Watch NRL Auckland Nines Live Streaming 2015 Online Free Stream From Eden Park,Auckland, NZ

NRL Auckland Nines 2015 Live Streaming Online, match will be kick off at Eden Park Stadium, Auckland,New Zealand, Saturday 31 January To 01 February 2015 online, Time 12:35 AEDT To 19:25 and its broadcast on Fox Sports (AU), Sky Sports (NZ).

The 2015 NRL Auckland Nines is the second NRL Auckland Nines tournament, contested between all sixteen teams of the National Rugby League.The draw was released on 16 September 2014.[2] It will be a two-day, nine-a-side, knockout tournament held at Eden Park in Auckland, New Zealand. All sixteen NRL clubs and 288 players will compete over the one weekend (January 31 – February 1) with AUD$2.4 million prize money to be split between the teams. In 2015, the pool names were chosen by a public vote. The pool names are: Rangitoto, Waiheke, Piha and Hunua Ranges. In 2015, the event will include two international Female teams, the Kiwi Ferns and the Jillaroos will compete in a three game series.

The NRL Auckland Nines (known as the Dick Smith NRL Auckland Nines) is a rugby league nines competition first held by the National Rugby League at Auckland’s Eden Park between 15 – 16 February 2014.The 2014 event was the first of five to be held at Eden Park.

In the 2014 tournament all sixteen NRL clubs competed. Each squad included at least 12 of their top 25 players in their squad, and at least one marquee player. The winner of the tournament received AUD$500,000 with a total prize pool of AUD$2,250,000.

In the 2015 tournament all sixteen NRL clubs competed along with the Kiwi Ferns and the Jillaroos who competed in a three game series. In 2015, the pool names were chosen by a public vote. The pool names are: Rangitoto, Waiheke, Piha and Hunua Ranges.

Auckland Nines Fixtures 2015

Saturday 31 January,Day 01

GAME NO	VS	TIME
GAME 1	SHARKS VS KNIGHTS	12.35PM
GAME 2	WESTS TIGERS VS TITANS	13.00 PM
GAME 3	ROOSTERS VS EELS	13.25 PM
GAME 4	BRONCOS VS BULLDOGS	13.50 PM
GAME 5	WARRIORS VS RAIDERS	14.25 PM
GAME 6	SEA EAGLES VS COWBOYS	14.50 PM
GAME 7	STORM VS PANTHERS	15.15 PM
GAME 8	RABBITOHS VS DRAGONS	15.40 PM
GAME 9	SHARKS VS WESTS TIGERS	16.20 PM
GAME 10	KNIGHTS VS TITANS	16.45 PM
GAME 11	ROOSTERS VS BRONCOS	17.10 PM
GAME 12	EELS VS BULLDOGS	17.35 PM
GAME 13	WARRIORS VS SEA EAGLES	18.10 PM
GAME 14	RAIDERS VS COWBOYS	18.35 PM
GAME 15	STORM V RABBITOHS	19.00 PM
GAME 16	PANTHERS V DRAGONS	19.25 PM

Day 2 Fixtures Coming……..

The Rugby League Festival will be held across three days from Friday 30 Jan – Sunday 1 Feb as is the official fan zone of Nines. The Festival is open from 10am and will have a range of live music, a Rugby League exhibition, free kids rides and games. Live entertainment includes performances by Sammy Johnson feat. Swiss, House of Shem Unplugged and more top Kiwi musicians.

AOTEA SQUARE, FRIDAY 30 JANUARY
FESTIVAL AND FAN ZONE
FROM 10.00am

Watch NRL Grand Final: South Sydney Rabbitohs vs Canterbury Bulldogs Live Streaming 5 October 2014

Watch NRL Grand Final Live Stream South Sydney Rabbitohs vs Canterbury Bulldogs Live Streaming Online on Sunday, 5 October 2014. The South Sydney Rabbitohs meet the Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs at ANZ Stadium on Sunday, October 5 in the first NRL preliminary final. The match kicks off at 7.15pm (AEDT). Watch NRL Live Online HD TV on Your PC, iPad, Mac, Android, iPhone. Everyone watch the live NRL live stream and other sporting events live has so easy. When you talk about a major sporting event, this term is one of the best. Get instant access to the widest possible coverage of NFL matches on the web directly to your desktop from anywhere. Just sign up and start watching Now On Channel 9..

