NRL 2021: Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs v Melbourne Storm, round 5 preview

Author: NRL.com
Timestamp: Sat 10 Apr 2021, 04:31 PM

Avoiding another lopsided score will be in the back of the minds of Trent Barrett and his Bulldogs as they keep searching for a first win of 2021 when the Storm visit Sydney.

The Bulldogs haven't conceded less than 24 points in a match so far. Now they face a Storm side that is in the NRL's top-three for both line-breaks and tackle busts.

The Bulldogs have some hard workers in their pack like Adam Elliott, Dylan Napa, Ofahiki Ogden, Renouf Atoni and Jack Hetherington.

Hetherington made 16 hit-ups and 169 metres against the Rabbitohs. It was 30 metres more than the Storm's best forward last round (Tui Kamikamica,139m).

For the Storm, they clawed their back into the top-eight last weekend and have every intention of staying there.

Round 5 - Round 5 - Saturday 10 Apr

Full Time

Bulldogs

Storm

Venue: Accor Stadium, Sydney

Highlights Latest

The rundown

Team news

Bulldogs: Luke Thompson will come off the bench in his first appearance of the season, with Dylan Napa to start at prop.

Dallin Watene-Zelezniak returns from suspension at fullback, with Nick Meaney (ribs) out. Skipper Josh Jackson also returns from suspension, Renouf Atoni and Jack Hetherington move to the interchange with Dean Britt and Joe Stimson out.

Lachlan Lewis sits out after copping a head knock last week with Jake Averillo back from an ankle injury at five-eighth. Corey Allan swaps to centre with Nick Cotric on the wing.

Stimson dropped off the extended bench an hour before kick-off while Brandon Wakeham is the 18th man. Britt and Chris Smith were the first two players cut from the squad 24 hours before kick-off.

Storm: Harry Grant will play his first game of the season off the bench, with Tui Kamikamica to start at lock and Nelson Asofa-Solomona coming off the bench.

Felise Kaufusi returns from suspension, with Tom Eisenhuth dropping back to the interchange bench.

The club also confirmed that premiership-winning centre Brenko Lee was eligible for selection after shaking off a hamstring injury. He was included as a reserve on Tuesday but came out of the squad 24 hours before kick-off along with Dean Ieremia.

Round 5 - Round 5 - Saturday 10 Apr

Full Time

Bulldogs

Storm

Team Lists

Backs

Fullback for Bulldogs is number 1 Dallin Watene-Zelezniak

Fullback for Storm is number 1 Ryan Papenhuyzen
Winger for Bulldogs is number 2 Nick Cotric

Winger for Storm is number 2 George Jennings
Centre for Bulldogs is number 3 Will Hopoate

Centre for Storm is number 3 Reimis Smith
Centre for Bulldogs is number 4 Corey Allan

Centre for Storm is number 4 Justin Olam
Winger for Bulldogs is number 5 Tuipulotu Katoa

Winger for Storm is number 5 Josh Addo-Carr
Five-Eighth for Bulldogs is number 6 Jake Averillo

Five-Eighth for Storm is number 6 Cameron Munster
Halfback for Bulldogs is number 7 Kyle Flanagan

Halfback for Storm is number 7 Jahrome Hughes

Forwards

Prop for Bulldogs is number 10 Jack Hetherington

Prop for Storm is number 8 Jesse Bromwich
Hooker for Bulldogs is number 9 Sione Katoa

Hooker for Storm is number 9 Brandon Smith
Prop for Bulldogs is number 16 Dylan Napa

Prop for Storm is number 10 Christian Welch
2nd Row for Bulldogs is number 11 Adam Elliott

2nd Row for Storm is number 11 Felise Kaufusi
2nd Row for Bulldogs is number 12 Corey Waddell

2nd Row for Storm is number 12 Kenneath Bromwich
Lock for Bulldogs is number 13 Josh Jackson

Lock for Storm is number 15 Tui Kamikamica

Interchange

Interchange for Bulldogs is number 8 Luke Thompson

Interchange for Storm is number 13 Nelson Asofa-Solomona
Interchange for Bulldogs is number 14 Jackson Topine

Interchange for Storm is number 16 Tom Eisenhuth
Interchange for Bulldogs is number 15 Renouf Atoni

Interchange for Storm is number 17 Nicholas Hynes
Interchange for Bulldogs is number 17 Ofahiki Ogden

Interchange for Storm is number 21 Harry Grant

Reserves

Reserve for Bulldogs is number 19 Brandon Wakeham

Reserve for Storm is number 14 Chris Lewis

Match Officials

Referee: Chris Sutton
Touch Judge: Jon Stone
Touch Judge: Darian Furner
Senior Review Official: Chris Butler

Last updated: 5/29/2023 4:41:06 AM

Key match-up

Ryan Papenhuyzen v Dallin Watene-Zelezniak. With Nick Meaney out with broken ribs, DWZ returns from suspension into the No.1 jersey. The Bulldogs need something special from him. The Storm don't need to ask any more of Panenhuyzen than what he delivered against the Broncos in round four. That try-scoring blitz will be long remembered.

Stat Attack

Containing the skills of the Storm players is going to be a headache. Melbourne players have made 19 line-breaks in four games this year. As for the Bulldogs, they've made just seven.

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