Melbourne Storm coach Craig Bellamy has named an 18-man squad for this Friday's Round 18 top-of-the-table clash against the Brisbane Broncos. The game will be played at Olympic Park from 7:30pm.
After last weekend's bye, the Storm maintained its four point buffer at the top of the 2006 Telstra NRL Premiership ladder.
The Broncos, with many of its first team regulars unavailable, produced an impressive performance at Suncorp Stadium, downing the Cronulla Sharks 26-12 to remain in second position.
Billy Slater returns to first-grade action after playing with Storm's feeder teams in Sydney and Brisbane over the past fortnight, taking his place at fullback.
With both Garret Crossman (shoulder) and Ian Donnelly (ankle) missing through injury, Antonio Kaufusi and Brett White will be the starting front-rowers while Ben Cross and Adam Blair will provide the relief from the bench.
Matt King, Cam Smith and Dallas Johnson will all be backing up after State of Origin, however Nathan Friend and Jamie Feeney are in the mix should any of them be unable to take their place in the Storm line-up.
Steve Turner is still suffering the effects of a rib cartilage injury sustained in the first-half of the Round 16 encounter against the Bulldogs and has not been named.
Squad for Friday's game:
Starting team:
1. Billy Slater
2. Matt Geyer
3. Matt King
4. Jake Webster
5. Chris Walker
6. Scott Hill
7. Cooper Cronk
8. Antonio Kaufusi
9. Cameron Smith
10. Brett White
11. David Kidwell
12. Ryan Hoffman
13. Dallas Johnson
Interchange:
14. Ben Cross
15. Jeremy Smith
16. Adam Blair
17. Nathan Friend
18. Jamie Feeney
(one to be omitted)
Coach:
Craig Bellamy
Meanwhile, the Melbourne Storm is today hosting the State of Origin Stormin' into Melbourne luncheon featuring a rugby league panel with some of the game's greatest players.
Former State of Origin players Robbie Kearns, Matty Johns, Paul 'Fatty' Vautin, Mario Fenech, Laurie Daley and Gorden Tallis will be discussing the up-coming State of Origin clash as well as a number of other rugby league topics.
Also appearing will be Melbourne Storm coach Craig Bellamy who will give his thoughts on the State of Origin clash, as well as give an insight into how well his team is travelling.
The entire Melbourne Storm squad will also be in attendance.
After last weekend's bye, the Storm maintained its four point buffer at the top of the 2006 Telstra NRL Premiership ladder.
The Broncos, with many of its first team regulars unavailable, produced an impressive performance at Suncorp Stadium, downing the Cronulla Sharks 26-12 to remain in second position.
Billy Slater returns to first-grade action after playing with Storm's feeder teams in Sydney and Brisbane over the past fortnight, taking his place at fullback.
With both Garret Crossman (shoulder) and Ian Donnelly (ankle) missing through injury, Antonio Kaufusi and Brett White will be the starting front-rowers while Ben Cross and Adam Blair will provide the relief from the bench.
Matt King, Cam Smith and Dallas Johnson will all be backing up after State of Origin, however Nathan Friend and Jamie Feeney are in the mix should any of them be unable to take their place in the Storm line-up.
Steve Turner is still suffering the effects of a rib cartilage injury sustained in the first-half of the Round 16 encounter against the Bulldogs and has not been named.
Squad for Friday's game:
Starting team:
1. Billy Slater
2. Matt Geyer
3. Matt King
4. Jake Webster
5. Chris Walker
6. Scott Hill
7. Cooper Cronk
8. Antonio Kaufusi
9. Cameron Smith
10. Brett White
11. David Kidwell
12. Ryan Hoffman
13. Dallas Johnson
Interchange:
14. Ben Cross
15. Jeremy Smith
16. Adam Blair
17. Nathan Friend
18. Jamie Feeney
(one to be omitted)
Coach:
Craig Bellamy
Meanwhile, the Melbourne Storm is today hosting the State of Origin Stormin' into Melbourne luncheon featuring a rugby league panel with some of the game's greatest players.
Former State of Origin players Robbie Kearns, Matty Johns, Paul 'Fatty' Vautin, Mario Fenech, Laurie Daley and Gorden Tallis will be discussing the up-coming State of Origin clash as well as a number of other rugby league topics.
Also appearing will be Melbourne Storm coach Craig Bellamy who will give his thoughts on the State of Origin clash, as well as give an insight into how well his team is travelling.
The entire Melbourne Storm squad will also be in attendance.
