St George Illawarra Dragons vs Melbourne Storm Tips and Prediction
Melbourne opened the season by putting 50 points on Parramatta and now get a matchup that looks far more comfortable on paper.
How this game shapes up
The Dragons showed plenty of effort in their Vegas opener but their attack looked blunt when the game was there to be won.
Kyle Flanagan and Daniel Atkinson struggled to create opportunities and most sets ended with safe kicks that didn’t really challenge the defence.
That style of attack is unlikely to trouble Melbourne.
The Storm looked incredibly sharp in Round 1 with strong ball control and attacking execution. In dry day conditions they have been dominant, consistently putting big scores on opponents.
Best Bets
Storm -7.5
Melbourne have covered this line in their last three wins and their record in dry day games is outstanding. If the Dragons struggle to generate attacking pressure again, the Storm should be able to pull away.
Ativalu Lisati Anytime Tryscorer
The Storm right edge has been extremely productive and Lisati steps straight into that role. He scored last week against Parramatta and should see opportunities again if Melbourne’s attack clicks.
What could go wrong?
The Dragons managed two surprise wins over Melbourne last season and WIN Stadium can be a tricky venue when the home crowd gets involved.
If St George Illawarra can slow the game down and control possession, they could keep the scoreboard tighter than expected.