Lara Pitt and Laurie Daley preview the round eight clash between the Storm and the Warriors.
Collingwood’s Dane Swan and Storm's Kevin Proctor will both be playing on ANZAC Day. Source: News Corp Australia
COLLINGWOOD and Essendon is the biggest sporting show in town on Anzac Day, but Melbourne Storm insists its annual fixture is also here to stay.
Storm will to meet the NZ Warriors on Friday in the sixth clash between the two clubs on the sacred day since the inaugural AAMI Park clash in 2009.
A sell out last season, Friday’s clash is heading in the same direction — vindicating the decision by Melbourne’s former bosses many years ago to strongly lobby the NRL for the fixture.
Melbourne Storm captain Cameron Smith believes his side's defensive frailties this season can be put down to a lack of mental toughness and believes the ANZAC Day clash against the Warriors can steady the ship.
Just over 28,000 tickets had been sold last night, putting the AAMI Park record across all codes of 29,442 — set at the 2010 Anzac Test between Australia and New Zealand — well in sight.
Storm chief executive Mark Evans said he believed the game was now an important part of Melbourne’s sporting landscape.
“The odds are every single ticket in the ground will be allocated, including the 1500 corporate seats,” he said.
“I think the Anzac Day game has now established itself as part of the sporting calendar in Melbourne.”
Evans said the club would push hard to ensure the NRL continues to make it an annual fixture at AAMI Park.
Collingwood star Dane Swan and Melbourne Storm's Kevin Proctor will both be playing on ANZAC Day. Source: News Corp Australia
“I think we all recognise all the hard work that has gone into the Melbourne market,” he said.
“And it goes without saying that you want to keep your most popular game in that market.”
Storm forward Kevin Proctor said it was an occasion every Melbourne player loved to be a part of.
“I love playing Anzac Day here — it’s certainly a very special day and we all look forward to it,” he said.
“The crowd we get is great and there are a lot of Kiwi supporters that come as fans of the Warriors.
“It’s pretty much a home crowd for them as well.
“I love being a part of it — the atmosphere is unreal and I’m sure it’s the same in the AFL (for Collingwood and Essendon).”
It seems NRL clubs are unperturbed by Benji Marshall's failings in rugby union, with Cronulla, Melbourne Storm and St George among the early contenders to nab the halfback.
In recent years, Proctor has become friends with Collingwood star Dane Swan — who can often be found at Storm games.
He is one of a number of Collingwood players that has a keen interest in the Storm.
The Kiwi-born second-rower said he often returned the favour.
“He (Swan) has converted me — I’m a Pies supporter now,” Proctor said.
“I’ve been to a few games this year and that was great.
“I lived in WA for a couple of years, so I played it (Aussie Rules) with my mates over there.
“I didn’t have too much to do with it, but I liked going to the games.”
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