NRL Grand Final Live Streaming Online
South Sydney Rabbitohs vs Canterbury Bulldogs
Date & Time: Sunday, October 5 – 7.15pm (AEDT)
Stadium: ANZ Stadium
You Can Watch It On Channel 9

The 2014 season draws to a thrilling conclusion on Sunday evening when fairytale team South Sydney and the resurgent Canterbury square off at what will be a rocking ANZ Stadium. The Bunnies go in the biggest premiership favourites in nearly two decades but carry the weight of a 43-year premiership drought while the Bulldogs head into the decider sans expectation and with a sense of destiny about their finals charge.

South Sydney have won more premierships than any other side with 20 but have not played in a Grand Final since 1971. Since then Canterbury have reached 12 deciders, winning six to take their all-time tally to eight. The Rabbitohs and Bulldogs have met just three times in finals football with Canterbury winning the 2012 preliminary final and the 1986 major preliminary semi after Souths won the famous 1967 Grand Final 12-10 on the back of Bob McCarthy’s famous intercept try. Overall Canterbury hold a 78-67-4 advantage on South Sydney but the Rabbitohs have won three of the last four clashes since the ’12 preliminary final. The Bulldogs are 13-6 all-time against the Bunnies at ANZ. Canterbury won 15-14 when the teams met in Round 7 before the Rabbitohs came from behind to win 21-14 in Round 25.

South Sydney hit the Grand Final in exceptional form. After finishing the season ranked third on the ladder but finishing with the top defence and the second rated attack, the Bunnies led Manly 40-0 before winning 40-24 and then led the Roosters 32-12 before sealing a 32-22 win in their two finals matches. The Rabbitohs have won four of their last five matches at ANZ and five of their last seven against Top 8 opposition though they have conceded 22-plus in four of their last five. Canterbury stumbled into the finals, finishing seventh with just two wins in their final eight regular season games that saw them rank fifth in defence but a lowly 13th in attack. They struck form in September though with a blistering win over Melbourne followed by grinding victories over Manly and Penrith. They have scored just two second half tries in their last eight appearances.


South Sydney Rabbitohs Grand Final Team:

1. Greg Inglis, 2. Alex Johnston, 3. Dylan Walker, 4. Kirisome Auva'a, 5. Lote Tuqiri, 6. Luke Keary, 7. Adam Reynolds, 8. George Burgess, 9. Issac Luke, 10. Dave Tyrrell, 11. Ben Te'o, 12. John Sutton, 13. Sam Burgess

Interchange: 14. Jason Clark, 15. Kyle Turner, 16. Chris McQueen, 17. Thomas Burgess, 18. Ben Lowe, 19. Luke Burgess, 20. Bryson Goodwin

Canterbury Bulldogs Grand Final Team:

1. Sam Perrett, 2. Corey Thompson, 3. Josh Morris, 4. Tim Lafai, 5. Mitch Brown, 6. Josh Reynolds, 7. Trent Hodkinson, 8. Aiden Tolman, 9. Michael Ennis, 10. James Graham, 11. Josh Jackson, 12. Tony Williams, 13. Greg Eastwood

Interchange: 14. Tim Browne, 15. Dale Finucane, 16. David Klemmer, 17. Frank Pritchard, 19. Moses Mbye, 20. Reni Maitua

Watch NRL Semi-finals: Penrith Panthers vs Canterbury Bulldogs Live Stream 27 September 2014

 The Penrith Panthers meet the Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs at ANZ Stadium on Saturday, September 27 in the second NRL preliminary final. The match kicks off at 7.55pm (AEST). Watch NRL Live Online HD TV on Your PC, iPad, Mac, Android, iPhone. Everyone watch the live NRL live stream and other sporting events live has so easy. When you talk about a major sporting event, this term is one of the best. Get instant access to the widest possible coverage of NFL matches on the web directly to your desktop from anywhere. Just sign up and start watching Now..

