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Warriors v Storm: SJ returns; Ieremia in at centre

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The last time they met back in Round 2 the Warriors and Storm played out one of the most thrilling games of the season to date.

An unbelievable finish by Xavier Coates with seconds on the clock completed an incredible Storm comeback win in which they scored 12 points in the final two minutes to extend their winning run over the Warriors to 15.

This Saturday Melbourne head across the Tasman for the return leg, looking to protect their spot atop the NRL Telstra Premiership ladder against a Kiwi side who are unbeaten in their past three games and looking to move back into the top eight.

The Storm were effective, if far from perfect, in a 36-28 victory over the Knights in Round 14, while the Warriors trounced the Cowboys 42-12 last up.

Craig Bellamy's men have won in five of their past six visits to Go Media Stadium and that one loss wasn't even against the Warriors, instead coming against the Wests Tigers in a game taken there as part of an Auckland double-header in 2018.

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Team News

Warriors: Shaun Johnson returns for his first game since Round 10 as part of a Warriors side which will take the field as named mid-week. Chanel Harris-Tavita retains a spot on the bench, while Roger Tuivasa-Sheck will serve as the replacement player in his return from a hamstring injury. 

Storm: One late change for the ladder leaders with Jack Howarth joining the bench at the expense of Bronson Garlick, who reverts to be the replacement player. Jahrome Hughes and Tyran Wishart again team up in the halves.

Team Lists

Backs

  • Fullback for Warriors is number 1 Charnze Nicoll-Klokstad
    Fullback for Storm is number 1 Sualauvi Faalogo
  • Winger for Warriors is number 2 Dallin Watene-Zelezniak
    Winger for Storm is number 2 Grant Anderson
  • Centre for Warriors is number 3 Rocco Berry
    Centre for Storm is number 3 Dean Ieremia
  • Centre for Warriors is number 4 Adam Pompey
    Centre for Storm is number 4 Nick Meaney
  • Winger for Warriors is number 5 Marcelo Montoya
    Winger for Storm is number 5 Xavier Coates
  • Five-Eighth for Warriors is number 6 Te Maire Martin
    Five-Eighth for Storm is number 6 Tyran Wishart
  • Halfback for Warriors is number 7 Shaun Johnson
    Halfback for Storm is number 7 Jahrome Hughes

Forwards

  • Prop for Warriors is number 8 Addin Fonua-Blake
    Prop for Storm is number 8 Tui  Kamikamica
  • Hooker for Warriors is number 9 Wayde Egan
    Hooker for Storm is number 9 Harry Grant
  • Prop for Warriors is number 10 Jackson Ford
    Prop for Storm is number 10 Josh King
  • 2nd Row for Warriors is number 11 Marata Niukore
    2nd Row for Storm is number 11 Shawn Blore
  • 2nd Row for Warriors is number 12 Mitchell Barnett
    2nd Row for Storm is number 12 Eliesa Katoa
  • Lock for Warriors is number 15 Dylan Walker
    Lock for Storm is number 13 Trent Loiero

Interchange

  • Interchange for Warriors is number 13 Tohu Harris
    Interchange for Storm is number 15 Christian Welch
  • Interchange for Warriors is number 14 Chanel Harris-Tavita
    Interchange for Storm is number 16 Nelson Asofa-Solomona 
  • Interchange for Warriors is number 16 Jazz Tevaga
    Interchange for Storm is number 18 Joe Chan
  • Interchange for Warriors is number 17 Kurt Capewell
    Interchange for Storm is number 19 Jack Howarth

Reserves

  • Replacement for Warriors is number 20 Roger Tuivasa-Sheck
    Replacement for Storm is number 17 Bronson Garlick

Match Officials

  • Referee: Gerard Sutton
  • Touch Judge: Phil Henderson
  • Senior Review Official: Liam Kennedy

Last updated:

Stat Attack

  • The Warriors last defeated the Storm in 2015 at Mt Smart Stadium.
  • The Storm have won their past 15 games against the Warriors.
  • Warriors winger Dallin Watene-Zelezniak has scored six tries in his last five games against the Storm.
  • Storm winger Xavier Coates has scored nine tries in his last five games against the Warriors.
  • Warriors prop Addin Fonua-Blake has scored four tries in his past five games.

Stats supplied by David Middleton, League Information Services,  

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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.