3 minute read
Fast facts about the NRL preliminary final between Melbourne and Canberra.
NRL PRELIMINARY FINAL BETWEEN MELBOURNE AND CANBERRA:-
WHEN: Friday, 7.50pm AEDT
WHERE: Suncorp Stadium, Brisbane
THE FORM
* Melbourne Storm (second). Melbourne are looking to make their fourth grand final from the last five seasons and win their 20th straight in Queensland - their home this season. The match could be Cameron Smith's last with the captain still tight-lipped on his playing future.
* Canberra Raiders (fifth). Having gained some revenge by eliminating their 2019 grand-final combatants the Sydney Roosters last week, Canberra can smell another title crack. The in-form Raiders are gunning for their sixth successive win and their fifth straight on the road.
HEAD-TO-HEAD
* Overall: Played 46, Storm 32 wins, Raiders 14 wins
* In finals: Storm 3 wins, Raiders 1 win
* Last time: Round 9, 2020: Storm 20 bt Raiders 14 at GIO Stadium.
THE COACHES
* Craig Bellamy has made the playoffs in 17 of his 18 seasons, only missing out in 2010 when the Storm were ineligible, and has lost just three of 11 preliminary finals.
* Canberra's Ricky Stuart has won four of six preliminary finals while his team has won three of the past four matches against Melbourne, including last year's qualifying final.
KEY MATCH-UPS
Cameron Munster (Storm) v Jack Wighton (Raiders)
Munster will take a knee injury into the match and will be a defensive target for the big Raiders pack. While Munster brings creativity, Wighton uses his big body to bust through defence, scoring nine tries in his past seven games, including four doubles.
Cameron Smith (Storm) v Tom Starling (Raiders)
While Smith is lining up for his 41st final among 428 NRL games, Starling is playing his third of 17. The veteran Smith brings unparalleled game smarts while 22-year-old Starling is a firecracker around the ruck.
Jesse Bromwich (Storm) v Josh Papalii (Raiders)
The battle of the pack leaders is shaping as a beauty. Both have big engines and also have ball-playing skills to get their teams on the front foot. They also have excellent support acts with locks Nelson Asofa-Solomona and Joe Tapine offering plenty.
THE STATS
* Since the new finals format was introduced in 2012, the team with the week off has won 12 of the 16 preliminary finals.
* The past two finals matches between these teams have been decided by two points, with neither team scoring over 14 points.
THE TIP
* Storm by 4