Welcome to news.com.au’s live coverage of the elimination semi-final between the Melbourne Storm and Sydney Roosters from Melbourne.
Two of the powerhouses of the past decade will enter AAMI Park but only one will move on to a preliminary final against the Penrith Panthers.
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The Storm host the Roosters in an elimination blockbuster as the New South Welshmen’s unlikely charge continues.
After more injury woes have the Roosters deep in their depth chart, the side that came from 14th in round 22 to scrape into the finals will be battling to continue their season.
But they come up against a Storm who are hurting after getting belted 26-0 by the Broncos last week, who also suffered a blow losing Jahrome Hughes through injury during the week.
8pm — Tyran Wishart scores for Storm
Tyran Wishart is filling the big shoes of Jahrome Hughes and has given the Storm the perfect start.
In the eighth minute, the halfback dummied Luke Keary and outpaced Brandon Smith to slice through the line.
But it stays 4-0 after Nick Meaney had a shocker of a kick for goal.
However, if Brandon Smith wanted to start well against his former team, he’s had a rough start with Mat Thompson saying on Channel 9: “Brandon Smith has missed a couple of tackles in the first nine minutes.”
7.15pm — Storm’s shock switch in do-or-die clash
Storm coach Craig Bellamy has taken a page out of Billy Slater’s Origin playbook, pushing Harry Grant to the bench in a surprise move ahead of the sudden death final.
It brings Bronson Garlick into the starting line-up for the fifth time in his 20 game career.
While the move is not necessarily the most shocking move week-to-week, with the season on the line, it’s a bold call from Bellamy.
But it also comes after Grant was savaged for his “worst performance” in a Storm jersey in last week’s loss to Brisbane last week.
“It was the worst performance I’ve seen Harry Grant play. His timing out of dummy half is one of his strong suits and it just wasn’t there,” The Daily Telegraph’s Michael Carayannis said.
“Something must have happened to him in the warm up. In the first set of six he gets up pushing Carrigan. That’s way out of character,” NRL great Gorden Tallis added.
“You watch him in Origin he doesn’t get up pushing when someone gets under his skin.”
With Tyran Wishart coming in for the injured Jahrome Hughes and Nelson Asofa-Solomona pushing club captain Christian Welch to the bench, it’s a big move from Bellamy.
But it could also be an attempt to take the heat out of the match with the Roosters’ No. 9 former Storm star Brandon Smith lining up opposite with something to prove a year after they chose Grant over him.
For the Roosters, they’re 1-17, except Fletcher Baker has dropped to the bench with Egan Butcher to start.
The Storm are on a rare finals losing streak, having lost their last three, but supercoach Craig Bellamy has never lost four in a row and has one gone out of the finals in straight sets once before.
The coaches have had to make a heap of changes from last week with hefty injury lists for both sides.
Garlick didn’t play last week, replaced by Alec McDonald but will be thrust into a No. 9 duel with ex-Storm star Brandon Smith.
PNG international Justin Olam will be in the centres to replace Young Tonumaipea, who suffered a head injury last week, and Reimis Smith will cover Xavier Coates.
For the Roosters, Paul Momirovski and Corey Allan will play centres in the place of the injured Joey Manu and Billy Smith, while Jaxson Paulo will play win for Joseph Suaali’i.
STORM: 1. Nick Meaney 2. William Warbrick 3. Marion Seve 4. Justin Olam 5. Reimis Smith 6. Cameron Munster 21. Tyran Wishart 8. Tui Kamikamica 19. Bronson Garlick 16. Nelson Asofa-Solomona 11. Trent Loiero 12. Eliesa Katoa 13. Josh King
Interchange: 9. Harry Grant 10. Christian Welch 15. Tom Eisenhuth 17. Tariq Sims
Reserve: 18. Grant Anderson
ROOSTERS: 1. James Tedesco 2. Fetalaiga Pauga 3. Paul Momirovski 4. Corey Allan 5. Jaxson Paulo 6. Luke Keary 7. Sam Walker 15. Egan Butcher 9. Brandon Smith 10. Lindsay Collins 11. Siua Wong 12. Nat Butcher 13. Victor Radley
Interchange: 8. Fletcher Baker 14. Sandon Smith 16. Terrell May 17. Angus Crichton
Reserve: 18. Drew Hutchison