The Storm last won the Premiership in 2012 while the last of the Raiders three titles came in 1994.
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Finucane is battling an ankle injury, picked up in the Storm’s week-one finals win over North Queensland, but will participate in Friday’s captain’s run in a bid to take on Canberra.
“You could see it building past year in what he was trying to do”. Blake Austin and Aidan Sezer have been guiding the side around the paddock superbly, while hulking forwards Joseph Paulo and Shannon Boyd have been dynamic through the middle and have consistently been getting the Raiders over the advantage line.
Belcher said it had taken Canberra a fair while to realise what a good football side it was.
Instead of the three-four days off players were given during the week’s break past year, they had just two days rest after their qualifying final win and another shortened breather this week.
“The Melbourne Storm have no answer to this”, Sterlo said. A lack of finals experience has hurt the Raiders and they can’t afford to peter out against the minor premiers.
Melbourne halfback Cooper Cronk will play his 300th NRL game in front of a packed crowd. Superstar players always step up in the big games, and the Storm have two modern day legends in their team – that could prove pivotal in the final 20 minutes with the game on the line. Bellamy has called up Christian Welch, Felise Kaufusi and Matt White to fight for the spot on an extended interchange. The exciting, unpredictable attacking football of the Raiders up against the well-oiled defensive machine of the Storm.
“We know what is going to turn up on Saturday night and they are going to be aggressive defensively and hard to handle in attack”. But I’ve just got a feeling about the Raiders here.
Munster was one of the Storm’s best in his side’s six-point win over the Cowboys two weeks ago, pulling off one of the plays in the season in the final minute when he brought down a high ball from Johnathan Thurston to crush any hope of a comeback.
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The Storm’s controversial ruck tactics are key to their suffocating defence, and Stuart has turned the spotlight on that this week.
