Melbourne Storm are gearing up to face the Newcastle Knights, with a focus on containing the threat posed by star fullback Kalyn Ponga. After successfully neutralizing James Tedesco in their recent 18-4 victory over the Sydney Roosters, the Storm are now tasked with a similar challenge against Ponga at AAMI Park on Friday night.

Storm's Dominance Against the Knights

Melbourne boasts a remarkable record against Newcastle, remaining unbeaten at home since 2015 and winning 13 of their last 15 encounters. However, with the Knights currently sitting fourth on the ladder and riding a four-game winning streak, Storm coach Craig Bellamy acknowledges the potential for the visitors to break this trend.

Bellamy's Strategy

In a statement to AAP, Bellamy highlighted the importance of Ponga and teammate Dylan Brown in Newcastle's recent success. He remarked, "I always think that the Knights are fairly consistent with their performances and their teams and this year they're right up there, in the top four, so they're obviously doing a lot of things well." He emphasized the need for his team to execute their game plan effectively to secure a win.

As for the Storm's lineup, captain Harry Grant trained separately from the main group but is not expected to miss the match. Grant, who came off the bench against the Roosters, may play a similar role against Newcastle to manage his workload ahead of the upcoming second Origin match.

Knights Adjustments

Newcastle will be making adjustments to their squad, as No.6 Sandon Smith is sidelined due to a calf injury. Fletcher Sharpe will step into the playmaker role, while Fletcher Hunt has been promoted from the bench to fill the centre position. Coach Justin Holbrook expressed confidence in his team's ability to compete, noting that despite their current league position, Melbourne still possesses world-class talent.

As the Storm prepare to defend their impressive home record, the clash against the Knights promises to be a compelling matchup, with both teams eager to assert their dominance.