Check out the match preview and prediction for the 2025 National Rugby League round 4 clash between the St George Illawarra Dragons and the Melbourne Storm.
MATCHDAY NEWS
MATCHDAY SCHEDULE
St George Illawarra Dragons Vs Melbourne Storm
Venue: Netstrata Jubilee Stadium, Sydney
Date: Saturday, March 29, 3:00 pm (ADST)
MATCHDAY TEAM NEWS
Dragons: 1. Clinton Gutherson 2. Tyrell Sloan 3. Moses Suli 4. Valentine Holmes 5. Christian Tuipulotu 6. Kyle Flanagan 7. Lachlan Ilias 8. Toby Couchman 9. Damien Cook 10. Emre Guler 11. Luciano Leilua 12. Jaydn Su’A 13. Jack de Belin 14. Jacob Liddle 15. David Klemmer 16. Hamish Stewart 17. Dylan Egan 18. Mathew Feagai 19. Raymond Faitala-Mariner 20. Blake Lawrie 21. Tom Eisenhuth 22. Lyhkan King-Togia
Storm:1. Ryan Papenhuyzen 2. William Warbrick 3. Jack Howarth 4. Grant Anderson 5. Xavier Coates 6. Cameron Munster 7. Tyran Wishart 8. Stefano Utoikamanu 9. Harry Grant 10. Josh King 11. Shawn Blore 12. Eliesa Katoa 13. Trent Loiero 14. Bronson Garlick 15. Alec MacDonald 16. Tui Kamikamica 17. Lazarus Vaalepu 18. Kane Bradley 19. Marion Seve 20. Keagan Russell-Smith 21. Sualauvi Faalogo 22. Angus Hinchey
Referee: Peter Gough
Bunker: Kasey Badger
MATCHDAY PREVIEW
With the Dragons having a bye in the last round, fans will have to wait two weeks to see how they rebound from their one point loss to the Rabbitohs. It was very much a game they should have won, leading 24-12 early in the second half. It was like they switched off when they got 12 points clear, and it is easy to see why Shane Flanagan was upset.
Still, there were some bright spots for the Dragons. Clint Gutherson is showing why he was an important signing, while Tyrell Sloan scored a double and may have found a place on the wing. The Dragons must play for 80 minutes and not go into cruise control when they hit the lead.
David Klemmer has been named on the bench. He was allowed to leave the Wests Tigers for the Dragons to replace Francis Molo. Toby Couchman moves from the bench to the starting side. Dylan Egan will make his NRL debut coming onto the bench. Raymond Faitala-Mariner and Blake Lowie drop to the reserves. Moses Suli has been named despite having suffered a rib injury against the Rabbitohs.
The Storm got the chance to avenge their grand final loss to the Panthers early in the season. Early in the match, Panthers half Nathan Cleary suffered a head knock and failed his HIA to be out of the game. Fans could be forgiven for thinking the Storm would run away with it from there, but the Panthers showed their resolve and came close to running the Storm down.
The Storm will miss their chief playmaker this week, with Jahrome Hughes out with a broken hand. The versatile Tyran Wishart moves into halfback. Nick Meaney is out with a jaw injury and Grant Anderson replaces him. Will Warbrick makes his return from injury on the wing. Nelson Asofa-Solomona is out due to concussion protocols. Lazarus Vaalepu moves onto the bench. Bronson Garlick is the other new face on the bench.
The fullbacks from both sides hold the key in this match. Gutherson set up some sublime tries for Sloan against the Rabbitohs: Gutherson will need to be at his best for the Dragons to have a chance of winning this game. With Hughes out, Ryan Papenhuyzen’s role becomes more critical. That’s not to say the Storm can’t win without Hughes – they have shown in the past they can. Taking some pressure off Wishart and letting him play his natural game will get the Storm the win.
The Dragons’ halves have the perfect chance to stand up and show fans their capabilities. It is the ideal chance to do so with the Storm missing Hughes.
MATCHDAY PREDICTION
Storm by 14 points.
Check out all the NRL Predictions here.
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