Roosters sweating on Cronk, Storm warning

SYDNEY: They have each hit form at the right end of the season, they finished in the top two rungs of the ladder, they are undefeated in the finals this season but the Sydney Roosters and Melbourne Storm have had disrupted preparations for Sunday’s grand final.
The Roosters are still sweating on the recuperative powers of Cooper Cronk after the star halfback suffered rotator cuff damage in the preliminary final win over the Rabbitohs at Allianz Stadium. He has been named in No.23 with Mitchell Aubusson at halfback.
Melbourne also faced an uncertain build-up, due to the judiciary, but retiring fullback Billy Slater proved his innocence over a shoulder charge on Sharks winger Sosaia Feki at his hearing on Tuesday and will play one last game in the Storm No.1 jersey.
Each team received some good news on the weekend — Jake Friend was given a grade-one dangerous throw charge by the judiciary which will not result in a suspension due to the early guilty plea meaning he receives less than 100 demerit points and Storm prop Tim Glasby has been cleared of a rib injury and will take his place in the line-up for the last time before heading to Newcastle next year.
The Roosters’ defence was superb in their 12-4 triumph over Souths last Saturday with the home side continually repelling Rabbitohs attacking raids in front of a full house at the soon-to-be-rebuilt Moore Park venue.
Melbourne were characteristically clinical in their 22-6 dismantling of Cronulla last Friday with Slater’s superb in a two-try performance.
They are trying to become the first team to defend their premiership since the Brisbane Broncos did so in 1993.
Roosters: Cooper Cronk has been named in jersey No.23 and Mitchell Aubusson at halfback as Cronk attempts to overcome a shoulder injury. Latrell Mitchell and Dylan Napa both return after missing last week through suspension. Mitchell will start in the centres, with Napa to come off the interchange bench. Victor Radley, who was dropped back to the interchange bench an hour out from the preliminary final win over South Sydney, has been named to start the match at lock once again. Aubusson took Radley’s spot in the forwards last week. Paul Momirovski, who was a shock starter in the centres against the Rabbitohs, has been moved back to the interchange bench.
Storm: Billy Slater was named at fullback ahead of his judiciary appearance on Tuesday night and with the retiring veteran cleared to play, the Storm are set to field the same 17 players who starred in Friday night’s win over the Sharks. The retiring Ryan Hoffman is on the reserves list.
Key match-up: Latrell Mitchell v Will Chambers. The Roosters’ left centre will lock horns with Melbourne’s veteran in a battle which could well decide the trophy. Mitchell has been one of the biggest improvers in the NRL this season, making the rise to the NSW team at State of Origin level in fine style and he is tipped to partner Greg Inglis in the centres when the Kangaroos play their two tests next month. Chambers has been an incumbent test centre in recent years and could hop back ahead of his younger rival if he comes out on top on grand final night.
For the Roosters to win: Their defence will look after itself but can they get enough points on the board. Twelve points via three unconverted tries was enough against South Sydney but the Storm have more attacking weapons than the Rabbitohs so the Tricolours cannot afford to play too conservatively at ANZ Stadium.
For the Storm to win: Cameron Munster needs to reinforce his status as a big-match player. He first made a name for himself at fullback in 2016 when Billy Slater was injured and was one of the Storm’s best in their grand final loss to Cronulla. He excelled last year to earn Queensland and Australian honours and has been one of the best players in the Telstra Premiership this season. If he fires, the Storm are a great chance of conquering the Roosters.
Roosters Stat Attack: Blake Ferguson is averaging 197.9 running metres per game this season. While the big winger has a habit of coming up with the odd error, he has been phenomenal at doing the hard yards for the Tricolours on kick returns and the first few hit-ups to start the team’s set. He infamously said he was leaving Cronulla for Canberra because he thought it would lead to a premiership. The Eels-bound veteran has a chance to collect a first premiership ring this Sunday.
Storm Stat Attack: Cameron Smith will add yet another record to his collection on Sunday when he breaks Darren Lockyer’s record of 35 finals appearances. The evergreen hooker bettered his own record for most points in a season when he kicked five goals last Friday against Cronulla to make it 198 for 2018.
And another thing: These teams have faced each other only once this season — a 9-8 victory to the Storm at the Adelaide Oval in round 16. A predictable arm-wrestle, it was 2-2 at half-time and wasn’t decided until Cameron Smith’s clutch field goal two minutes from full-time.
Previous result: Storm won 9-8 at Adelaide Oval in round 16
Televised: Live on TVWAN Action from 7pm on Sunday.
Sydney Roosters: 1. James Tedesco, 2. Daniel Tupou, 3. Latrell Mitchell, 4. Joseph Manu, 5. Blake Ferguson, 6. Luke Keary, 7. Mitchell Aubusson, 8. Jared Waerea-Hargreaves, 9. Jake Friend, 10. Siosiua Taukeiaho, 11. Boyd Cordner, 12. Isaac Liu, 13. Victor Radley; Interchange: 14. Dylan Napa, 15. Zane Tetevano, 16. Paul Momirovski, 17. Ryan Matterson; Reserves: 18. Lindsay Collins, 19. Nat Butcher, 20. Sean O’Sullivan, 21. Cooper Cronk.
Melbourne Storm: 1. Billy Slater, 2. Suliasi Vunivalu, 3. Will Chambers, 4. Curtis Scott, 5. Josh Addo-Carr, 6. Cameron Munster, 7. Brodie Croft, 8. Jesse Bromwich, 9. Cameron Smith, 10. Tim Glasby, 11. Felise Kaufusi, 12. Joe Stimson, 13. Dale Finucane; Interchange: 14. Kenneath Bromwich, 15. Christian Welch, 16. Brandon Smith, 17. Nelson Asofa-Solomona; Reserves: 18. Ryan Hoffman, 19. Jahrome Hughes, 20. Sam Kasiano, 21. Cheyse Blair. – NRL.com