Christian Welch says the return of Melbourne man mountain Nelson Asofa-Solomona couldn’t have come at a greater time because the Storm put together to host the high-flying Warriors.
The groups conflict on the night of Anzac Day at AAMI Park in Melbourne’s largest dwelling recreation of the 12 months, with the fixture normally a sell-out.
Final season produced a report 70-10 win for the Storm however with the Warriors at the moment holding down joint second place the hosts predict a a lot tighter battle, in keeping with skipper Welch.
“We performed the Warriors in Christchurch within the pre-season and so they’re a extremely robust footy aspect,” Welch instructed AAP.
“The brand new coach (Andrew Webster) has come throughout from Penrith and he is introduced a little bit of teaching to us in order that they’re actually bodily and so they play actually high-percentage (soccer).
“They’ll be actually robust on Tuesday.”
Asofa-Solomona hasn’t performed since struggling a knee harm within the Storm’s round-two shock loss to the Bulldogs in early March, with seventh-placed Melbourne producing a blended bag of outcomes since.
In that match, the 28-year-old Kiwi worldwide used his brute energy to crash over the road for a strive, injuring his knee within the course of.
Welch mentioned it was good to have the ability to name on Asofa-Solomona for such a giant recreation, significantly with one other huge man, Tui Kamikamica, suspended for 2 weeks after a dangerous-tackle cost in final week’s loss to Manly.
Fullback Nick Meaney has overcome concussion signs and also will return to the beginning line-up.
“We have actually missed (Asofa-Solomona’s) physicality and aggression the previous couple of weeks,” Welch mentioned.
“It is good timing with Tui getting rubbed out for 2 weeks.
“Nelson is absolutely passionate concerning the Anzac – he is a proud Kiwi and he actually loves going up in opposition to the Warriors, the membership that represents the nation that he is from.”
Queensland State of Origin common Welch mentioned Melbourne’s inconsistent type had not been helped by penalties.
They’ve 5 gamers, together with vice-captains Harry Grant, Jahrome Hughes and Cameron Munsters, inside the highest 50 most-penalised gamers over the opening seven rounds.
“It has been fairly disappointing. We’re one of many most-penalised groups within the competitors if not the most-penalised crew,” he mentioned.
“We discuss attempting to construct strain and grind groups down and it is actually onerous to do if you’re serving to groups out with penalties and marching them down-field.”
