Saturday second NRL Week 2 match 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 which see’s home team Melbourne Storm hold favouritism in the market. 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:
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| Melbourne Storm | 1.38 | 1.38 | 1.37 | 1.38 | 1.38 | 1.36 |
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Newcastle Knights
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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
Storm’s Smith rates Knights’ Smith
Melbourne Storm captain Cameron Smith knows that the bigger the occasion, the better Newcastle Knights enforcer Jeremy Smith plays.
They line up against each other at AAMI Park on Saturday night in the NRL semi-final, hopeful of taking their teams at least another week closer to the grand final.
The winning team will face the Sydney Roosters the following Saturday for the chance to play in the NRL title decider.
Jeremy Smith played alongside Cameron at the Storm for five years, together winning their 2007 grand final over Manly as well as tasting two title defeats in 2006 and 2008.
The Knights forward also won the 2010 grand final during his two-year stint at St George Illawarra.
Melbourne’s Smith said the Kiwi international was a big game player.
“I remember when he played with the Storm he was always excited about playing in September and finals time and he really took it on board for himself to have really strong performances.”
The 33-year-old moved from Cronulla this season after Knights coach Wayne Bennett saw he still had plenty to offer.
He has delivered in spades; his impressive performance in their elimination final win over Canterbury impressing the Australian Test hooker.
“He’s one of their forward leaders and had another great game against Canterbury,” Cameron Smith said.
“He scored a try and nearly got over for a second.”
But he also saw his Newcastle opponent as far more than a bash and barge merchant.
“He’s a guy who can play aggressively but he can play with a lot of nouse and skill as well.
“He’s got some great subtleties with the football; he’s got a good show and a strong running game.
“He’s a very skillful footballer and at this time of year he really enjoys being on the paddock.”