma’u

12. Tepai Moeroa

13. Nathan Brown

14. Beau Scott

15. Kenny Edwards

16. Siosaia Vave

17. Suaia Matagi

18. Kaysa Pritchard

19. Josh Hoffman

20. David Gower

21. Frank Pritchard

Coach: Brad Arthur

Late mail: No late changes expected for the Eels they should enter this one 1 through 17.

 

Key match up:

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Cameron Munster vs Corey Norman:

The key match up is a battle between five eighths as Melbourne Storm young gun Cameron Munster does battle with Eels superstar Corey Norman.

Both Norman and Munster would have started this season with aspirations of representing Queensland in Origin footy, and via the injury to Thurston, it was Munster who got the nod.

After mixing quality matches with indifferent form in the early rounds, Norman looks to have finally overcome niggling injuries and found a long term halves partner in the process.

Whenever Norman is in form, the Eels are a very good chance of winning any game. There has been no bigger stage for the Eels during Norman’s time at the club than this Saturday evening. As such, the Parramatta pivot has the opportunity to silence the critics who lament his inability to deliver when the team needs him.

However, such critics give little consideration to the number of halves partners Norman has had over the past four years. Supporters need only look at the Eels results since Moses has joined Norman in the spine to see the impact that a genuine half can make to any five eighth.

Storm five eighth Cameron Munster is a player who can play a variety of positions – a rare and valuable commodity. Five eighth has been a problem position for the Storm over the years with the likes of Gareth Widdop, Blake Green and Ben Hampton filling the role but never owning it long term. However, it seems the Storm have found their man and Munster will be playing in the halves for many years to come.

Just like Norman has a quality half in Moses, Munster enjoys the benefit of one of the most intelligent and professional halves of the last decade – Cooper Cronk.

Norman won’t overcome Munster on his own, but he will need to execute Rugby League 101 – kick to the corners, manage the game with calm confidence, and deliver quality ball for his supports. If the rest of the team play their roles, then the opportunities will present for Norman’s running game.

My tip:

My heart says the Eels will come out on top, with Semi Radradra having a blockbuster game, scoring three tries to set up the upset of the year. However the head says the Storm in a tight contest, with the loss of Bevan French proving costly for the Eels.

Storm 22, Eels 18 (or the same score to the Eels if my heart is right!).

Man of the match: Cooper Cronk or Mitchell Moses

Enjoy the game, GO THE EELS !!!

Nathan

 

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3 thoughts on “Match Preview – Storm vs Eels (Qualifying Final 2)

  1. John Eel

    I agree with your summation. The Storm have been a class above the rest of the teams this season and the commentary all week has been about the Storm. The Eels have largely been ignored in the media

    Given that the Eels are rightly long shots they have had wins against the Storm (last time Storm weakened by SOO) in Melbourne, won 2 of their last 4 against them, play their best footy against top sides and have a chance of catching the Storm being complacent

    I know that I am talking through my heart here but the Eels have a very good record against top teams and if they can bring discipline and aggression to the game and run a lot of traffic at Cameron Smith they are not without a chance

    Go Eels

    If they can put in a disciplined effort like they did against the Dogs in the first half of their last match they will turn at half time in front and it will be interesting from there

  2. The rev aka Snedden

    Hi Nathan.

    I see us winning by 4 also something like 22/18 in eels favour.

    1st n formost we must put up bombs to billy slater high enough to get our chasing pack to smash billy b4 he makes a break or passes to his wing man n also kick to the corners to nullify him n hopfully get a line drop out to attack there line again.

    I’m looking forward to watching Norman at his best to prove the critics wrong about him not playing his best in big games.

    This is a game were I expect our forwards to really stand tall n show the storm n the rest we are the real deal.

    I would like to think that brad has the boys ready for a big game.

    #Eels4life#

  3. The Crow

    My head means that I’ve tipped the Storm for the work tipping comp in a strategic move but my heart has a fiver on the Eels.Going into this game I am not nervous with a zen like calm. For some reason I think we’ve got this. Bring on the Storm!

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