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Storm v Knights: Garlick to start; Sharpe to debut

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The Storm claimed top spot on the ladder after picking up two points with the bye and will be looking to make sure they stay there when they host the Knights on Sunday.

Coming off a tough away trip to Manly in Round 12, where they went down to the Sea Eagles 26-20, Melbourne will be desperate to get back to the winner's circle with away matches against the Warriors and Dolphins to follow. 

The Knights, meanwhile, will be bitterly disappointed to drop out of the top eight after a 32-2 defeat to the Bulldogs at home on Friday. 

With coach Adam O'Brien putting his side's performance down to 'a lack of creativity', halves pairing Jack Cogger and Jackson Hastings will be out to make a statement at AAMI Park on Sunday. 

Sportsbet Betting Preview - Storm v Knights

Team News

Storm: Several late changes sees Bronson Garlick named to start at hooker and Queensland representative Harry Grant revert to the bench. Trent Loiero shifts from the interchange to lock with Josh King starting at prop and Christian Welch goes back to the bench. Xavier Coates returns to the wing after also featuring in the Maroons' State of Origin win on Wednesday. Alec MacDonald dropped off the bench in favour of Joe Chan on Saturday. 

Knights: A big game day shuffle sees Dylan Lucas move into centre in place of Krystian Mapapalangi who dropped back to 18th man and Tyson Frizell shift from the bench into the back row. Mat Croker takes Frizell's bench spot, while Phoenix Crossland has also moved into the starting side at hooker which Jayden Brailey reverts to the bench. Fullback David Armstrong was cut in the 24-hour update as he struggles with a quad issue, which means an NRL debut for Fletcher Sharpe. Prop Daniel Saifiti has failed in his bid to return from a knee injury picked up last week and is replaced on the bench by Jack Hetherington. 

Team Lists

Backs

  • Fullback for Storm is number 1 Sualauvi Faalogo
    Fullback for Knights is number 22 Fletcher Sharpe
  • Winger for Storm is number 2 Grant Anderson
    Winger for Knights is number 2 Enari Tuala
  • Centre for Storm is number 3 Reimis Smith
    Centre for Knights is number 3 Dane Gagai
  • Centre for Storm is number 4 Nick Meaney
    Centre for Knights is number 12 Dylan Lucas
  • Winger for Storm is number 5 Xavier Coates
    Winger for Knights is number 5 Greg Marzhew
  • Five-Eighth for Storm is number 6 Tyran Wishart
    Five-Eighth for Knights is number 6 Jack Cogger
  • Halfback for Storm is number 7 Jahrome Hughes
    Halfback for Knights is number 7 Jackson Hastings

Forwards

  • Prop for Storm is number 10 Tui Kamikamica
    Prop for Knights is number 8 Jacob Saifiti
  • Hooker for Storm is number 14 Bronson Garlick
    Hooker for Knights is number 14 Phoenix Crossland
  • Prop for Storm is number 13 Josh King
    Prop for Knights is number 10 Leo Thompson
  • 2nd Row for Storm is number 11 Shawn Blore
    2nd Row for Knights is number 11 Kai Pearce-Paul
  • 2nd Row for Storm is number 12 Eliesa Katoa
    2nd Row for Knights is number 16 Tyson Frizell
  • Lock for Storm is number 15 Trent Loiero
    Lock for Knights is number 13 Adam Elliott

Interchange

  • Interchange for Storm is number 8 Christian Welch
    Interchange for Knights is number 9 Jayden Brailey
  • Interchange for Storm is number 9 Harry Grant
    Interchange for Knights is number 17 Brodie Jones
  • Interchange for Storm is number 16 Nelson Asofa-Solomona
    Interchange for Knights is number 19 Mat Croker
  • Interchange for Storm is number 18 Joe Chan
    Interchange for Knights is number 21 Jack Hetherington 

Reserves

  • Replacement for Storm is number 19 Jack Howarth
    Replacement for Knights is number 4 Krystian Mapapalangi

Match Officials

  • Referee: Adam Gee
  • Touch Judge: Phil Henderson
  • Touch Judge: Belinda Sharpe
  • Senior Review Official: Ashley Klein

Last updated:

Stat Attack

  • The Storm have won 15 of their past 17 games in Melbourne.
  • The Knights have won their last two clashes with the Storm.
  • Storm winger Xavier Coates has scored 28 tries in 23 games at AAMI Park.
  • The Knights have not won in Melbourne since 2015.
  • Second-rower Eliesa Katoa has scored in three consecutive games for the Storm.

Stats supplied by David Middleton, League Information Services,  

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National Rugby League respects and honours the Traditional Custodians of the land and pay our respects to their Elders past, present and future. We acknowledge the stories, traditions and living cultures of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples on the lands we meet, gather and play on.