NRL Opta facts: Storm seeking more Munster magic
August 21, 2019 12:23 MYT
elbourne Storm can seal the minor premiership this week as the NRL season heads towards its conclusion.
The Storm are four points clear with three games to play and face bottom side Gold Coast Titans on Sunday.
A win in that game and defeat for Sydney Roosters at St George Illawarra Dragons will see Melbourne clinch top spot, while third-placed Canberra Raiders take on fourth-placed Manly Sea Eagles in a crucial clash between two teams out to ensure they cannot be eliminated in the first round of the Finals.
Here we look at the best Opta facts for this round of fixtures.
Thursday
Parramatta Eels (13-8) v Canterbury Bulldogs (8-13)
- The Bulldogs have made the most offloads (287) of any NRL team this year, 21 more than the Eels (266).
Friday
North Queensland Cowboys (7-14) v Penrith Panthers (10-11)
- The Panthers have retained the most kicks (145) of any team, 29 more than the Cowboys (116).
Brisbane Broncos (10-1-10) v South Sydney Rabbitohs (13-8)
- The Broncos have made the most tackle breaks (822) of any team this season, 146 more than the Rabbitohs (676).
Jimmy the Jet's stats since his return to Redfern... 5 linebreaks 2 try assists 34 tackle breaks 105 average metres per game#GoRabbitohs pic.twitter.com/ROTEH2kmof
— South Sydney Rabbitohs (@SSFCRABBITOHS) August 21, 2019
Saturday
Cronulla Sharks (10-11) v New Zealand Warriors (8-1-12)
- Six of the last seven NRL games between Cronulla and the Warriors have been decided by a margin of four points or fewer, including a 19-18 win for the New Zealanders in their last meeting.
Wests Tigers (9-12) v Newcastle Knights (9-12)
- The Knights have scored 37 tries through the middle-third of the field, only the Storm (45) have got more through that corridor this term.
St George Illawarra Dragons (7-14) v Sydney Roosters (15-6)
- The Dragons have made the most tackles per game (369) of any team in NRL this year, 30 more than the Roosters (339).
Has Munster got the ball on a string!? #NRL pic.twitter.com/NQ1VbsMB3Q
— NRL (@NRL) August 20, 2019
Sunday
Melbourne Storm (17-4) v Gold Coast Titans (4-17)
- The Titans have scored the joint-most tries (five, also Manly Sea Eagles) on the zero tackle in a set of any NRL team in 2019.