What: NRL 2nd Preliminary Final
Who: Panthers v Bulldogs
When: Saturday, September 27 – 7.55pm (AEST)
Where: ANZ Stadium
I Can Watch It On: Channel 9

Not many NRL pundits would have predicted the Panthers and Bulldogs to be playing off for a spot in the Grand Final at the beginning of the finals series, but welcome to the wonderfully unpredictable competition that has encapsulated the entire season.

The Bulldogs came into the finals series in atrocious form, winning only two of their last eight matches before Des Hasler casually flicked the light switch on and his Canterbury side proceeded to triumph over the two most successful clubs of the past decade in consecutive weeks.

Penrith meanwhile have been written off constantly throughout the 2014 season - be it through injuries or accusations of a soft draw - but they certainly proved themselves towards the back end of the season, followed by memorable win over minor premiers and 2013 Grand Final winners the Roosters in the opening week of the finals.

So I think everyone can agree that while hugely unexpected this preliminary final clash is, each team more than deserves their spot in the final four. Which brings us to this Saturday night and who will emerge victorious and continue their fairytale run into the first week of October.

Canterbury are proven contenders in the big games at the end of the season and reached the decider only two years ago where they went down to the Melbourne Storm.

Their form has fluctuated immensely throughout the year, beginning with a bang when the club surged to the top of the table with seven consecutive victories - including a record-breaking three successive wins by a single point.

Ironically that wave of winning momentum began after the Panthers edged the Dogs 18-16 back in Round 3 courtesy of a Matt Moylan sideline conversion after the siren.

The Bulldogs were then left crippled by the Origin period however, dropping three straight matches during the middle of the series before regrouping and notching up a three-match winning streak of their own to consolidate their spot on the summit of the ladder.

Things went pear-shaped from there for the Bulldogs however, with the club dropping six of their past eight matches to drop to seventh on the ladder and elimination football from the get-go as a result.

But we all know what happened after that, and now the Dogs are gunning for their second Grand Final in three years while also trying to replicate their 2004 premiership winning feats exactly a decade after that triumph. Again - ironically - they defeated the Panthers in the 2004 preliminary final before going on to beat the Roosters in the decider.

Penrith meanwhile have put together a tremendous season, with Phil Gould's highly publicised five-year plan seemingly coming to fruition a few years early.

It's not many times that a team could lose to the wooden spooners (Cronulla) twice during the season and end up within one game of the Grand Final but that's exactly what the Panthers have done in season 2014.

They play wonderfully together as a team and don't rely on any single individual to win them big games. The Panthers play out the entire 80 minutes with the same intensity and determination throughout, something that could come in handy this Saturday night.

Canterbury remarkably have only scored three second half tries in their past six games, meaning that if the Panthers can maintain their same base level throughout the duration of the contest, they could well be able to outmuscle the Bulldogs during the latter stages of the contest - especially with Penrith having earned the week off last round while the Dogs were forced to tussle with Manly for 85 minutes.

Penrith also have perhaps the form hooker in the competition, with James Segeyaro providing his side with dynamic darts out of dummy-half consistently throughout matches and he will surely look to trouble the monstrous Bulldogs forward pack again on Saturday.

Ultimately, this match is without doubt up for grabs but one thing is certain - both clubs are more than well equipped to handle close games - with the Bulldogs winning four single-pointers in 2014 (a record) and the Panthers defeating the Roosters by one-point a fortnight ago and Canterbury at the start of the season thanks to the aforementioned Moylan sideline conversion.

Team News

Trent Hodkinson has declared himself fit to line up for the Bulldogs despite missing the majority of the team's training sessions during the week with a knee injury he picked up last week against the Sea Eagles. Moses Mbye is on stand-by as a precaution, while Josh Jackson will take his place in the second-row after escaping suspension for a chicken wing tackle last week.

