- 1 Storm vs Knights: Melbourne have plenty on the line against the season’s shock package
- 2 Melbourne are finally finding themselves again
- 3 The Knights keep winning, but it is not all smooth sailing
- 4 This could turn into a tactical scrap very quickly
- 5 NRL Prediction Storm vs Knights
- 6 First, a word on our predictions
- 7 No commitment from us
- 8 Information changes
- 9 Your role
- 10 Responsible gambling first
- 11 Legal age
- 12 About the visuals…
Storm vs Knights: Melbourne have plenty on the line against the season’s shock package 
Friday night’s first game takes us to AAMI Park for a matchup that would have looked completely out of the blue only a few months ago.
On one side, Melbourne find themselves outside the Top 8 after a messy start to the season. On the other, the Newcastle Knights are sitting pretty in the Top 4 and still catching the rest of the NRL off guard.
Even so, whatever the table says right now, this one could be a reminder of why the Storm remain one of the most feared outfits in the competition.
Melbourne are finally finding themselves again 
For weeks, Melbourne have been chasing a performance they could point to as the real thing.
Last week against the Roosters, Craig Bellamy’s men might have finally found it.
The 18-4 win does not leap off the page if you only glance at the scoreline. But the performance had plenty of the old Storm about it.
Control first.
Melbourne dominated possession, rolled through sets with real accuracy and, crucially, never let the Roosters settle into any sort of attacking rhythm.
That is the part rivals should be worried about.
Melbourne’s attack can still produce moments when the timing clicks. But once this side starts defending with discipline again, they become a much tougher proposition straight away.
After a rough patch, the signs are finally turning positive.
With a run of home games coming up and a few handy byes on the way, Melbourne know a push back toward the Top 8 is still well within reach.
But they need to back it up now.
The Knights keep winning, but it is not all smooth sailing 
Newcastle keep winning, and that is obviously the headline.
But scratch beneath the results and a few cracks are starting to show.
The 28-22 win over Parramatta kept the Knights up near the top, but it was not exactly a performance that leaves everyone feeling comfortable.
Against an Eels side hit hard by injuries, Newcastle sometimes looked like they were playing with the handbrake on.
Possession was heavily in Parramatta’s favour and the Knights too often let their opponents back into the contest.
What is carrying Newcastle right now is the huge talent in key spots.
Kalyn Ponga can still turn a match on a single play. Fletcher Sharpe is continuing to develop, while Dylan Brown is bringing more and more spark to the attack.
Out wide, Greg Marzhew and Dom Young are also making any half-chance feel dangerous.
But against the best teams in the competition, that will not always be enough.
Now comes the real test.
If the pack cannot match Melbourne physically, all the pressure lands on the men creating things out wide. And at a place like AAMI Park, that is never a comfy spot to be in.
This could turn into a tactical scrap very quickly
The current ladder might suggest Newcastle have the edge.
The Storm are slowly getting back to their defensive standards, they are at home and, after a difficult spell, they seem to have found a bit of stability.
The Knights, meanwhile, are still getting results but have shown more signs of vulnerability in recent outings.
Newcastle have rarely won in Melbourne over the past few years and AAMI Park remains one of the toughest trips in the competition.
Even so, the mood around this one points to a tight, physical, highly strategic contest where every mistake with the ball could hurt.
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NRL Prediction Storm vs Knights
Under 51.5 points
Melbourne are gradually getting their defensive edge back while Newcastle continue to lean on a strong structure when they face the heavy hitters.
With plenty riding on the result for both sides and a Storm team likely to want to control the pace, this looks far more like a tactical battle than an attacking shootout.
A tight, disciplined game feels the most likely outcome.
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Information changes
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