Round 2
Canberra Raiders 16 l. Melbourne Storm 32

2007 NRL Telstra Premiership Index [Table] [Draw] [Player Stats] [Club Headlines]

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

Storm brilliance sees off Raiders
Mon March 26, 2007
Source: www.melbournestorm.com.au

The Melbourne Storm overcame difficult conditions tonight in the nation's capital, running out 32-16 winners against a committed Canberra Raiders. The wooden spoon favourites could do nothing to match the overall class of the Storm who will go into next week's game against the Warriors equal Telstra Premiership leaders.

The win made it ten wins in a row for the Storm against Canberra, and such is Melbourne's hold on their northern rival that the Raiders' players would have been forgiven for looking out their windows this morning to catch a sight of flying pigs. Unfortunately for them, the only thing to be seen was constant rain, and the consolation that the slippery conditions provided a playing field where flash and flair were put to the side for ball control and possession football.

After last week's disappointed with his side's discipline, Storm coach Craig Bellamy was content with Melbourne's performance given Canberra's desire to prove a few critics wrong.

"We expected an ambush and we got it," said Bellamy.

"They played really well but I thought our guys were really professional with the way they handled it and we're glad to come away with the win.

"Our attack's still got a little way to go, but certainly we scored some good tries tonight I thought. It showed the talent in our team and the pace in our team. But certainly in defence I thought we were tremendous.

"We had a fair bit of luck tonight, but I'd like to think we made our own luck. I thought it was a pretty professional performance against a team that was very enthusiastic and defended pretty well too."

Much like Round one, sustained pressure in the opening ten minutes of the match saw the Storm line under siege. Melbourne's defence held strong until Raiders' five-eight Todd Carney opened the scoring with a fine solo effort, weaving through a bewildered Storm defence and planting the ball under the black dot.

It wasn't long until Melbourne's number six, Greg Inglis, got into the action with his own touch of magic. A kick option from Inglis saw the ball launched high into the night sky from 35 metres out. The Raiders defence stood back and watched instead of contesting the ball, and a fortuitous bounce into the arms of Matt Geyer had the Storm fans on their seat as he planted the ball near the western touchline.

After squandering good field possession following the restart, the Storm were made to pay when deep in their own half Carney kicked early. The ball ran parallel to the east touchline for 70 metres before Phil Graham won the race to the pill, stretching the home side's lead to six as he tumbled over the try-line.

The Raiders failed to capitalise on their momentum and a knock-on 30 metres out gave the Storm a chance to get back in the game.

Inglis was involved again, this time holding the ball, fending, accelerating and then offloading to an eager Billy Slater who continued his first-rate early-season form, eroding the Raiders' lead to two points.

It got worse for the home side when Jindabyne-born Brett White ended the first-half in the best possible way for the Storm, breaking the line after a flat Cameron Smith pass. Smith completed his first conversion of the evening and Melbourne entered the dressing rooms with the sniff of victory. However, with a number of handling errors, and some worrying defensive lapses, it was by no means a commanding performance.

It was anyone's game as the second-half began, but it didn't take long for the Strom to assert their authority in spectacular fashion with a length of the field try. A trademark line break by Slater was capped off when the speedster offloaded to Geyer, who linked with Michael Crocker and finally Brett White, the mountain man nabbing a rare prop's double by crossing the line near the western touchline.

The Raiders, to their credit, didn't throw in the towel, crossing out wide soon after when a succession of passes caught the Storm's eastern defence napping. Michael Dobson converted Colin Best's try and Melbourne's lead was back to four points.

Slater, though, was in the mood tonight and after a brilliant Anthony Quinn offload was picked-up by Crocker, the Storm's fullback unleashed a blitzing run, eventually connecting with Israel Folau, who made it two tries from two games in his debut season.

The game was put beyond doubt a short while later. Melbourne's halves combination of Cooper Cronk and Inglis 'clicked' with style, confusing the defence with changes of pace and presenting Folau with his second try of the evening.

With Slater starring, and other players blowing off early-season cobwebs, the Storm will return to Melbourne deserving winners.

STORM 32 (Tries: White 2, Folau 2, Geyer, Slater; Goals: C. Smith 4) def. RAIDERS 16 (Tries: Carney, Graham, Best; Goals: Dobson 2).

Report source: www.melbournestorm.com.au


Raiders to pay their respects to Club Patron
Fri March 23, 2007
Source: www.raiders.com.au

The Canberra Raiders will wear black arm bands during tomorrow nights match against the Melbourne Storm at Canberra Stadium, as a mark of respect for the passing of their former club patron Margaret Daly.

Ms Daly Passed away late last year and will be sorely missed by not only everyone associated with the Raiders, but the rugby league community in general.

In a letter to the club earlier this month her brother Lawrie Daly said his sister's passing had brought a long family association with the club to a sad close, after their father Fred Daly's heavy involvement in getting the Raiders admitted into the then NSWRL.

"Margaret's passing sadly brings to an end fifty years of the family's association with Rugby League clubs as our late father Fred Daly had been patron of Newtown since 1956, before having the same honoured role with the Raiders," Mr Daly said.

Raiders general manager Don Furner said the Margaret's passing had been a sad time for the club, but he hoped everyone could remember the wonderful contribution she made to the Raiders on all levels.

Furner said, "Margaret always caught the bus down from Sydney each weekend to watch the players, and there was always a letter of support faxed through to the coach and team on a weekly basis.

"Added to this Margaret always made an impact when she spoke in public, with many memorable speeches at club functions and presentation nights."

News sent by: www.raiders.com.au

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