Penrith meanwhile welcome back Adam Docker from suspension, with the versatile forward re-joining the team on an extended bench that also includes Kevin Naiqama and Sam Anderson.

Penrith Panthers Team

1. Matt Moylan, 2. Josh Mansour, 3. Dean Whare, 4. Jamal Idris, 5. Dallin Watene-Zelezniak, 6. Will Smith, 7. Jamie Soward, 8. Sam McKendry, 9. James Segeyaro, 10. Brent Kite, 11. Sika Manu, 12. Matt Robinson, 13. Nigel Plum

Interchange: 14. Adam Docker, 15. Jeremy Latimore, 16. Ben Murdoch-Masila, 17. Lewis Brown, 18. Kevin Naiqama, 19. Sam Anderson

Canterbury Bulldogs Team

1. Sam Perrett, 2. Corey Thompson, 3. Josh Morris, 4. Tim Lafai, 5. Mitch Brown, 6. Josh Reynolds, 7. Trent Hodkinson, 8. Aiden Tolman, 9. Michael Ennis, 10. James Graham, 11. Josh Jackson, 12. Tony Williams, 13. Greg Eastwood

Interchange: 14. Reni Maitua, 15. Dale Finucane, 16. David Klemmer, 17. Frank Pritchard, 19. Moses Mbye, 20. Harlan Alaalatoa

Watch NRL Semi-finals: South Sydney Rabbitohs vs Sydney Roosters Live Stream 26 September 2014

The Sydney Roosters meet the South Sydney Rabbitohs at ANZ Stadium on Friday, September 26 in the first NRL preliminary final. The match kicks off at 7.55pm (AEST). Watch NRL Live Online HD TV on Your PC, iPad, Mac, Android, iPhone. Everyone watch the live NRL live stream and other sporting events live has so easy. When you talk about a major sporting event, this term is one of the best. Get instant access to the widest possible coverage of NFL matches on the web directly to your desktop from anywhere. Just sign up and start watching Now..

Preview and Teams: Panthers v Bulldogs 
What: NRL first preliminary final
Who: Roosters v Rabbitohs
When: Friday, September 26 – 7.55pm (AEST)
Where: ANZ Stadium
I Can Watch It On: Channel 9

The Roosters and Rabbitohs remarkably haven't played each other in a finals game since the 1935 Grand Final - however this Friday night's preliminary final promises to make that 79-year drought well worth the wait.

Where do you even begin to describe the immense rivalry that these two Eastern Sydney teams have established over the last 106 years of rugby league history?

No teams in Australian rugby league history have met more times since their first meeting way back in 1908, when the Roosters overcame the Bunnies 13-12 - how ironic that even back then games were being decided by the single point that has so far encapsulated the 2014 NRL finals series.

Even though the Rabbitohs hold a current 108-96 head-to-head advantage over the years, it is Roosters fans that have enjoyed the last laugh in recent times - including a memorable Grand Final triumph last year.

Souths meanwhile haven't tasted premiership success for 43 years and even though players and officials are declaring that the 2014 version of the Rabbitohs is a far different one from previous years, you can never truly escape the significant pressure the team will feel in the dramatic build-up to Friday night's kick-off.

But are Souths are different team, that's the question? The Rabbitohs were pipped at the post in the preliminary finals the last two successive years against the Sea Eagles and Bulldogs - and those two teams went onto to lose in the Grand Final the following week.

However this year's competition has been the closest in recent memory, and all it takes is a club to peak at the right time in order to triumph. Souths finished the season reasonably strongly - despite a final round hiccup against the Roosters - and then dominated Manly to lead 40-0 after 55 minutes of their opening finals hit-out.

After earning the week-off following that victory, it is kind of difficult to predict where the Rabbitohs are currently at with their form at present. If you subscribe to the theory that winning breeds confidence then the Bunnies could be in trouble - they would have only won two matches in 32 days by the time they run out onto ANZ Stadium - with those two triumphs coming against a below-par Manly side and a Bulldogs side who was in control until the 70th minute when Trent Hodkinson kicked the ball out on the full to give them field position. Throw in a loss to the Roosters during that 32-day period and things don't actually look too flash for the Bunnies.

