NRL 2021: Melbourne Storm v Newcastle Knights, round 18 preview

Storm v Knights: Addo-Carr, Welch rested; Pearce, Saifiti out

Author: NRL.com
Timestamp: Sat 17 Jul 2021, 06:40 PM

Both the Storm and the Knights have had a week to bask in the reflected glory of their whitewashes of opposition teams in round 16.

The Storm were back in Melbourne for their bye after thumping their 2018 grand final rivals the Roosters 46-0 in the 'neutral' venue of McDonald Jones Stadium, due to COVID restrictions.

The venue is the Knights' home ground and two nights later they humiliated the Cowboys 38-0, led by a freshly-returned Kalyn Ponga on the rampage. He scored two tries, set up another two, topped the metres count at 212, made a line break and four tackle busts.

How Ponga pulls up from Origin duties for Queensland may determine how much of a fight the Knights can put up against the Storm.

The Storm were forced to relocate to Queensland on Thursday due to Melbourne's latest looming lockdown and will now host the Knights at Cbus Super Stadium on Saturday night as the second leg of a double-header.

Round 18 - Round 18 - Saturday 17 Jul

Full Time

Storm

Knights

Venue: Cbus Super Stadium, Gold Coast

Highlights Latest

The rundown

Team news

Storm: Origin duo Josh Addo-Carr and Christian Welch have been left out, with Dean Ieremia now on the wing and Tui Kamikamica at prop.

Jordan Grant joins the bench with Isaac Lumelume the 18th man. Trent Loiero dropped out of the playing squad on game day.

Along with Addo-Carr and Welch, Cooper Johns was left out 24 hours before the match.

The Storm are relocating to Queensland for the third time in a year as Melbourne's latest looming lockdown forces the premiers to join the rest of the NRL in the Sunshine State so a time and venue are still to be decided.

Coach Craig Bellamy has opted to hold back star fullback Ryan Papenhuyzen (concussion) and gun hooker Harry Grant (hamstring) for at least another week to ensure the Storm will have a fully fit squad for the run to the finals.

That means 2021 revelation Nicho Hynes gets another game in the No.1 jersey and Brandon Smith the chance to extend his try-scoring streak from dummy-half.

The Storm have won their past nine games against the Knights.

Knights: Mitchell Pearce (hamstring) is out of the Knights team, with Phoenix Crossland to start at halfback. NSW Origin star Daniel Saifiti (rib) is also out with David Klemmer starting at prop and Jack Johns joining the bench.

Maroons star Kalyn Ponga and Queensland squad member Kurt Mann will both start. Tex Hoy is the 18th man.

Pearce, Simi Sasagi and Jirah Momoisea were the players left out 24 hours before the match.

Round 18 - Round 18 - Saturday 17 Jul

Full Time

Storm

Knights

Team Lists

Backs

Fullback for Storm is number 1 Nicholas Hynes

Fullback for Knights is number 1 Kalyn Ponga
Winger for Storm is number 2 George Jennings

Winger for Knights is number 2 Dominic Young
Centre for Storm is number 3 Reimis Smith

Centre for Knights is number 3 Kurt Mann
Centre for Storm is number 4 Justin Olam

Centre for Knights is number 4 Enari Tuala
Winger for Storm is number 18 Dean Ieremia

Winger for Knights is number 5 Hymel Hunt
Five-Eighth for Storm is number 6 Cameron Munster

Five-Eighth for Knights is number 6 Jake Clifford
Halfback for Storm is number 7 Jahrome Hughes

Halfback for Knights is number 22 Phoenix Crossland

Forwards

Prop for Storm is number 8 Jesse Bromwich

Prop for Knights is number 8 Jacob Saifiti
Hooker for Storm is number 9 Brandon Smith

Hooker for Knights is number 9 Jayden Brailey
Prop for Storm is number 15 Tui Kamikamica

Prop for Knights is number 15 David Klemmer
2nd Row for Storm is number 11 Felise Kaufusi

2nd Row for Knights is number 11 Tyson Frizell
2nd Row for Storm is number 12 Kenneath Bromwich

2nd Row for Knights is number 12 Lachlan Fitzgibbon
Lock for Storm is number 13 Dale Finucane

Lock for Knights is number 13 Mitchell Barnett

Interchange

Interchange for Storm is number 14 Aaron Booth

Interchange for Knights is number 14 Connor Watson
Interchange for Storm is number 16 Chris Lewis

Interchange for Knights is number 16 Josh King
Interchange for Storm is number 17 Aaron Pene

Interchange for Knights is number 17 Brodie Jones
Interchange for Storm is number 22 Jordan Grant

Interchange for Knights is number 18 Jack Johns

Reserves

Reserve for Storm is number 19 Isaac Lumelume

Reserve for Knights is number 20 Tex Hoy

Match Officials

Referee: Chris Sutton
Touch Judge: Jon Stone
Touch Judge: Ziggy Przeklasa-Adamski
Senior Review Official: Alan Shortall

Last updated: 5/29/2023 4:40:56 AM

Key match-up

Mitchell Pearce v Jahrome Hughes: Veteran halfback Pearce meets the man growing into the No.7 role like a hand into a glove, Hughes. The Storm playmaker has just 75 NRL games to his name, and only half as first receiver. Pearce is lining up for his 304th, and every one of them has been at No.7. Both men like to run at the line, and keep an eye out for their unmarked outside backs. Their kicking games will be crucial.

Stat attack

Knights defenders will need to be on red alert for Nicho Hynes, who is equal with Tom Trbojevic on line-break assists with 20. They share second spot to NRL leader Cody Walker (26). Interestingly, there is no Knights player in the top-20 - the best being Connor Watson (9) in 23rd spot.

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