Bromwich due back for Storm
Cameron Munster and Jesse Bromwich are both likely to make their NRL returns for Melbourne in today’s clash with Manly.
The pair have travelled to Sydney for the Lottoland match, after being named in the Storm’s reduced 19-man squad yesterday.
Munster is considered an almost certainty to play, despite being named in the No 20 jersey on Tuesday.
He hasn’t played since breaking his jaw in round three but successfully completed all contact work during the week.
His injury coincided with the return of Billy Slater at fullback and it’s likely he will now slot in to the five-eighth role, as was planned in the pre-season.
It’s understood the Storm will wait to see how Bromwich has pulled up after their final training session yesterday.
The New Zealand captain missed last Sunday’s 11-2 loss to Cronulla with a back injury and had been on light duties earlier this week.
Former Manly centre Cheyse Blair has been named in the centres, after missing last week’s loss with a back complaint.
The return of Bromwich will be a further concern for Sea Eagles coach Trent Barrett, who is without forward Martin Taupau due to a rib injury.
Taupau’s injury has ruled him out indefinitely while Queensland State of Origin prop Nate Myles has been rested after Barrett admitted his pack was ‘‘out-performed’’ by St George Illawarra last week.
‘‘Our forwards have got a huge job,’’ Barrett said yesterday. ‘‘The boys are pretty determined to right what went wrong last week.
‘‘We were very disappointed with how we played against the Dragons, given how we have been the last month.’’
Manly leaked 35 points in the loss to the Dragons and Barrett is all too aware that a similar 39 missed tackles won’t end well on the scoreboard against the starstudded Storm.
‘‘We have had to fix a few things up, particularly defensively, this week,’’’ Barrett said. ‘‘It is more attitude-wise.
‘‘We are playing against your Cronks, the Smiths, the Slaters – three of the best players in the game, so we are going to need to be on our game tomorrow.’’