Eighth immortal Andrew Johns looked at Melbourne’s roster of teams during the week and couldn’t believe his eyes.
A club that has taken pride in their performances during the Origin period, when all their stars are out, seems to think in some areas that the big midback can’t tip them.
While any side that loses Cameron Munster and Harry Grant in acting roles will have a huge gap to fill, Johns believes other injury absences are equally troubling.
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“His outer backs are so thin,” Johns told Mat Thompson at Freddy and The Eighth’s Tips from Wide World of Sports.
“No Reimis Smith, he’s gone for the year, his chest was injured again. George Jennings (knee) is not there, Xavier Coates (ankle) … three of his outer back.
“I think sharks are moral in their home.”
Craig Bellamy, Melbourne Storm coach. (Bradley Kanaris / Getty Images)
Johns made that prediction before Nicho Hynes was ruled out of Thursday night’s clash between Sharks and Storm over COVID-19, the midfielder sent a scare into the Blues’ camp after training with them on Monday.
Hynes’ absence will be a blow to the home team, who will also be without the bench of the blues Siosifa Talakai.
However, Johns expects the storm to fight with his makeshift outfit, a point he said loudly in a column in The Sydney Morning Herald on Thursday.
Scroll down below to see the current standings and round 17 tips from Andrew Johns, Brad Fittler, and all of Nine’s expert informants!
Nine’s NRL tilt rating board. (new)
Brad Fittler: Storm, Rabbitohs, Eels, Broncos
Andrew Johns: sharks, knights, eels, bronchi
Darren Lockyer: Sharks, Rabbitohs, Eels, Broncos
Dave Middleton: Sharks, Rabbitohs, Eels, Dragons
Paul Gallen: Sharks, Rabbitohs, Eels, Dragons
Johnathan Thurston: Sharks, Rabbitohs, Eels, Broncos
Peter Psaltis: Storm, Rabitohs, Eels, Broncos
Allana Ferguson: Sharks, Rabbitohs, Eels, Broncos
Mat Thompson: sharks, knights, eels, dragons
Play the NRL Premiership 2022 live and free on 9Now
Ruan Sims: Storm, Rabbitohs, Eels, Dragons
Michael Chammas: Storm, Rabbitohs, Eels, Dragons
The mole: Storm, Rabbitohs, Eels, Broncos
Ben Glover: Sharks, Rabbitohs, Eels, Broncos
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