NRL Opta facts: Roosters' impressive SCG record, Croker nearing milestone

Sydney Roosters will be aiming to extend an impressive run at the Sydney Cricket Ground when they face Melbourne Storm in the NRL preliminary finals on Saturday.

However, the minor premiers have been difficult to beat away from AAMI Park and will be out to avenge their Grand Final defeat to the Roosters last year and reach the showpiece for the fourth straight year.

The victors will take on either Canberra Raiders or South Sydney Rabbitohs, who meet at GIO Stadium on Friday.

The Raiders have not won in Canberra since a 20-12 win over the Wests Tigers in July, and the Bunnies have been impressive on the road.

Ahead of the penultimate weekend of the NRL season, we look at the best Opta facts.

Canberra Raiders v South Sydney Rabbitohs

- This will be the fourth time the Raiders and the Rabbitohs have met in the NRL finals – and the first time in the nation's capital – with Ricky Stuart's men having won two of their previous three such encounters.

- Canberra will be vying to reach their first NRL Grand Final since 1994 – the longest drought of any active team to have made at least one appearance in the title decider.

- Souths have won all six of their matches outside New South Wales this year, their most in a single season in the NRL era.

- Cody Walker has been directly involved in seven tries in his last four NRL games against the Raiders (four tries, three assists); he has also crossed for the opening score of the match in each of their last two meetings.

- Jarrod Croker is just 16 shy of becoming the seventh player in premiership history to score 2,000 points.

Watching over our turf #WeAreRaiders #WEARECBR #NRLFinals pic.twitter.com/qgAVn8GQZq

— Canberra Raiders (@RaidersCanberra) September 24, 2019

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Sydney Roosters v Melbourne Storm

- Five of the past six NRL games between the Roosters and the Storm have been decided by a margin of three points or fewer, with each team picking up three wins in that span.

- The Roosters have won their last nine NRL outings at the SCG and by an average margin of 29 points per game, not once conceding more than 12 points in that run.

- Melbourne have won eight straight away matches in the NRL; the last time they enjoyed a longer winning streak on the road within a single season was a nine-game stretch in 2011.

- The Storm have won nine of their past 11 preliminary finals, including their last three on the bounce across which they have conceded a total of just 18 points.

- Melbourne have averaged 6.5 line breaks per game this season, more than any other team in the NRL.

Storm and NRL games for Kenny this weekend Go well Kenny! pic.twitter.com/rKJY19dWoi

— Melbourne Storm (@storm) September 25, 2019

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