Saturday’s NRL match with the second game for Week 2 is between Melbourne Storm and Newcastle Knights with the opening kick to commence at 7:45PM local time. The game is to be played at AAMI Park with the favourite for the match being Melbourne Storm. View our NRL live scores, odds and results for the game between Melbourne Storm and Newcastle Knights.

WHERE AND WHEN: AAMI Park, Saturday, 21/09, 7:45PM

Opening Odds Comparison:

Melbourne Storm	1.38	1.38	1.37	1.38	1.38	1.36
Newcastle Knights	3.10	3.15	3.15	3.15	3.10	3.15

Preview:

The Storm take on the Knights in the second game of the weekend, Saturday 3.15pm at AAMI Park. The Storm will be favourites to win here, after finishing the regular season in third place against a seventh-placed Newcastle side. Newcastle also have a very ordinary record against Melbourne in recent years, including two losses earlier this season. Saying that however, both of these games were competitive and the Knights are definitely in with a chance.

The winner of this game will take on the Roosters next weekend, although neither side will be thinking about that momentous challenge just yet. If anything, the Storm could trip themselves up this week, after a pretty ordinary display last week against the Rabbitohs and a sluggish end to the regular season. When you combine Melbourne’s lack of spark with an improving Knights outfit, things could get very interesting.

Newcastle definitely looked the goods against the Bulldogs last week, and will want to continue that good form against the Storm. The Knights need big performances from their key players, including the likes of Willie Mason and Jeremy Smith. Knights centre Joseph Leilua may also play an important role, especially after scoring three tries against the Storm in the two matches earlier this season. Newcastle will have to watch out for Ryan Hoffman, however, who proved extremely valuable for the Storm when these two sides met earlier in the year. While the Storm are favourites to win here, this game may not be as clear cut as some people think.

Teams:

Melbourne Storm:
Billy Slater, Sisa Waqa, Will Chambers, Maurice Blair, Justin O’Neill, Gareth Widdop, Cooper Cronk, Jesse Bromwich, Cameron Smith, Bryan Norrie, Kevin Proctor, Ryan Hoffman, Ryan Hinchcliffe. Interchange: Jason Ryles, Tohu Harris, Jordan McLean, Kenneath Bromwich, Brett Finch

Newcastle Knights:
Darius Boyd, James McManus, Joey Leilua, Dane Gagai, Akuila Uate, Jarrod Mullen, Tyrone Roberts, David Fa’alogo, Danny Buderus, Willie Mason, Robbie Rochow, Beau Scott, Jeremy Smith. Interchange: Matt Hilder, Chris Houston, Neville Costigan, Alex McKinnon

Knights see Storm as ultimate NRL team

Newcastle veteran Danny Buderus say not only do the Knights want to beat Melbourne Storm but they want to be like the NRL premiers as well.

The Storm and unfancied Knights meet in a knock-out semi-final at AAMI Park on Saturday night with the winners to face the Sydney Roosters for a grand final berth.

Buderus said he admired the Storm for their consistent competitiveness.

“I think they are just the ultimate competitors,” the hooker said.

“They play the game at a level where we want to get to.

“I think every team aspires to be as competitive as Melbourne. That’s us. That’s where we want to be.”

Buderus says his battle-hardened troops have no fear of facing the Storm on some hostile home turf.

They haven’t won in Melbourne since 2004 but Buderus said the big-game experience amongst his teammates meant they were confident of an upset.

“There has to be confidence going into a semi-final; you’ve got to give yourselves a chance,” said Buderus.

“It’s a good scenario (to have the experience) and it’s in the forwards and that’s where the battle is going to be.

“There’s some guys there that will instil a bit of confidence into the younger guys.”

Buderus said the Knights had also been buoyed by record of their master coach Wayne Bennett, who has seven premierships to his name.

“We’re feeding off that – he’s our leader,” he said.

“He’s won a lot of premierships so he knows what he’s talking about.”

Buderus, who played in the Knights’ 2001 NRL title win, will retire at season’s end.

He said he couldn’t help but think each training session and match might be his last.

“Leading into this game and into the semi-final, I’m just very happy to be a part of September,” the former Test star said.

“That’s a bonus and I’m looking forward to the challenge of getting out there with a group of guys that would do anything for each other.

“Hopefully we go deep into September.”

Another player calling it quits is Storm prop Jason Ryles.

Ryles missed the Storm’s grand final victory last season with a hamstring injury and was well aware this was his last chance for glory.

“I won’t lie to you – it’s always in the back of your mind but it is what it is,” Ryles said.

“To play finals footy, it doesn’t happen every year for a lot of players so I’m very grateful for that and I just want to take every opportunity that I’ve been given.”

Ryles wasn’t giving away who would start in the Storm No.6 jersey with Gareth Widdop named but Brett Finch an outside chance to return from injury.

“They’ve both been training in the first team so they’re both as good a chance as each other,” he said.

“Gaz brings the youth and he won a premiership last year and Finchy brings another dimension.”