They will square off on Monday night in a top-four blockbuster and this week on NRL Breakdown, Matt Elliott demonstrates exactly why the Raiders and the Storm are two of the best teams in the competition.

Draw Widget - Round 23 - Raiders vs Storm



Elliott highlights the combination between Cameron Smith and Cooper Cronk and how both players are always looking to pick defences apart. The Storm like to work to a certain part of the field and then unleash players in motion with both Smith and Cronk presented with options to tear a defence to shreds.

Smith goes to the line at speed with a short option, but then links with Cronk who also has the option to play short to Kevin Proctor, or out the back to Munster, causing constant headaches for defences.

The Raiders are a team packed full of damaging ball runners and they use that to full affect to bulldoze their way through opposition teams. They are the leading point-scorers in the competition and Elliott demonstrates why it is no fluke.

"Tackle technique against the Raiders has to be spot on, otherwise they'll hurt you," Elliott says.

Every player has a great carry and runs hard, and it forces defences to respect the player carrying the ball and commit players to the tackle, but it also gives playmakers Josh Hodgson, Aiden Sezer and Blake Austin the chance to either use their passing game, or to take the line on themselves against tired defences.

Get set for a blockbuster clash by watching the video below.