Blues coach Laurie Daley is in the house
Jack de Belin of the Dragons is tackled. Credit: Getty Images
Key stats at the 20-minute mark
As Tyran Wishart knocks on while being tackled, let’s take a look at the stats midway through the first half.
0-0 after 20 minutes
It’s a slugfest in Kogarah
It’s been high ball in play time already in this match. Will certainly test the lungs of these blokes early in the season, particularly when it’s not a fast track and the contact zone becomes even more important.
Storm hooker Harry Grant runs through to try and swoop on a grubber but Gutherson – one of the fittest and fastest blokes in the comp – is there first to prevent him scoring. Line drop-out.
The short line drop-out doesn’t work as Storm maintain possession (they’ve had 55 per cent of it so far).
Jack De Belin has already churned out 16 tackles. Damien Cook has made 15. The boys rolling their sleeves up.
0-0 after 15 minutes
Cameron Munster of the Storm throws a long pass. Credit: Getty Images
Storm search for their opening try
Gutherson gets tested once again under a high ball but takes it cleanly this time (he had a lot more time and space).
Valentine Holmes coughs up the footy though and Melbourne look to strike close to the Dragons’ line. Quality ball control will be imperative on a day like today. Kogarah has copped 30mm of rain in the lead-up to this match.
Munster is in the action early and getting plenty of early touches.
Meanwhile, Storm monster Stefano Utoikamanu almost crashes his way over but is help up just short of the line. Good footy this but the Dragons just need to get some field position.
0-0 after 10 minutes
An ordinary start for the Dragons
First-gamer Dave Klemmer takes the first carry of the match off the back fence and it’s a beauty.
Melbourne get possession and Cam Munster goes to the air. It’s going to be a very handy tactic today given the wet conditions.
Dragons fullback Clint Gutherson make a meal of it as the ball comes loose. Storm forward Shawn Blore is held back by Gutherson as he tries to make up for his error. Storm get a penalty close to the line.
Sloppy footy. Long story short, Melbourne can’t shift the ball right despite having numbers out wide.
Ball on the ground, Dragons get the ball back. Maybe not the day to fling the ball around, fellas.
The visitors have another go down the left instead this time but Xavier Coates drops the ball close to the line.
0-0 after five minutes
David Klemmer warms up before the match. Credit: Getty Images
The final word from Christian Nicolussi in Kogarah
Start your rugby league engines.
Absolutely dismal conditions for footy. Some wet souls on the hill but they’re bracing it all in the hope they can see their beloved Dragons pull off an upset win.
This game’ll be won and lost through the big boys through the middle.
‘I genuinely believe he hasn’t made a decision’: Seibold says he doesn’t know if DCE will play on
By Christian Nicolussi
A league yarn of a different flavour to have a read of before kick-off (3pm).
Manly coach Anthony Seibold genuinely believes Daly Cherry-Evans is unsure if he wants to play on next year, let alone whether he has a deal already in place at a rival club.
Seibold also confirmed on Saturday that the man he described as the club’s “best player”, Tom Trbojevic, is an option at five-eighth for the Sea Eagles when DCE departs at the end of the season.
Seibold also said he did not expect fans to boo Cherry-Evans at 4 Pines Park on Sunday afternoon, saying “Manly supporters should congratulate ‘Chez’ on the career he’s had at this club, which isn’t done yet”.
It has been a whirlwind week for the Sea Eagles since Cherry-Evans revealed on Monday he would walk away from the club at the end of the year after 15 seasons and was open to playing on with another NRL team.
Manly responded by offering a two-year extension on live TV, then wasted little time in confirming their interest in Canberra’s Jamal Fogarty as a short-term replacement.
Daly Cherry-Evans decides: Where will the veteran halfback be in a year’s time?Credit: Monique Westermann
In case you missed Melbourne’s win last week
Here’s how the teams line up
A few late changes for the Dragons, with Emre Guler and David Klemmer coming into the starting side.
Marion Seve is also on the bench for the Storm.
Keep in mind the Storm are without their big guns in Jahrome Hughes, Nelson Asofa-Solomona and Nick Meaney.
Dragons (1–13): Clint Gutherson (c), Tyrell Sloan, Moses Suli, Valentine Holmes, Christian Tuipulotu, Kyle Flanagan, Lachlan Ilias, Emre Guler (10), Damien Cook, David Klemmer (15), Luciano Leilua, Jaydn Su’A, Jack De Belin.
Bench: Toby Couchman, Jacob Liddle, David Klemmer, Hamish Stewart.
Storm (1–13): Ryan Papenhuyzen, Will Warbrick, Jack Howarth, Grant Anderson, Xavier Coates, Cameron Munster, Tyran Wishart, Stefano Utoikamanu, Harry Grant (c), Josh King, Shawn Blore, Eliesa Katoa, Trent Loiero.
Bench: Bronson Garlick, Alec MacDonald, Tui Kamikamica, Marion Seve.
