Round 6
Panthers 18 l. Storm 40

2006 NRL Telstra Premiership Index [Table] [Draw] [Player Stats] [Club Headlines]

Location: Aus_NZ > National > First Grade Competition: NRL Telstra Premiership

Penrith Panthers
Lee Hookey [WG] 12 Pts; 3t
Danny Galea [CT] 4 Pts; 1t
Preston Campbell [F8] 2 Pts; 1/4g

Melbourne Storm
Cameron Smith [BE] 16 Pts; 1t, 6/8g
Greg Inglis [WG] 12 Pts; 3t
Matt King [CT] 4 Pts; 1t
Ryan Hoffman [CT] 4 Pts; 1t
Michael Crocker [SR] 4 Pts; 1t



Crocker returns to inspire Storm to victory
Sun April 16, 2006
Source: www.melbournestorm.com.au

Melbourne Storm produced a second-half which displayed their true potential, thrashing the Panthers 40-18 at Hindmarsh Stadium in Adelaide to provide the 7,017 South Australian fans with a special performance they are sure to remember for a long time.

Although the Storm were missing fullback Billy Slater and five-eighth Scott Hill through suspension, Inglis provided more than adequate cover in the last line of defence scoring a hat-trick and providing his team with a calm and assured display.

The game didn't start well for the Panthers with their captain Tony Puletua injuring his ribs in a bone crunching tackle in only the second minute.

The loss of their inspiring front-rower meant a reshuffle in their defensive line and Storm centre Matt King took full advantage of a crack in their defence to score just a minute later.

It almost got worse for the Panthers when Craig Gower, who came into the game with internal bruising, got up rather gingerly from another big hit. However, after a few minutes Gower was able to shake off any ill-effects.

Storm extended their lead to 6-0 in the 12th minute when the Panthers were penalised for holding down in the tackle and Cam Smith made no mistake converting the penalty from right in front.

Four minutes later Melbourne were at it again with Cronk finding Cam Smith with a beautiful inside ball to score under the posts. Smith picked himself up to convert and make the score 12-0.

The next 20 minutes was an arm wrestle with both sides defence on top.

However, with five minutes of the first half remaining, constant Penrith pressure stretched the Storm defence to breaking point and centre Danny Galea took full advantage to get his teams first points on the board.

The Storm suffered a body blow when Panthers winger Lee Hookey scored in the corner to send them in at the half-time break with their tails up and only two points down.

The second half started with both sides having several good chances to stamp their authority on the game.

However it was second-rower cum centre Ryan Hoffman who got the scoreboard ticking over first as the Storm played the ball on the fifth tackle and Hoffman barged his way over a couple of defenders to get the ball over the line.

A critical moment in the game came in the 20th minute when piece of Greg Inglis magic, using Mick Crocker as a decoy, saw him completely bamboozle the Panthers defence to score under the posts.

However, the referee sent it upstairs and the video referee who, after lengthy deliberation, ruled Crocker hadn't interfered and the try would stand.

Minutes later the Storm were at it again, and once again it was that man Inglis who provided the finishing touches to wonderful interchange play between Cronk and Crocker, stretching the lead to handy 26-10 with 15 minutes remaining.

A minute later Inglis completed a remarkable seven minute hat-trick, and once again it was Crocker who provided the line break and the final pass to all but wrap up the game as a contest.

The rout continued only moments later when, in contrast to the previous couple of tries, it was Inglis who broke the line before off-loading to the rampaging Crocker who scored under the posts.

In the final few minutes, Hookey scored a couple of consolation tries, but it was all too little too late as the Melbourne side ran out worthy winners, 40-18.

After a couple of defeats before the bye last weekend, coach Craig Bellamy was pleased with his teams performance.

I was pretty happy with the way they played tonight," said Bellamy.

"They're (Penrith) a good team this year, they've been playing really well and they hurt us a bit with a couple of tries just before half-time. But the boys were pretty confident that we could go out and do the job in the second-half and we certainly completed our sets well in the second-half and we defended well.

"The last couple of weeks we haven't played very well but we found our form tonight."

Michael Crocker?s performance was one Bellamy was happy to talk about.

"The three games he's played this year we've won and the two games he hasn't we've lost," said Bellamy.

"Michael Crocker's a winner and he's really important for our footy team."

News sent by: www.melbournestorm.com.au

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