The final game on Saturday night takes place in Wollongong with the Dragons hosting the Storm. Stuck towards the bottom of the ladder, the Dragons are playing for nothing more than pride (and the odd contract) ahead of a new coach next season. The Storm are back into form and sent a warning that they shouldn’t be forgotten despite their inconsistent form. The on-field action promises to be exhilarating and BeforeYouBet is here to look at the match.
NRL Round 25 Preview & Betting Tips
St George-Illawarra Dragons vs Melbourne Storm
WIN Stadium, Saturday 19th August, 7:35pm (AEST)
Preview
The Dragons tried hard against the Rabbitohs but were eventually defeated 26-14, with that loss extending their losing streak to 3 matches, with just one win coming in their past 7 games. Pushing their opponents at different times, they were always a threat but could never find the poise to score points which would overtake their opponents. This is highlighted by their 69% completion rate, 1,388m made, 2 line breaks and 32 missed tackles. There is a reason why they sit towards the bottom of the ladder and their task of winning doesn’t get any easier in this game.
The Storm were at their terrific best against the Raiders, outclassing their opponents in every area in their 48-2 victory. Leading 20-2 at HT, the Storm continued their attacking onslaught in the second half, relentless in their execution. Completing at 78% with 58% possession, they made 700m more than their opponents and had 10 line breaks. Their defence was just as clinical, conceding zero line breaks and missing just 25 tackles. With the Finals quickly approaching, it was a sign that the Storm are back on track and focussed towards peaking at the business end of the season.
Verdict
The odds are heavily favoured towards the Storm ($5.20 vs $1.16) and this supports the only likely outcome in this match. The Storm fired a shot last week to suggest they are a capable team. Despite losing to the Panthers a week earlier, they will still outclass inferior components. As competitive as the Dragons have been recently, they are suffering from a lack of quality. They manage just 20ppg in attack while conceding 27ppg in defence. This standard would not be tolerated at the Storm; they score an average of 24ppg in attack and limit their opponents to just 18ppg. The Storm have also won 4 out of their past 5 against the Dragons, scoring 40+ points on 3 occasions. That trend could be set to continue here.
The Dragons look to be outclassed in all areas, with the challenge coming in finding value. The line is well set at 14.5 points; the past 6 wins by the Storm have come by a 13+ margin. While they have been inconsistent, there is no doubting their point scoring ability in matches against inferior opponents. The defence of the Dragons is questionable at best and will be tested here over 80 minutes. The Dragons will make it difficult but eventually, the power of their opponents will become too much.
Storm -14.5
$1.90 (2 Units)
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Leg 1: Grant 1+ Try
Leg 2: Munster 1+ Try
Both players are crucial to the Storms success. They get their hands on the ball as much as possible in key attacking positions and will threaten their opponents’ line in doing so. Both are reluctant passers, preferring to lead the way with their actions.
SGM Odds: $7 at Picklebet (0.5 Units)
