Two of the most successful teams of the modern era square off in a mouth-watering clash to see who will progress to the big dance on October 6. For the Storm, it would be a fifth grand final appearance in the past nine years, while the Roosters are looking to return to the decider for the first time since their back-to-back titles in 2018-19. When the sides clashed in last year's semi-final at AAMI Park, it took an acrobatic Will Warbrick try in the closing minutes to get the Storm home 18-13, and the towering Kiwi winger will again be a focal point in attack. The Roosters also boast aerial threats in the form of Daniel Tupou, Dom Young, and Joey Manu, all pouring through on the pinpoint kicks of Luke Keary to make life tough for the Storm's back three.
The Storm had the better of both their meetings this season as well as all three clashes in 2023 to give them an overall lead of 31 wins to 19 in the head-to-head ledger.
Melbourne Storm: Ready for a Roar
Melbourne enter Friday night's NRL preliminary final against the Sydney Roosters at AAMI Park in the best shape possible. Minor premiers, injury-free and boasting a 10-1 win-loss record over their rivals, the Storm are perfectly positioned to chase their first title since 2020, according to skipper Harry Grant.
The Roosters are also looking to return to the grand final after back-to-back trophies in 2018 and 2019. Ousted at the same preliminary final stage last year and also in 2021, both times by three-peat champions Penrith, Grant said they were determined to reach the premiership decider this year.
"Last year we lost the first final, this year we won, so we've had probably a bit more time to get things right, train well and have a bit of time to recover as well," the star hooker said.
"And also, emotionally, you can sort of let yourself go a little bit. I guess that's the learnings from the previous years - there was a big learning from 2021 as well in the way we handled the preliminary final week."
As well as their physical and mental state, the Storm appear to have shored up any weaknesses in their line-up. They have electric fullback Ryan Papenhuyzen back in finals action after missing last year's campaign with a fractured ankle, young centre Jack Howarth recognising his immense potential, and second-rowers Eli Katoa and Shawn Blore at the top of their game.
But Grant is aware the Roosters, who they pipped at the death in last year's semi-final in Melbourne, won't go quietly.
"They've had a couple of injuries, but what it's done is spark some fire in some of their key players, their key leaders, to play well," he said.
"You look at (James) Tedesco, Joey Manu, Lindsay Collins, they're finding form at the right time of the year, and it looks like they're definitely taking their game to a new level."
Melbourne Storm coach Craig Bellamy has made no changes to the side that rolled over the Sharks in week one of NRL finals that will take on the Roosters in tonight’s first semi final. The Storm will try to make a fifth grand final appearance in the past nine years, while the Roosters are looking to return to the decider for the first time since their back-to-back titles in 2018 and 2019.
Roosters: Ready for a Statement
Trent Robinson has declared the Sydney Roosters ready to prove themselves as premiership heavyweights as they plot a preliminary-final upset against Melbourne. Written off in recent weeks with the title race widely considered to be between Penrith and Melbourne, Robinson admitted on Thursday he felt his team had been looked down upon by critics all year.
But Friday night at AAMI Park now represents the Roosters' best chance to prove otherwise, against the ultra-impressive minor premiers.
"(Melbourne) have earned the right (to be hyped up)," Robinson said.
"But I also feel like I wouldn't say we've had a lot of positivity all year around the way that we've played. We're really steely in our approach to how we want to go about each game. We've worked really hard this year, and that's not usually the case where people will view it that way, but we know what goes into our games. It's up to us to go down there and say: 'Look, this is proof that (we've) earned the right to play the following week'."
The Roosters have seemingly grown more and more aware of the critics in recent weeks. They were largely decried as title contenders since losing halfback Sam Walker and hooker Brandon Smith to ACL ruptures last month. Senior players have refused to buy into the idea of a premiership window closing with the likes of Jared Waerea-Hargreaves, Luke Keary Joey Manu and Joseph-Aukuso Suaalii leave at year's end. And questions have also been asked of their 1-20 record against the Storm and Penrith, with James Tedesco stating last week he was "sick and tired" of the scepticism.
In Robinson's mind it is simply irrelevant ahead of Friday, while also believing his side is a much better one than the injury-depleted team beaten at the death in last year's semi-final in Melbourne.
