The Storm are desperate to get back on track after an uncharacteristic slump that has put their hopes of finishing in the top four under threat.
Coming off four straight losses, the scene is set for a big bounce back victory for a side that rarely drops it standards for long under the watchful eye of Craig Bellamy.
Yet not every tipster is convinced the Storm will have it all their own way against the Warriors on Friday night, with a trip to Auckland a tricky curve-ball, particularly given the Warriors’ history of stirring performances against Melbourne.
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The Kiwi side has often played above expectations against the Storm, although their most recent clash resulted in a thumping 70-10 win for Bellamy’s men on Anzac Day.
At that point in the season, the Storm were firming as favourites to win the premiership, with a series of emphatic wins separating them from the pack before a reality check loss to the Panthers in round 10.
They’ve been wildly inconsistent since that match, and have now slid to fifth place on the ladder, with the Rabbitohs and Eels in sixth and seventh breathing down their neck.
Speaking on Wide World of Sports’ Six Tackles with Gus podcast, Gould said he was not convinced the Storm turnaround would start this week.
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“Warriors got belted by the Storm earlier in the year… They got absolutely lapped by them,” Gould said.
“So you’d imagine they’ll be looking for some sort of resilience and bounce back against them in front of their home fans. Their only home game so far they’ve won and they’ve picked a pretty good side.
“Traditionally I think they’ve got a pretty good record against them, but in that Anzac Day clash at the beginning of the year… You keep looking at these names here and thinking, well, why not Melbourne Storm.
“But it’s hard. I would not be surprised at all if there’s an upset. I really wouldn’t. I would not be surprised at all.
“It sounds stupid tipping against the Storm but if I’d done that the last four weeks I’d be four better off wouldn’t I?”
Scroll below for the current leaderboard and Round 20 tips by Andrew Johns and all Nine’s expert tipsters!
Brad Fittler: Roosters, Storm, Panthers, Raiders, Sharks, Broncos, Bulldogs, Cowboys
Andrew Johns: Roosters, Storm, Panthers, Raiders, Sharks, Broncos, Knights, Dragons
Billy Slater: Roosters, Storm, Eels, Raiders, Sharks, Broncos, Knights, Cowboys
Wally Lewis: Sea Eagles, Storm, Panthers, Raiders, Sharks, Broncos, Bulldogs, Cowboys
Paul Gallen: Roosters, Storm, Eels, Titans, Sharks, Tigers, Bulldogs, Dragons
Ruan Sims: Roosters, Storm, Panthers, Raiders, Sharks, Broncos, Bulldogs, Dragons
Johnathan Thurston: Roosters, Storm, Panthers, Raiders, Rabbitohs, Broncos, Bulldogs, Cowboys
Mat Thompson: Roosters, Storm, Panthers, Raiders, Sharks, Broncos, Bulldogs, Cowboys
Dave Middleton: Roosters, Storm, Panthers, Raiders, Sharks, Broncos, Bulldogs, Cowboys
Peter Psaltis: Roosters, Storm, Panthers, Raiders, Sharks, Broncos, Bulldogs, Cowboys
The Mole: Roosters, Storm, Panthers, Raiders, Sharks, Broncos, Bulldogs, Cowboys
Ben Glover: Roosters, Storm, Eels, Raiders, Rabbitohs, Broncos, Bulldogs, Cowboys
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