Storm reliability a key

Cronk says Raiders tested by player loss

NRL champion Cooper Cronk says Melbourne Storm plays a style which can “unsettle” Canberra on Saturday night despite a recent run of outs against the Raiders.

Like shadow boxing in front of a mirror, the Raiders have worried Storm out of the past three games and could with victory at GIO Stadium become just the sixth team to win four straight over Melbourne.

It has happened only once in the Craig Bellamy era, when the bogy Bulldogs won six 2013-16. Incredibly, the Raiders‘ wins have all been in Melbourne.

“It’s always come down to one moment that’s been the difference, but I think Melbourne is just playing at a higher level this time and their good players are influential,” Cronk said.

“They just hang in and hang in and when they get the opportunity they tend to make the right decision.”

Storm stunned premiers

Sydney Roosters in extra-time last week, scoring multiple tries from opposition errors.

“As they say in boxing, styles make fights, but when Canberra plays Melbourne it ends up being the same style from each team and then it is who can be resilient enough.” Cronk said.

“Who can be ruthless enough at doing those high percentage plays for longer periods of time and then it comes down to an individual or a mofrom ment where Raiders have got the bounce of the ball.”

Storm gave up an 18-4 lead in Round 22 last year and then Josh Addo-Carr lost the ball late in the first final to set up the Raiders’ matchwinning try. The teams locked horns in Round 3 when the competition resumed and the Raiders torched Storm 22-6, with halfback George Williams setting up two of his team‘s four tries.

“The blueprint for the Raiders is exactly what they did

Round 3,” Cronk said. “They played really fast, the halves were up over the advantage line.

“Melbourne, whether they’re winning by 40 points or down by four, play the same and like to suffocate teams and take teams into uncomfortable areas they haven’t been before and just grind it out.”

With injured Raiders Iosia Soliola and Emre Guler out of action, Cronk said Melbourne would look to hammer the middle of the field. “Those guys have been the cornerstone of the Raiders pack the last 18 months,” the six-time grand–final-winner-turnedFox Sports analyst said.

“Those people aren’t there so you miss some consistency, I expect Melbourne to see if the new recruits that Canberra puts in can hold up.

“The right-side defence of the Raiders has been carved up since the resumption. No doubt (Melbourne will) go down the middle and try to systematically break them down.”