Round 26
Storm 30 d. Sea Eagles 20

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

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

Storm dents Manly's finals hopes
Sun September 3, 2006
Source: www.melbournestorm.com.au

Melbourne Storm welcomed back former favourite sons Steven Bell and Matt Orford by delivering a harsh blow to their chances of winning the 2006 premiership, defeating the Sea Eagles 30-20 in a pulsating encounter at Olympic Park.

The win means the Storm has won 20 games during the home and away season, their best effort in the history of the club since winning 17 games in the it's inaugural season.

The loss means Manly will now travel away from Brookvale Oval in the first week of the finals.

With NRL CEO David Gallop presenting the Storm with the J.J Giltinan Shield for finishing on top of the ladder after the home and away season after the game, Melbourne were in the mood early to make sure it was done in a festive atmosphere in front of a huge home crowd of 13,991 people.

First-half tries to Greg Inglis, Cam Smith and Michael Crocker was enough to send the home team in at the break leading 16-10, with Bell and Michael Robertson crossing the stripe to keep the visitors in the game.

The second-half started poorly for the Storm with Sea Eagles fullback Brett Stewart crossing to give his team a flicker of hope.

However, the Storm began to find holes in the Manly defence and Matt Geyer extended Melbourne's lead when he flew high to score in the corner.

A try to Steve Turner and a penalty conversion by Smith right at the death gave the Storm an impressive victory, with a Steve Matai try adding some respectability to the Manly scoreline.

STORM 30 (Tries: Inglis, C. Smith, Crocker, Geyer, Turner; Goals: C. Smith 5) def. SEA EAGLES 20 (Tries: Bell, Robertson, Stewart, Matai; Goals: Orford 2)

News Sent by: www.melbournestorm.com.au

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