Sydney Roosters vs Melbourne Storm Tips, Odds, Teams & Predictions – NRL 2023 Round 20

Sydney Cricket Ground* will play host to Saturday's Round 20 NRL game between Sydney Roosters and Melbourne Storm. The game kicks off at 7:35 pm with Melbourne Storm heading into the game as favourites with the bookmakers. Continue reading for our in-depth preview of the Sydney Roosters vs. Melbourne Storm game and give you our free tips and bets.

When: Saturday July 15, 2023 at 7:35 pm

Where: Sydney Cricket Ground*

Bet: Bet On This Match HERE

Sydney Roosters vs Melbourne Storm Odds

Sydney Roosters vs Melbourne Storm Preview

With their byes all done and dusted, and only one remaining game against a team below them on the ladder, time is running out for Sydney Roosters to stake their claim for the finals.

After winning just two (against the Bulldogs and Knights) of their last eight, it doesn’t get any easier in Round 20 courtesy of a visit from Melbourne Storm. Prior to last week’s bye, they agonisingly went down in cliff-hangers to the Raiders (20-18) at home and the Sea Eagles (18-16) away.

Some big ins will help the Roosters with Brandon Smith, Jake Turpin, Egan Butcher, Joseph Suaalii and Billy Smith all returning. James Tedesco and Lindsay Collins have been named to back up from Origin.

The fourth-placed Storm have a point to prove after their 5-1 run – including three straight wins over the Sharks, Tigers and Sea Eagles by a combined 106-22 – was jarringly interrupted in Round 18 by a 34-16 loss to Penrith at AAMI Park.

The Storm raced out to a big early lead before being overrun. Craig Bellamy’s perennial heavyweights are currently conceding more points per game in 2023 than any season since 2005.

The Storm are unchanged from Round 18 with Cam Munster, Harry Grant and Xavier Coates listed to play in the wake of Origin III.

The Storm have won six of their last seven against the Roosters. The Storm carved out an emphatic 28-8 victory at AAMI Park in Round 6 with Xavier Coates bagging a hat-trick, while they are chasing a third straight win between the heavyweight clubs in Sydney.

Smith’s first match against his former club didn’t go well but his return could be a crucial X-factor shift this time around for the desperate Roosters. Another showdown with a clear favourite (the Storm are $1.57) that seems destined to go down to the wire.

Post-Origin health will be key, but the under may be the safest play here with 10 of both teams’ 16 games producing 40 points or less in 2023.

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