The Bondi boys meanwhile will head into his contest on the back of winning momentum having survived a fast-finishing Cowboys side last week.

However - much like the Rabbitohs - the Roosters will be worried about how easily they let their opponents back into the game after a dominating early period.

While the Sea Eagles pegged back 24 points against Souths, the Cowboys rallied to draw level with the Roosters by notching up 30 unanswered points in the stages leading up to and after halftime.

Only a lucky bounce off the forearm of Robert Lui saw them escape with victory and a date with the Rabbitohs on Friday night.

However the Roosters are winners. They proved that last year and they have proved it again this campaign by finishing the season as minor premiers despite playing well below their best for the majority of the season.

They have a perfect combination of brutal forwards, skilful outside backs, savvy veterans and youthful exuberance. Couple that with their winning mentality under Trent Robinson and the huge pressure that is on the Rabbitohs this week, and I think the Tri-colours deserve to go into this clash as favourites.

Team News

The Rabbitohs welcome back key forward Ben Te'o from suspension as he takes his place on an extended bench that also includes Ben Lowe, Luke Burgess and Bryson Goodwin.

The Roosters also welcome back one of their main enforcers from suspension, with Dylan Napa re-joining the side on the bench.

South Sydney Rabbitohs Team

1. Greg Inglis, 2. Alex Johnston, 3. Dylan Walker, 4. Kirisome Auva'a, 5. Lote Tuqiri, 6. Luke Keary, 7. Adam Reynolds, 8. George Burgess, 9. Issac Luke, 10. Dave Tyrrell, 11. Kyle Turner, 12. John Sutton, 13. Sam Burgess

Interchange: 14. Jason Clark, 15. Ben Te'o, 16. Chris McQueen, 17. Thomas Burgess, 18. Ben Lowe, 19. Luke Burgess, 20. Bryson Goodwin

Sydney Roosters Team

1. Anthony Minichiello, 2. Daniel Tupou, 3. Michael Jennings, 4. Shaun Kenny-Dowall, 5. Roger Tuivasa-Sheck, 6. James Maloney, 7. Mitchell Pearce, 8. Jared Waerea-Hargreaves, 9. Jake Friend, 10. Sam Moa, 11. Boyd Cordner, 12. Sonny Bill Williams, 13. Aidan Guerra

Interchange: 14. Mitchell Aubusson, 15. Frank-Paul Nuuausala, 16. Isaac Liu, 17. Dylan Napa, 18. Remi Casty

Watch NRL Semi-Final: Manly Sea Eagles vs Canterbury Bulldogs Live Streaming Online 20 September 2014

The Manly-Warringah Sea Eagles meet the Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs at Allianz Stadium on Saturday, September 20 in the second NRL semi final. The match kicks off at 7.45pm (AEST). Watch NRL Live Online HD TV on Your PC, iPad, Mac, Android, iPhone. Everyone watch the live NRL live stream and other sporting events live has so easy. When you talk about a major sporting event, this term is one of the best. Get instant access to the widest possible coverage of NFL matches on the web directly to your desktop from anywhere. Just sign up and start watching Now..

What: NRL 2nd Semi Final
Who: Sea Eagles v Bulldogs
When: Saturday, September 20 – 7.45pm
Where: Allianz Stadium
TV: Channel 9

What a blockbuster match we have on our hands on Saturday night. There is a seemingly endless conveyer belt of sub-plots for this clash between the Sea Eagles and Bulldogs that by the time we got through them all it would be kick-off already.

This semi-final clash at Allianz Stadium pits the losing grand finalists of the 2013 season against the losing grand finalists of the 2012 season with the winners to advance into a 2014 grand final decider against the Panthers next week.

The Bulldogs succumbed meekly the following finals series after they made the big dance, going down without so much as a whimper against the Knights last year, and the same thing could potentially happen to Manly this finals series.

One year after going down to the Roosters in the 2013 decider, Manly face the prospect of being bundled out of the 2014 finals series without a win after their disastrous capitulation to the Rabbitohs last Friday night.

