JayBee
Kennel Legend
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- Feb 23, 2005
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VENUE & TIME: Bluetongue Stadium, Saturday May 23, 7.35pm (AEST).
COVERAGE: Fox Sports 2
LAST TIME: Storm 46 - Bulldogs 0 at Olympic Park, Round 12, 2008.
WALKING WOUNDED: The Bulldogs go into this match virtually unchanged from last week, with centre Josh Morris (broken foot) the only absentee - he is due back in Round 14.
For the Storm, interchange forward Sika Manu has been named despite fainting for some unknown reason after full-time against the Raiders on Monday night. Anthony Quinn (concussion) and Kevin Proctor (ankle) remain on the sidelines.
FORM: Had a few things gone their way this season the Bulldogs could well be leading comp by four points at present. Last Friday night against the Dragons they were robbed by the video referee on full-time when centre Jamal Idris appeared to have scored a legitimate try. They refused to panic despite trailing 0-14 at one stage during the first half - a testament to the many cool, experienced heads in the team these days.
The Storm hit top gear against the struggling Raiders on Monday night with many of their big names starting to shine with the Origin series just around the corner. After a sluggish start to the season, the 2008 Grand Finalists have struck some consistency, winning their previous three matches to assume premiership favouritism.
WHO'S HOT: Teenage Bulldogs centre Jamal Idris was the stand-out attacking player at Win Jubilee Stadium last Friday night. Jumped high for a try and was unlucky to miss out on another couple in what was the most dominating performance of his short career thus far.
Billy Slater warmed up for QLD Origin selection in style with a dazzling two-try display against the Raiders. Young William has been well contained at times during the season, but with some commentators calling for Karmichael Hunt to be the QLD full-back, Slater knew he had to unleash his best on Monday night. Poor Canberra was on the receiving end.
WE THINK: If the people of the Central Coast really want an NRL team then they should attend this mouth-watering clash in big numbers. All the stats point to a Storm victory - they have won their past five clashes with the Dogs plus their previous three Gosford games. But the Bulldogs are a very different proposition in 2009 and should still be seething following last Friday night's heartbreaking defeat. An eight-day turnaround compared to the Storm's five may help these gritty Dogs nudge home at the death. Bulldogs by 2.
TEAMS
Bulldogs:
1 Luke Patten, 2 Hazem El Masri, 3 Daryl Millard, 4 Jamal Idris, 5 Bryson Goodwin, 6 Ben Roberts, 7 Brett Kimmorley, 8 Ben Hannant, 9 Michael Ennis, 10 Michael Hodgson, 11 Greg Eastwood, 12 Andrew Ryan (c), 13 David Stagg.
Interchange: 14. Gary Warburton, 15 Yileen Gordon, 16 Chris Armit, 17 John Kite, 18 Daniel Holdsworth.
Melbourne Storm:
1.Billy Slater, 2. Steve Turner, 3. Will Chambers, 4. Greg Inglis, 5. Joseph Tomane, 6. Brett Finch, 7. Cooper Cronk, 8. Jeff Lima, 9. Cameron Smith (c), 10. Adam Blair, 11. Matt Cross, 12. Ryan Hoffman, 13. Dallas Johnson.
Interchange: 14. Ryan Hinchcliffe, 15. Sika Manu, 16. Aiden Tolman, 17. Brett White, 18. Hep Cahill.
Referees: Shayne Hayne & Gerard Sutton
COVERAGE: Fox Sports 2
LAST TIME: Storm 46 - Bulldogs 0 at Olympic Park, Round 12, 2008.
WALKING WOUNDED: The Bulldogs go into this match virtually unchanged from last week, with centre Josh Morris (broken foot) the only absentee - he is due back in Round 14.
For the Storm, interchange forward Sika Manu has been named despite fainting for some unknown reason after full-time against the Raiders on Monday night. Anthony Quinn (concussion) and Kevin Proctor (ankle) remain on the sidelines.
FORM: Had a few things gone their way this season the Bulldogs could well be leading comp by four points at present. Last Friday night against the Dragons they were robbed by the video referee on full-time when centre Jamal Idris appeared to have scored a legitimate try. They refused to panic despite trailing 0-14 at one stage during the first half - a testament to the many cool, experienced heads in the team these days.
The Storm hit top gear against the struggling Raiders on Monday night with many of their big names starting to shine with the Origin series just around the corner. After a sluggish start to the season, the 2008 Grand Finalists have struck some consistency, winning their previous three matches to assume premiership favouritism.
WHO'S HOT: Teenage Bulldogs centre Jamal Idris was the stand-out attacking player at Win Jubilee Stadium last Friday night. Jumped high for a try and was unlucky to miss out on another couple in what was the most dominating performance of his short career thus far.
Billy Slater warmed up for QLD Origin selection in style with a dazzling two-try display against the Raiders. Young William has been well contained at times during the season, but with some commentators calling for Karmichael Hunt to be the QLD full-back, Slater knew he had to unleash his best on Monday night. Poor Canberra was on the receiving end.
WE THINK: If the people of the Central Coast really want an NRL team then they should attend this mouth-watering clash in big numbers. All the stats point to a Storm victory - they have won their past five clashes with the Dogs plus their previous three Gosford games. But the Bulldogs are a very different proposition in 2009 and should still be seething following last Friday night's heartbreaking defeat. An eight-day turnaround compared to the Storm's five may help these gritty Dogs nudge home at the death. Bulldogs by 2.
TEAMS
Bulldogs:
1 Luke Patten, 2 Hazem El Masri, 3 Daryl Millard, 4 Jamal Idris, 5 Bryson Goodwin, 6 Ben Roberts, 7 Brett Kimmorley, 8 Ben Hannant, 9 Michael Ennis, 10 Michael Hodgson, 11 Greg Eastwood, 12 Andrew Ryan (c), 13 David Stagg.
Interchange: 14. Gary Warburton, 15 Yileen Gordon, 16 Chris Armit, 17 John Kite, 18 Daniel Holdsworth.
Melbourne Storm:
1.Billy Slater, 2. Steve Turner, 3. Will Chambers, 4. Greg Inglis, 5. Joseph Tomane, 6. Brett Finch, 7. Cooper Cronk, 8. Jeff Lima, 9. Cameron Smith (c), 10. Adam Blair, 11. Matt Cross, 12. Ryan Hoffman, 13. Dallas Johnson.
Interchange: 14. Ryan Hinchcliffe, 15. Sika Manu, 16. Aiden Tolman, 17. Brett White, 18. Hep Cahill.
Referees: Shayne Hayne & Gerard Sutton
