Few could have predicted that when the Rabbitohs travelled to AAMI Park on Anzac Day that they would be 11 spots higher on the ladder than a Storm side that has slumped to five consecutive losses.
Wayne Bennett’s side is coming off a comprehensive win over the Dragons that took their record to 4-2 and lifted them to fourth on the ladder.
The Storm, meanwhile, are languishing in 15th spot after a 26-22 loss to the Raiders marked the first time since 2012 that they had lost five straight.
On an emotion-charged night at AAMI Park the home side are sure to lift for the occasion but they confront a Rabbitohs side full of confidence and riding the back of Latrell Mitchell’s brilliance and the brute force of Keaon Koloamatangi and Tallis Duncan.
Not to mention dynamic fullback Matt Dufty, who peeled off 333 run metres and scored in a stunning return to the NRL after three years in Super League with Warrington.
Team News
Storm: Despite coming off five straight losses the Storm have stuck with the same 19-man squad that went down to the Raiders. Nick Meaney has been named on the wing with Manaia Waitere in the centres but they may swap on game day as they did in Round 7. Davvy Moale is listed in jersey No.17 and is line for his fourth appearance of the season after he and Hugo Peel weren’t used last week.
Rabbitohs: Bronson Garlick is named to start at hooker and Brandon Smith in the back row in the only tweak to last week’s starting side. Euan Aitken has been added to the six-man bench as he chases a first appearance since Round 2 following a leg injury.
Stat Attack
The Storm have an 84 per cent winning record against the Rabbitohs.
The Rabbitohs have lost all 20 games played in Melbourne.
Storm fullback Sua Faalogo has scored 12 tries in his last 10 NRL games.
Rabbitohs winger Alex Johnston will play his 250th NRL game.
The Storm have won their last nine Anzac Day games.
Stats supplied by David Middleton, League Information Services, author of the official annual of the NRL.