Manly have now lost three of their past four matches and are looking like a club searching for answers - both on and off the field. It seems the year-long rumours of inner turmoil engulfing the club has finally risen to the surface and in plain sight of the entire rugby league community, with several star players failing to produce their best form over the last couple of months.

Add to that a mounting injury and suspension toll and the Sea Eagles are looking like a team on the outer. But then again, that is exactly where the club traditionally fire. Who knows how they will react on Saturday night. It certainly wouldn't surprise anyone if they came out on fire and pummelled the Bulldogs like the way they were manhandled by the Rabbitohs. But their current form is saying that is a far cry from occurring.

The Bulldogs meanwhile shocked everyone last week with their superb performance against the Storm after they came into the finals series with just two wins from their past eight outings.

Canterbury produced almost the perfect first half to lead 24-0 at the break, and while they struggled somewhat to go on with it in the second stanza, the damage was already done and they were no doubt thinking about this week's clash with Manly.

Former Manly premiership winning coach Des Hasler has been in top form during the week, desperately vying to wrestle the underdog tag back from the Sea Eagles in a series of classic media conferences that illustrated the absolute genius of the man.

Hasler knows what it takes to win big games - both on the field and off - and he has prepared his Bulldogs side perfectly for this contest.

While their has been much criticism in the past of the Bulldogs inability to score points, that will not be the main focus in this encounter against the Sea Eagles.

With Manly's forward pack severely dented by the loss of their starting back-row (Watmough, Stewart, Buhrer), the Bulldogs have the capacity to roll right over the top the Sea Eagles' second-string back-row with their monstrous forward pack.

This in turn will create the required space halves Josh Reynolds and Trent Hodkinson need to systematically orchestrate a victory through a series of backline plays and kicks to the edges.

The last time these two teams met in a finals match was in the first week of the 2012 finals series where the Bulldogs overcame the Sea Eagles 16-10 on their way to the Grand Final.

Canterbury also edged out Manly in the last meeting between the two sides back in July this year, winning 23-16.

Team News

Anthony Watmough is out suspended for the Sea Eagles, with Tom Symonds shifting to the second-row and Dunamis Lui coming off the bench to start at lock.

Jayden Hodges seems likely to take the field at hooker after recovering from a neck injury, while James Hasson also makes his return from injury on the bench.

The Bulldogs have only made the one change from the side that defeated the Storm last week, with Reni Maitua coming onto the bench for the injured Pat O'Hanlon. Moses Mbye and Harlan Alaalatoa have also been named on an extended bench.

Manly Sea Eagles Team

1. Brett Stewart, 2. Jorge Taufua, 3. Jamie Lyon, 4. Steve Matai, 5. Peta Hiku, 6. Kieran Foran, 7. Daly Cherry-Evans, 8. Jason King, 9. Jayden Hodges, 10. Brenton Lawrence, 11. Tom Symonds, 12. Justin Horo, 13. Dunamis Lui

Interchange: 14. Jesse Sene-Lefao, 15. Cheyse Blair, 16. James Hasson, 17. Josh Starling

Canterbury Bulldogs Team

1. Sam Perrett, 2. Corey Thompson, 3. Josh Morris, 4. Tim Lafai, 5. Mitch Brown, 6. Josh Reynolds, 7. Trent Hodkinson, 8. Aiden Tolman, 9. Michael Ennis, 10. James Graham, 11. Josh Jackson, 12. Tony Williams, 13. Greg Eastwood

Interchange: 14. Reni Maitua, 15. Dale Finucane, 16. David Klemmer, 17. Frank Pritchard, 19. Moses Mbye, 20. Harlan Alaalatoa

NRL Elimination Final:Storm vs Bulldogs Live Streaming 14 September 2014

The Melbourne Storm host the Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs at AAMI Park on Sunday, September 14 in the second NRL elimination final. The match kicks off at 4.10pm (AEST).. Watch NRL Live Online HD TV on Your PC, iPad, Mac, Android, iPhone. Everyone watch the live NRL live stream and other sporting events live has so easy. When you talk about a major sporting event, this term is one of the best. Get instant access to the widest possible coverage of NFL matches on the web directly to your desktop from anywhere. Just sign up and start watching Now..

