- 1 Bulldogs vs Storm: a huge clash already, even with key men out
- 2 The Bulldogs keep sinking
- 3 Melbourne are finally showing some life
- 4 A game that could turn into a grind quickly
- 5 NRL Prediction Bulldogs vs Storm
- 6 Before anything else, 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 images…
Bulldogs vs Storm: a huge clash already, even with key men out 
There is only one NRL game on Friday night, but it could end up mattering a lot as the season rolls on. Welcome to Accor Stadium, just days after State of Origin, for a meeting between a Bulldogs side in trouble and a Storm outfit that is finally starting to show some life.
Both teams are hit by Origin call-ups and a stack of injuries, but the stakes are still massive. Canterbury desperately need to stop the slide, while Melbourne have a real chance to make it three wins on the bounce and get their season moving again.
The Bulldogs keep sinking 
Publicly, the Bulldogs are sticking to the calm script. On the field, though, the warning signs are getting impossible to ignore.
Their 38-16 loss to Cronulla at Magic Round exposed every flaw in this side all over again. Worse, it was gone before half-time. 30-6 down by the break, the Bulldogs once more showed a total lack of control when it mattered.
What is especially frustrating for Canterbury is that the numbers do not scream complete dominance against them.
They had more possession, more post-contact metres, more line breaks than their opponents and far fewer missed tackles. And yet, every time the pressure rises, this team just cannot turn good field position into points.
That is the real issue with this group.
The attack looks short on ideas, the patterns are easy to read and the defensive errors are costing them dearly. Over their last five matches, the Bulldogs are averaging only 14 points a game, which is nowhere near good enough for a side trying to stay in the hunt.
Stephen Crichton being away with the Blues makes things even harder. Matt Burton and Jacob Preston are going to have to carry a huge load in a team that looks badly short on confidence right now.
Melbourne are finally showing some life 
After a few dreadful weeks, Melbourne finally look like they can breathe again.
Their 34-8 win over Parramatta backed up the earlier victory against the Tigers and made it clear that this was no fluke. The Storm are slowly getting back to being what they usually are: organised, ruthless and a lot nastier on defence.
It has not all been perfect.
Melbourne have still had a few messy spells in attack and their completion rate could be better. But unlike the previous few weeks, they have actually made the most of their chances.
The return of Jahrome Hughes has clearly lifted this side.
His control of the game, his kicking and his ability to steady things when it gets scrappy have brought some much-needed order back. Up front, Stefano Utoikamanu and the younger middle forwards are also adding more punch.
Even without Harry Grant and Cameron Munster during this Origin stretch, the Storm remain a team that can keep their standards high. That is often Melbourne’s biggest edge: no matter who is missing, the replacements usually end up stepping up.
A game that could turn into a grind quickly
The setup here points to a match that is more likely to be tense than thrilling.
Canterbury badly need to get some confidence back in attack and will probably look to keep things simple just to avoid another horror show. Melbourne, meanwhile, know exactly how to handle this sort of fixture during Origin: slow it down, defend hard and punish mistakes.
The Storm probably have no reason to turn this into a shootout with so many changes in the side.
The Bulldogs, for their part, need to find some mental stability before they can even think about producing their best football.
All of that points to a physical, stop-start contest where one mistake could decide plenty.
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NRL Prediction Bulldogs vs Storm
Under 50.5 points
The Origin timing, the number of absentees and the Bulldogs’ major attacking problems make this total look very appealing. Melbourne should be able to control the tempo without needing to force the pace.
Canterbury, meanwhile, have been miles off it with the ball in hand for weeks.
Everything points to a tighter, more tactical contest than a wide-open shootout.
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Information changes
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About the images…
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