BURNING QUESTIONS

MELBOURNE V CRONULLA Friday, 7.40pm at AAMI Park. SYDNEY ROOSTERS V SOUTH SYDNEY Saturday, 7.40pm at Allianz Stadium. WILL MELBOURNE’S MILESTONE-GAME HEROICS RETURN? The Storm have traditionally made a point of turning up for big games – the fact Cameron Smith won his 50th, 100th, 150th, 200th, 250th, 300th, 350th and recordbreaking 356th NRL games is testament to that. But this year they’ve lost both Billy Slater’s 300th and Craig Bellamy’s 400th as a coach. Friday’s clash is Slater’s last game in Melbourne before retirement. CAN THE ROOSTERS FIRE WITHOUT LATRELL MITCHELL? The Roosters have been forced to leave their Ferrari in the garage for their biggest match of the season, with Latrell Mitchell suspended for a crusher tackle on Josh Dugan. Mitchell has been their best attacking threat at centre this year with 16 tries, 18 linebreaks and 101 tackle busts. Mitchell Aubusson is expected to replace him on the left edge and while he’ll be solid in defence, he doesn’t have the same explosiveness. HOW MUCH HAVE THE RABBITOHS GOT IN THE TANK? While the Roosters enjoyed a weekend off, Souths had to get through their second onepoint game in a row against St George Illawarra. Couple that with the lewd video scandal and the Rabbitohs will enter the game after a taxing fortnight. Teams who have played in week two of the finals have won just four of 12 preliminary finals matches under the current play-offs system. IS THERE ANY STOPPING VALENTINE HOLMES? Holmes has proven to be extremely dangerous in the No.1 jersey. Arguably the best player in the NRL over the second half of the season, Holmes has scored 11 tries in 13 games since moving to the back.