What: NRL 2nd Elimination Final

Who: Storm v Bulldogs

When: Sunday, September 14 – 4.10pm (AEST)

Where: AAMI Park

I Can Watch It On: Channel 9

The opening week of the NRL finals concludes with a blockbuster sudden death contest between 2012 Grand Finalists the Bulldogs and Storm.

Only two years after contesting the big dance both the Storm and Bulldogs will be playing for their 2014 seasons in this clash, with the loser sent packing straight to the nearest travel agent to start planning their end-of-season getaway.

Although these two clubs finished the regular season almost neck-and-neck on the ladder in sixth and seventh position, there is no doubt which team heads into this clash with the upper hand.

The Bulldogs have been in dire form over the past couple of months, winning only two games during their past eight encounters - and those two wins came against the struggling Tigers and unpredictable Eels.

In fact, the club's last triumph against top eight opposition came against the Storm way back in July in a finals-like fixture played at AAMI park where the Bulldogs scraped through 6-4 winners.

Since then Canterbury have been a club in free-fall, with the club struggling significantly to create consistent attacking opportunities down in the opposition's final third, leaving the side looking nonplussed with the ball on numerous occasions.

There is a sense that other clubs have figured the Bulldogs attack out, with their short passes between the forwards being shut out quickly during recent months.

However you could argue that Des Hasler has his side exactly where he wants them at this stage of the season - under that ever-present radar. Although you can't help but feeling like the Bulldogs 2014 season could mirror the efforts of last year - finishing in the lower half of the eight and then succumbing meekly in the opening week of the finals.

Melbourne meanwhile are in solid form heading into this clash, winning three of their past four matches to give themselves a chance of claiming the premiership in 2014.

However the Storm must start from the unfamiliar position of sixth this year - the lowest the club have finished since 2005 (excluding the 2010 salary cap docked-points season).

Could the prospect of playing sudden death football straight off the bat worry the battle-hardened Storm outfit? The club will no doubt be sweating over the fitness of star skipper Cameron Smith who has been under an injury cloud all week after picking up an ankle injury last week.

There is no doubt that Melbourne head into this game with the better form and the confidence and star-power needed to win the big games at the business end of the season.

They will be weary of the Bulldogs however, after the blue-and-whites defeated them in their previous two matches this season.

Team News

Bryan Norrie returns to the starting forward pack for Melbourne, with Jordan McLean dropping back to an extended bench that also includes Dayne Weston and Justin O'Neill.

The Bulldogs meanwhile welcome back Dale Finucane from suspension on a seven-man bench, with Reni Maitua, Harlan Alaalatoa and Pat O'Hanlon joining the side.

Melbourne Storm Team

1. Billy Slater, 2. Sisa Waqa, 3. William Chambers, 4. Mahe Fonua, 5. Marika Koroibete, 6. Ben Roberts, 7. Cooper Cronk, 8. Jesse Bromwich, 9. Cameron Smith, 10. Bryan Norrie, 11. Kevin Proctor, 12. Ryan Hoffman, 13. Ryan Hinchcliffe

Interchange: 14. Tim Glasby, 15. Tohu Harris, 16. Junior Moors, 17. Jordan McLean, 18. Dayne Weston, 19. Justin O'Neill

Canterbury Bulldogs Team

1. Sam Perrett, 2. Corey Thompson, 3. Josh Morris, 4. Tim Lafai, 5. Mitch Brown, 6. Josh Reynolds, 7. Trent Hodkinson, 8. Aiden Tolman, 9. Michael Ennis, 10. James Graham, 11. Josh Jackson, 12. Tony Williams, 13. Greg Eastwood

Interchange: 15. Dale Finucane, 16. David Klemmer, 17. Frank Pritchard, 19. Moses Mbye, 20. Reni Maitua, 21. Harlan Alaalatoa, 22. Pat O'Hanlon