KEY MELBOURNE STORM V CANBERRA RAIDERS MATCH-UPS
* Cameron Smith (Storm) v Josh Hodgson (Raiders)
The greatest player of all time somehow keeps getting better with age but Smith meets the next best hooker in the game this week and they don’t come more competitive than this Englishman. Smith and Hodgson control games like no other players in the NRL and this contest will be akin to a game of chess – everything they do is done with purpose. At club and international level, Smith boasts a 9-2 winning record but Hodgson was the most recent victor after leading an 18-point comeback four weeks ago.
* Cameron Munster (Storm) v Jack Wighton (Raiders)
Canberra’s breakout five-eighth takes on likely Kangaroos No.6 in a battle that promises to pack plenty of punch. Wighton leads Munster in most stats this season, except for two of the most critical – try assists and errors. Wighton has more metres, tackle breaks, offloads and kick metres but Munster has set up more than twice the amount of tries (19 to 9) and made almost half the errors (36 to 19). The pair are ferocious defenders and the State of Origin rivals will relish the physical battle.
* Will Chambers (Storm) v Joey Leilua (Raiders)
Nobody would describe these two as backward in coming forward so expect a fiery exchange between two of the game’s most exciting outside backs. Leilua returns from suspension and made the bold promise this week to intimidate the Storm on their home deck. Chambers has never been one to back down from a fight and will seek out the reigning Dally M centre of the year. If the game brings fireworks, these two will be right in the thick of the action.
* Nelson Asofa-Solomona (Storm) v Josh Papalii (Raiders)
Big Nasty is fired up for the challenge against taking on Papalii, who Mal Meninga recently called the best prop in the NRL. Both props come into the match with some big numbers, and tries under their belt. Asofa-Solomona tops Papalii for size but the Queensland Origin enforcer has a few more strings to his bow. The clash of these titans will go a long way to deciding which team triumphs.
* Ryan Papenhuyzen (Storm) v Charnze Nicoll-Klokstad (Raiders)
Both of these young fullbacks have enjoyed break-out seasons in 2019. Papenhuyzen made his debut while Nicoll-Klokstad finally nailed a regular starting jersey after his career stalled in two seasons with the Warriors. The Melbourne 21-year-old only secured the fullback jersey in the final two rounds, with Craig Bellamy no longer able to leave him out of the starting side. Nicoll-Klokstad recently signed a new three-year deal and will be looking for another reason to celebrate.
