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Storm v Sea Eagles: Grant late withdrawal; Taufua back for Foran's 250th

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The Storm have endured a tough fortnight with key injuries and back-to-back losses but they remain in second place on the ladder and won't be hitting the panic button any time soon.

Coach Craig Bellamy's biggest concern after the loss in Townsville was that the Cowboys had out-competed his men - something that rarely happens to the Storm and certainly won't happen again on Thursday.

Manly have also suffered consecutive losses and face the daunting prospect of being without superstar Tom Trbojevic for the remainder of the season after he dislocated his shoulder against the Eels.

The Sea Eagles are renowned for digging deep in a crisis and they'll need every bit of their trademark pride and resilience if they're to come away from AAMI Park with a morale-boosting win.

Sportsbet Betting preview: Storm v Sea Eagles

The Rundown

Team news

Storm: No further changes on game day after hooker Harry Grant was ruled out on Wednesday with an adductor injury sustained during the captain's run. Brandon Smith moves into the starting side at hooker. Alec MacDonald (illness) drops out of the 17 and Chris Lewis and Jordan Grant join the bench. Jahrome Hughes (calf) makes a return to the halves but Nelson Asofa-Solomona (knee) remains sidelined with Tui Kamikamica to start at prop for a second consecutive week. Tom Eisenhuth is 18th man.

Sea Eagles: No changes on game day. Reuben Garrick moves to fullback with Tom Trbojevic (shoulder) out for the season. Veteran winger Jorge Taufua will play his first NRL game since round 17, 2020, in Garrick's place. Ethan Bullemor dropped out on Wednesday, replaced on the bench by Kurt de Luis. Five-eighth Kieran Foran marks a significant milestone when he plays his 250th career game. Kaeo Weekes is 18th man.

Team Lists

Backs

  • Fullback for Storm is number 1 Nick Meaney
    Fullback for Sea Eagles is number 1 Reuben Garrick
  • Winger for Storm is number 2 Dean Ieremia
    Winger for Sea Eagles is number 2 Jorge Taufua
  • Centre for Storm is number 3 Marion Seve
    Centre for Sea Eagles is number 3 Morgan Harper
  • Centre for Storm is number 4 Justin Olam
    Centre for Sea Eagles is number 4 Tolutau Koula
  • Winger for Storm is number 5 Xavier Coates
    Winger for Sea Eagles is number 5 Christian Tuipulotu
  • Five-Eighth for Storm is number 6 Cameron Munster
    Five-Eighth for Sea Eagles is number 6 Kieran Foran
  • Halfback for Storm is number 7 Jahrome Hughes
    Halfback for Sea Eagles is number 7 Daly Cherry-Evans

Forwards

  • Prop for Storm is number 8 Jesse Bromwich
    Prop for Sea Eagles is number 8 Josh Aloiai
  • Hooker for Storm is number 14 Brandon Smith
    Hooker for Sea Eagles is number 9 Lachlan Croker
  • Prop for Storm is number 10 Tui Kamikamica
    Prop for Sea Eagles is number 10 Toafofoa Sipley
  • 2nd Row for Storm is number 11 Felise Kaufusi
    2nd Row for Sea Eagles is number 11 Haumole Olakau'atu
  • 2nd Row for Storm is number 12 Kenneath Bromwich
    2nd Row for Sea Eagles is number 12 Andrew Davey
  • Lock for Storm is number 13 Josh King
    Lock for Sea Eagles is number 13 Jake Trbojevic

Interchange

  • Interchange for Storm is number 15 Tyran Wishart
    Interchange for Sea Eagles is number 14 Dylan Walker
  • Interchange for Storm is number 16 Trent Loiero
    Interchange for Sea Eagles is number 15 Joshua Schuster
  • Interchange for Storm is number 18 Chris Lewis
    Interchange for Sea Eagles is number 17 Sean Keppie
  • Interchange for Storm is number 20 Jordan Grant
    Interchange for Sea Eagles is number 18 Kurt De Luis

Reserves

  • Replacement for Storm is number 21 Tom Eisenhuth
    Replacement for Sea Eagles is number 20 Kaeo Weekes

Match Officials

  • Referee: Adam Gee
  • Touch Judge: Belinda Sharpe
  • Touch Judge: Wyatt Raymond
  • Senior Review Official: Ashley Klein

Last updated:

Key match-up

Jesse Bromwich v Daly Cherry-Evans: Two of the game's most respected skippers looking to dig their teams out of a hole both by their words and their actions. Melbourne and Manly have been among the NRL's benchmark clubs for the past 15 years and much of their success has revolved around the high standards set by their leaders. With so much at stake, Bromwich and DCE are sure to be up for a massive game and prepared to pick their team-mates up and carry them across the line if necessary.

Stat Attack

The Storm have looked out of sorts the past fortnight with key members of their spine out injured but they still lead the NRL in scoring with 347 points at 31ppg. Manly are ninth in the competition for total points with 212 at an average of 19 per game.

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Acknowledgement of Country

National Rugby League respects and honours the Traditional Custodians of the land and pay our respects to their Elders past, present and future. We acknowledge the stories, traditions and living cultures of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples on the lands we meet, gather and play on.

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