Talent will overcome form
NRL Ladder 
/ Nick Tedeschi / 08 September 2009 / Leave a comment Bet Now
NRL finals action kicks off in Melbourne this Friday night with the Storm hosting Manly at Ethiad Stadium, writes Nick Tedeschi.
Melbourne have opened up marginal favourites in the match but there has been a little bit of money for Manly since the suspension of forward Storm slugger Adam Blair.
The loss of Blair is a blow for the Storm who are already hurting from a number of injuries to their pack. Manly, however, are not without their health problems in their forwards with Jason King and Shane Rodney both unlikely to play and Brent Kite seemingly struggling after a long season.
Melbourne have won four of their last six against Manly but lost at home 20-16 in round 24. Melbourne had excuses that day though. That match was played in the afternoon and the Storm have struggled playing daytime football over the last few seasons while Melbourne had recently lost Greg Inglis to an off-field related suspension.
Since that match Melbourne have recorded two dominant victories while Manly struggled to beat a twelve-man Cronulla team before smashing the Titans.
The Storm have won their only two matches they have played at Ethiad over the last two seasons and concede a try and a line break per game less than Manly, who just happen to miss six more tackles per match.
The recent form of Brisbane is seemingly being overplayed in betting markets with the Broncos big favourites against the Titans. The Gold Coast, however, have a 7-4 record against top eight teams this year compared to Brisbane's record of 4-7 and the teams are 3-3 all-time with the Titans winning both contests played at Skilled Park.
Newcastle have been dreadful on the road in 2009, going 3-9 away from home and defeating only the Roosters away from Newcastle since April. The Knights won the only clash between the two teams this season but look outmatched all over the field with the exception of the halves. If the Bulldogs can make this a forwards battle they will win well.
Parramatta have run their race in 2009. They will be better with Nathan Hindmarsh back but the mental damage done by the 37-0 defeat last Friday will be too much to overcome. The Dragons win by plenty.
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