NRL Friday Night Footy | Thebigtip

Melbourne Storm (1st) v Brisbane Broncos (4th)
AAMI Park
Friday 7.35pm
Match Officials: Referees – Tony Archer & Ashley Klein; Touch Judges – Paul Holland & Luke Potter; Video Ref – Paul Simpkins

Storm: Billy Slater, Matt Duffie, Dane Nielsen, Maurice Blair, Justin O'Neill, Gareth Widdop, Cooper Cronk, Jesse Bromwich, Cameron Smith (c), Bryan Norrie, Adam Blair, Sika Manu, Kevin Proctor, Interchange (from): Rory Kostjasyn, Ryan Hinchcliffe, Adam Woolnough, Jaiman Lowe, Todd Lowrie.

Broncos: Josh Hoffman, Gerard Beale, Jack Reed, Justin Hodges, Jharal Yow Yeh, Darren Lockyer (c), Peter Wallace, Ben Hannant, Andrew McCullough, Scott Anderson, Alex Glenn, Sam Thaiday, Corey Parker. Interchange (from): Matt Gillett, Ben Hunt, Mitchell Dodds, Josh McGuire, Dunamis Lui.

A Broncos victory away from home against the premiership leaders would put them into the same category as the Storm, Dragons and Sea Eagles.

The start is all important for Brisbane but a fast start from the Storm could give them a winning lead within the opening fifteen minutes.

Ben Hannant and Sam Thaiday will be very important for Brisbane as the platform these men and others lay will give Peter Wallace and Darren Lockyer a chance.

Melbourne will be good. Friday night footy back at AAMI Park. The usual suspects will perform for the Storm. Can Brisbane step up?

Tip: Storm by 10

Bulldogs v Eels
ANZ Stadium
Friday 7.35pm
Match Officials: Referees –Alan Shortall & Gerard Sutton; Sideline Officials – Steve Chiddy & Adam Gee; Video Ref – Tim Mander.

Bulldogs: Ben Barba, Steve Turner, Tim Lafai, Jamal Idris, Jonathan Wright, Ben Roberts, Trent Hodkinson, Aiden Tolman, Joel Romelo, Sam Kasiano, Frank Pritchard, Andrew Ryan (c), Dene Halatau. Interchange: Greg Eastwood, Martin Taupau, David Stagg, Josh Reynolds.

Eels: Luke Burt, Etu Uaisele, Ryan Morgan, Ben Smith, Jordan Atkins, Jarryd Hayne, Casey McGuire, Tim Mannah, Matt Keating, Fuifui Moimoi, Nathan Hindmarsh (c), Taniela Lasalo, Justin Horo, Shane Shackleton, Mitchell Allgood, Reni Maitua, Pat O’Hanlon.

The hype surrounding Jarryd Hayne’s move to five-eight is a little over the top.

Both teams obviously have to win but surely the Bulldogs are due.

In what will be a rain drenched derby in Sydney, Hindmarsh and company will see a chance to dominate a different looking Bulldogs pack.

All eyes are on Hayne, but expect Casey Maguire to shine.

Tip: Eels by 2