Storm v Sea Eagles betting tips, prediction and multi picks | NRL Rd 17

Storm vs Sea Eagles best bets & multi picks

Super Saturday NRL wraps up in Melbourne with the Storm hosting the Manly Sea Eagles at AAMI Park.

The Sea Eagle shave been dealt a major blow with star fullback Tom Trbojevic rupturing a pectoral muscle in Origin II, with many bookmakers doubting their ability to win this game and pricing them accordingly.

With Trbojevic being named in the reserves it likely confirms that Kaeo Weekes will start at fullback, with captain Daly Cherry-Evans expected to back up from his State of Origin heroics. The only other change is Samuela Fainu named in the reserves with Ben Condon coming off the interchange bench.

The Storm have lost Tui Kamikamica (calf) and Marion Seve (jaw) to injury, while Christian Welch returns from the Maroons camp in the front row, pushing Nelson Asofa-Solomona to the second row and Tariq Sims back to the interchange bench. Meanwhile, Xavier Coates, Cameron Munster and Harry Grant have been named to back up from Wednesday night.

The rivalry between the Sea Eagles and Storm is fierce with the home side winning 25 of their 43 matches, including five wins from nine games in Melbourne. The loss of Trbojevic for the visitors is huge, however; with Cherry-Evans backing up from Wednesday night the Sea Eagles will have the leadership and direction they desperately need. Expect this to be a closer game than anticipated with the Storm securing a narrow 1-12 point win for the punters at $3.10 odds with PalmerBet.

With four players backing up from Origin in key positions for both teams Saturday it’s expected that fatigue will set in earlier than usual and reduce the point scoring potential of both sides. The round seven clash between these two sides, was also low-scoring. Expect this game to fall below 43.5 total match points ($1.90).

While points may be hard to come by for both sides, the clear value pick for an anytime try scorer is Jahrome Hughes ($2.85). It has been the case for the last few years that Hughes steps up during the Origin period for the Storm, when Munster and Grant are being managed through club games. Hughes’ electric speed and footwork makes him incredibly dangerous in attack. Given the fragility of the Sea Eagles defence in recent weeks, Hughes is one of the most likely try-scorers on the park.

KEY MATCHUP: Josh Schuster v Nelson Asofa-Solomona

Josh Schuster vs Nelson Asofa-Solomona

If the Storm side run on as they have been named by coach Craig Bellamy, Josh Schuster could be in for the toughest night of his short career with Asofa-Solomona named in the back row on that edge. The Storm have shown a clear plan this season of using the New Zealand representative forward to wear down defenders on oppositions left-hand side to reduce their impact on the game. Schuster’s fitness has been questioned all season in the media, and if he struggles to hold his own on Saturday, this could end up being a blow-out.

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