The two dominant clubs of recent times face off on Thursday night, with both coming off strong last-start victories.
At least one of these clubs has appeared in each of the past four NRL grand finals, with the Storm featuring in 2016, '17 and '18 and the Roosters playing in (and winning) the past two.
The premiers downed the Dragons last week without nine injured players and having dropped regular halfback Kyle Flanagan. Melbourne, meanwhile, defied the absence of injured skipper Cameron Smith to blow the Bulldogs away early on the Sunshine Coast.
While neither club is at full strength, this could still be an early preview of this year's premiership decider.
Match: Roosters v Storm
Round 14 -
home Team
Roosters
4th Position
away Team
Storm
2nd Position
Venue: Sydney Cricket Ground, Sydney
The Rundown
Team news
Roosters: Ryan Hall is a late out, with Christian Tuipulotu making his debut on the wing, Nat Butcher named in the front row and Lindsay Collins to come off the bench. Max Bailey, Kyle Flanagan and Egan Butcher were the other players to drop out of the initial 21-man squad.
Josh Morris is back from a calf injury at centre, allowing Mitch Aubusson to return to the back row. None of Jared Waerea-Hargreaves, Boyd Cordner, Angus Crichton or Brett Morris will return this week.
The Roosters have won 11 of their past 12 games at the Sydney Cricket Ground.
Epic incoming: Another chapter of the NRL's great modern rivalry
Storm: Fullback Ryan Papenhuyzen and lock Dale Finucane are back after a week's rest while Ryley Jacks starts at five-eighth for the injured Cameron Munster. Tino Faasuamaleaui and Nicho Hynes revert to the bench.
Brenko Lee returns from a broken hand and starts at centre, bumping Tom Eisenhuth to the bench. Albert Vete and Sandor Earl dropped off the extended bench on game day after Cooper Johns and Chris Lewis were omitted 24 hours out from kick-off.
Not one member of the Storm's line-up has experienced a victory at NRL level at the SCG.
Match: Roosters v Storm
Round 14 -
home Team
Roosters
away Team
Storm
Team Lists
Backs
-
Fullback for Roosters is number 1 James TedescoFullback for Storm is number 1 Ryan Papenhuyzen
-
Winger for Roosters is number 5 Matt IkuvaluWinger for Storm is number 2 Suliasi Vunivalu
-
Centre for Roosters is number 3 Josh MorrisCentre for Storm is number 4 Justin Olam
-
Centre for Roosters is number 4 Joseph ManuCentre for Storm is number 21 Brenko Lee
-
Winger for Roosters is number 19 Christian TuipulotuWinger for Storm is number 5 Josh Addo-Carr
-
Five-Eighth for Roosters is number 6 Luke KearyFive-Eighth for Storm is number 6 Ryley Jacks
-
Halfback for Roosters is number 7 Lachlan LamHalfback for Storm is number 7 Jahrome Hughes
Forwards
-
Prop for Roosters is number 10 Siosiua TaukeiahoProp for Storm is number 8 Jesse Bromwich
-
Hooker for Roosters is number 9 Jake FriendHooker for Storm is number 9 Brandon Smith
-
Prop for Roosters is number 16 Nat ButcherProp for Storm is number 10 Christian Welch
-
2nd Row for Roosters is number 11 Sitili Tupouniua2nd Row for Storm is number 11 Felise Kaufusi
-
2nd Row for Roosters is number 12 Mitchell Aubusson2nd Row for Storm is number 12 Kenneath Bromwich
-
Lock for Roosters is number 13 Isaac LiuLock for Storm is number 13 Dale Finucane
Interchange
-
Interchange for Roosters is number 8 Lindsay CollinsInterchange for Storm is number 3 Tom Eisenhuth
-
Interchange for Roosters is number 14 Drew HutchisonInterchange for Storm is number 14 Nicholas Hynes
-
Interchange for Roosters is number 15 Poasa FaamausiliInterchange for Storm is number 15 Tino Fa'asuamaleaui
-
Interchange for Roosters is number 17 Daniel Suluka-FifitaInterchange for Storm is number 17 Nelson Asofa-Solomona
Match Officials
- Referee: Gerard Sutton
- Touch Judge: Todd Smith
- Touch Judge: Peter Gough
- Senior Review Official: Jared Maxwell
Last updated:
Key match-up
James Tedesco v Ryan Papenhuyzen. Tedesco is coming off his quietest performance of the season, with a season-low 182 run metres and zero tackle breaks against the Dragons. Papenhuyzen, meanwhile, was rested from last week's win over the Bulldogs, perhaps in anticipation for this bigger match-up.
It means both star fullbacks should be feeling relatively fresh for this clash, with either capable of producing a match-winning play out of nothing.
Stat Attack
These teams played out the game of the season in round eight, Melbourne prevailing 27-25 in golden point. In a sign of just how much a battle of attrition this season has become, six of the nine players who scored points in last month's match – Paul Momirovski, Cameron Smith, Ryan Papenhuyzen, Kyle Flanagan, Josh Morris and Brett Morris – didn't take the field last week.
