Storm vs Roosters

Trent Robinson has finalised the side to take on the Melbourne Storm in tonight's Round 24 match at AAMI Park.

With the finals just a fortnight away the Sydney Roosters made a huge statement with a dramatic 18-14 win over the Storm on Friday night.

I thought we were just a bit off for the first 20 minutes, we defended far too much and that took a lot of juice out of the tank. Victor Radley (concussion) and Daniel Tupou (groin) will be monitored but could struggle to get up for the clash. You end up having to defend a lot like we did on our tryline and we held our hands up really well for most of the game and that was really pleasing. "We were physical tonight, we wanted to take it to them, we did that and then we were a bit scrappy on the back end of it, obviously when we had enough opportunies and it ended up being quite a scrappy game but it turned into a different style of game. We did have a bit of emotion before the game but that's no excuse for our poor start, that should probably give us a bit of energy. The back-rower got a great ball away to James Tedesco who got it to Victor Radley and on to Luke Keary who looked up and saw Storm winger David Nofoaluma had come well infield so he put in a pinpoint kick to the corner which Joey Manu gathered to score.

Seve replaces Tonumaipea in the centres for Melbourne while Loiero replaces Lewis on the bench. Kamikamica starts back row with Kaufusi benched.

Egan Butcher 16. Nat Butcher 13. Sam Verrills 10. Sam Walker 8. Kenny Bromwich 13. Jesse Bromwich 9.

The Roosters have laid down the biggest of markers, defeating the Storm 18-14 in Melbourne to stake their claim as Premiership contenders.

It was vital in the end. Within seconds, it was clear that this was set to be one of the best games of the season. Referee Adam Gee had warned all parties that the next infringer would go to the bin, and was good to his word, dispatching Waerea-Hargreaves. The defence was incredible. Inevitably after tow close calls, the Roosters went up the other end and made it count. Joseph Suaalii went very close over the top of Jahrome Hughes, but was held up. Radley was left convulsing on the field after copping a hip to the temple and Daniel Tupou, who left early with a groin injury, is almost certainly out of next week’s meeting with South Sydney. You end up with hardly any tries, but we end up having to defend a lot on our goalline, and we held our hands up really well for most of the game. Harry Grant went very close, only for Waerea-Hargreaves to intervene, and seconds later, Walker – much maligned for his defence – scythed down Kenny Bromwich with the line begging. The bunker called the tackle high and Sam Walker took the two. They will remain outside of the top four, but whoever gets them in September is now on notice, if they weren’t already. Whisper it quietly, it was reminiscent of their Premiership goalline defence of 2018 and 2019.