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Storm v Sea Eagles: Munster rested; Saab ruled out

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The Storm are nestled comfortably in third spot on the back of a big win over Wests Tigers while Manly's loss to the Eels saw them plummet from eighth to 12th.

Both sides will be sweating on the availability of their Origin stars, who will have three days to rest and recover from Game Two in Brisbane on Wednesday night.

Melbourne's depth was on show at Campbelltown Stadium on Saturday night with Jonah Pezet doing a fine job alongside Jahrome Hughes in the halves and winger George Jennings running for 198 metres in his first game of the season.

The Sea Eagles have struggled for consistency since opening their season with consecutive wins over the Bulldogs and Eels, coming up with just four wins since then to go with seven losses and a draw.

They still sit just one point outside the top eight and can make a charge in the next fortnight if they can knock off the Storm and Roosters ahead of a bye in Round 19.

When the sides met at 4 Pines Park in Round 7 it was the Sea Eagles getting home 18-8, but overall it's the Storm with a 25-17 advantage with one draw in clashes between the pair since 1998 when Melbourne entered the competition.

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Team News

Storm: Cameron Munster won't feature after his Origin heroics, with Jonah Pezet to partner Jahrome Hughes in the halves. Xavier Coates and Harry Grant are set to play, but the hooker will likely split time with Bronson Garlick or Tyran Wishart, who are both on the bench. Powerhouse centre Justin Olam is back for the first time since suffering concussion in Round 14, which bumps Marion Seve out. 

Sea Eagles: Fullback Tom Trbojevic won't play after he suffered a torn pectoral in Wednesday's Origin clash, an injury which will sideline him for the rest of the season. Reuben Garrick shifts to fullback and Morgan Harper comes into the centres in jersey No.20. Aaron Woods will start the game at lock and Sean Keppie goes to the bench in a game day swap. Captain Daly Cherry-Evans backs up from Origin. Jason Saab (shoulder) is a late out for the trip to Melbourne, with his place on the wing taken by Raymond Tuaimalo Vaega. 

Team Lists

Backs

  • Fullback for Storm is number 1 Nick Meaney
    Fullback for Sea Eagles is number 4 Reuben Garrick
  • Winger for Storm is number 2 Will Warbrick
    Winger for Sea Eagles is number 5 Christian Tuipulotu
  • Centre for Storm is number 3 Reimis Smith
    Centre for Sea Eagles is number 3 Tolutau Koula
  • Centre for Storm is number 4 Justin Olam
    Centre for Sea Eagles is number 20 Morgan Harper
  • Winger for Storm is number 5 Xavier Coates
    Winger for Sea Eagles is number 21 Raymond Tuaimalo Vaega 
  • Five-Eighth for Storm is number 22 Jonah Pezet
    Five-Eighth for Sea Eagles is number 6 Joshua Schuster
  • Halfback for Storm is number 7 Jahrome Hughes
    Halfback for Sea Eagles is number 7 Daly   Cherry-Evans

Forwards

  • Prop for Storm is number 10 Christian Welch
    Prop for Sea Eagles is number 8 Taniela Paseka
  • Hooker for Storm is number 9 Harry Grant
    Hooker for Sea Eagles is number 9 Lachlan Croker
  • Prop for Storm is number 15 Tariq Sims
    Prop for Sea Eagles is number 10 Toafofoa Sipley
  • 2nd Row for Storm is number 11 Trent Loiero
    2nd Row for Sea Eagles is number 11 Haumole Olakau'atu
  • 2nd Row for Storm is number 12 Nelson Asofa-Solomona
    2nd Row for Sea Eagles is number 12 Ethan Bullemor
  • Lock for Storm is number 13 Josh King
    Lock for Sea Eagles is number 16 Aaron Woods

Interchange

  • Interchange for Storm is number 14 Bronson Garlick
    Interchange for Sea Eagles is number 13 Sean Keppie
  • Interchange for Storm is number 16 Aaron Pene
    Interchange for Sea Eagles is number 14 Karl Lawton
  • Interchange for Storm is number 17 Tyran Wishart
    Interchange for Sea Eagles is number 15 Josh Aloiai
  • Interchange for Storm is number 21 Alec MacDonald
    Interchange for Sea Eagles is number 17 Ben Condon

Reserves

  • Replacement for Storm is number 18 Kane Bradley
    Replacement for Sea Eagles is number 19 Jake Arthur

Match Officials

  • Referee: Todd Smith
  • Touch Judge: Jon Stone
  • Touch Judge: Dave Munro
  • Senior Review Official: Ashley Klein

Last updated:

Stat Attack

  • The Storm have won their past five games at AAMI Park.
  • The Sea Eagles have not defeated the Storm twice in one season since 2015.
  • Storm winger Will Warbrick has scored eight tries in his past five games.
  • Sea Eagles fullback Tom Trbojevic has scored 10 tries in 11 games this season.
  • Storm fullback Nick Meaney requires six points to reach 500 career points.
  • The Storm have had 170 dummy-half runs in their 14 games while the Sea Eagles have just 92 dummy-half runs.
  • The Storm have won five of their seven home games while Manly are 2-4 away from home.

Stats supplied by David Middleton, League Information Services, author of the 

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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.