LeagueNews.co | Cooper McEnroe
Xavier Coates is set to play his 100th NRL game on Thursday night, but the talented winger is not in a celebratory mood after the Storm's disappointing performance.
Their recent loss to Manly, where they conceded a late penalty goal despite Coates scoring three tries, snapped his winning streak at AAMI Park, marking his first defeat there since 2022.
Coates is currently tied with Roosters winger Mark Nawaqanitawase for the season's try tally at 13.
While Coates won the try of the year award last season, Nawaqanitawase has already secured this year's honor.
However, Coates emphasizes that individual scoring isn't his primary concern after the Storm's lackluster statistics, which revealed that the team completed only 71 percent of their sets and gave away two critical penalties.
These mistakes have dropped the Storm to third place, making their upcoming match against the Roosters particularly challenging.
Reflecting on the team's issues, Coates remarked, "We've had some really tough conversations over the last few days in the review of the game, and the discipline wasn't up to scratch.
We weren't completing like we usually do, and it was an off game for all of us boys, but we're looking to bounce back on Thursday and we know we're coming up against another quality opposition in the Roosters, so we've got to be on the 'A' game." This highlights the Storm's need for improvement and readiness ahead of a vital clash.