"That (record) is definitely there and in the past," Robinson said.
"That won't make any difference at all tomorrow night. The time is coming, and we need to make sure that is tomorrow. We're a much better team this year. I think we've proven that on performances with belief in our game style. We're really settled in that, and that's why it's really key for us to be really confident in what we're going to do tomorrow night."
Crowd Fever at AAMI Park
The Melbourne Storm are set to play in their 10th preliminary final in 11 seasons on Friday when they host the Sydney Roosters at AAMI Park. Whilst the city may be gripped by AFL Grand Final fever, the sold-out signs have been put up as 30,000 fans will be flocking to the Storm's fortress, with many hoping to see the Storm qualify for a first Grand Final since 2020.
And being the good master coach he is, preparations have been made to deal with the unique atmosphere. Speaking to media ahead of the preliminary final, Bellamy admitted he had used speakers in training this week that were playing crowd noise to help mimic what could be a cauldron like atmosphere at the tightly packed AAMI Park.
He says this was done because it is not something the Storm players encounter all the time at home, and he wants to cover all the bases.
"There's gonna be a fair few people here and they're gonna be fairly noisy, we're not used to that playing in front of 30,000 people," he said.
"We just need to make sure that we're aware of that [and] adapt to the conditions [and] that situation."
The only time the Storm have played in a crowd above 30,000 this season was during Magic Round in Brisbane, where over 47,000 watched them put the Parramatta Eels to the sword, and in the final round of the regular season, when they thrashed the Broncos at the same stadium in front of 35,086 people. The crowd for the regular season clash between Melbourne and the Roosters at AAMI Park saw 17,055 fans watch the Storm secure a 24-8 victory. Their crowd for their qualifying final win over the Cronulla Sharks was their highest of the home season, as 26,326 were in attendance to watch them comfortably win 37-10 to book an important week off.
Key Players to Watch
Despite not playing a competitive match, Bellamy ensured the side had a hit out in training against a semi-professional side to get some players up to speed and to ensure the sharpness was still there for Friday's match. That said, he still ensured there was enough time off for his side to get through the week off unscathed.
"[We gave] them a couple days off, and they came back nice and fresh," Bellamy said.
Cameron Munster (Storm)
Munster has built into form after his long injury lay-off, and the five-eighth was at his best in Melbourne's last outing. Helped break the hearts of the Roosters' fans in last year's semi-final when his last-ditch kick was collected by winger Will Warbrick for the match-winning try. Hasn't won a premiership since the retirement of the last of the big three, Cameron Smith, and wants to create his own legacy.
Nelson Asofa-Solomona (Storm)
Big NAS has kept his head down this week, unwilling to provide any fire-power for the Roosters. Asofa-Solomona has had a running battle with Kiwi teammate Jared Waerea-Hargreaves, who landed in the sin bin in last year's semi-final as tempers spilled over. The Storm giant had a slow start to the year and was even rumoured to be on the trade table, but is a massive key, literally, to their premiership success.
Jared Waerea-Hargreaves (Roosters)
Set to play in the UK, the departing prop is in no rush for his NRL career to be over. Returning from suspension in their convincing victory to eliminate Manly, Waerea-Hargreaves set the tone from the get-go with his physical intensity. The Storm know that keeping JWH quiet will go a long way towards keeping the Roosters out of the game.
Sandon Smith (Roosters)
Replacing injured halfback Sam Walker, Smith has only started 10 times in the NRL and looked out of his depth in their qualifying loss to Penrith. But the 21-year-old took the criticism on the chin and bounced back in their rousing win over the Sea Eagles. Certain to be a target for the Storm's big men, who will look to rattle the youngster.
The Final Word
The stage is set for an epic encounter between two of the NRL's giants. Both teams have the talent and the determination to secure a place in the grand final. But only one team will emerge victorious. With so much at stake, expect a fierce and intense battle from start to finish.
One thing is certain, the 2024 NRL preliminary final between the Melbourne Storm and the Sydney Roosters will be one for the ages. The Storm are seeking their first title since 2020, while the Roosters are looking to return to the decider after back-to-back trophies in 2018 and 2019. With so much on the line, expect a fiery duel that will be decided in the final moments.
