Round 12
Melbourne Storm 26 d. South Sydney Rabbitohs 10

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

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

Storm too good for plucky Bunnies
Sun June 3, 2007
Source: www.melbournestorm.com.au

The Melbourne Storm delivered a composed performance last night, overcoming the South Sydney Rabbitohs 26-10 at Olympic Park. The game was punctuated by some spectacular tries and committed defense by both teams, but the Storm's class showed through in the end.

To their credit, though, Souths were no walkovers and initially at least Melbourne found them tough to crack.

"Apart from Manly, I thought that they were the best defensive team we've come up against," said Storm captain Cameron Smith.

"There's not too much technicality about their defense, they just come up and stay square and it was hard for us to get any opportunities from them tonight. Until we started building some pressure in the second half, that's when the momentum started going our way.

"Certainly we didn't feel too comfortable until late in the game."

The opening stages of the match were patchy for the home team, but Melbourne's Jeremy Smith, missing from last week's loss to Manly, was back to his hard-hitting best.

Greg Inglis, meanwhile - reverting back to his fullback role, pushing Matt Geyer to five-eighth and Steve Turner to the wing - provided stealthy bursts of speed that kept the Rabbitohs guessing.

It was a penalty resulting from one of these Inglis specials that led to the Storm's first try.

From 20 metres out, Cameron Smith passed the ball long to Turner's wing. Nigel Vagana attempted an interception, but only managed to bat the ball into the Storm winger's hands. Turner homed-in on the try-line, eventually crossing it backwards with Vagana and Jeremy Smith (the Rabbitohs' half-back, not the Storm enforcer) trying in vain to hold the ball up.

Five minutes later Turner crossed in the same spot untouched. The video referee ruled 'No Try', however, adjudicating that Matt King's decoy run was an obstruction.

Shortly after the Storm were denied, the Rabbitohs got on the board when Dean Widders latched on to a short Jeremy Smith pass and crossed close to the uprights. The replay showed more than a hint of a forward pass and the 11,211-strong Storm faithful made their annoyance at referee Jared Maxwell's decision known.

In a blink, what looked like 12-0, became 6-6. The Storm, though, had been the better team throughout the half and one could sense that more points were only a formality.

The game very nearly didn't got to script as the second half commenced, the Storm having to dodge a bullet in the from of Nathan Merritt. An innocuous-looking kick from 50 metres out by Souths sat up perfectly in the in-goal for the Houdini-like winger who appeared from nowhere and was only centimetres away from grounding the ball before it went into touch.

The Storm rebounded in the best possible way; with a converted try. It came in the form of a perfect sequence of catching and passing by Cameron Smith, Cooper Cronk, Inglis and finally King, who scored untouched after Inglis drew two defenders and gave the centre a red-carpet ride to the try-line.

Breathing space then came thanks to a Cameron Smith penalty goal, which stretched the Storm's lead to eight points.

The lead extended further when Matt Geyer slipped through some less than desperate Souths defense in the 65th minute. It was the 99th try in Geyer's stellar career and proved once again that wherever Mr Versatility is slotted into the line-up, the job gets done.

With ten minutes to go the Rabittohs got a consolation try when some quality movement led to Shannon Hegarty scoring near the Western touchline.

This sparked a brief counter-initiative by Souths, but the Storm's defense was up to the task and remained resolute. To this end, no better sight was Israel Folau picking Merritt up and dumping him in to touch. The teenager showing so much strength that the WWE might be the next organisation keen on securing his services.

If Folau got the crowd excited, then Inglis sent them into ecstasy as the game concluded. Cronk launched a high bomb that was contested by Inglis and David Peachy. Flying parallel to the ground and close to six feet above it, he got to the ball first, but lost control. As the pill looked to be sailing into touch ahead of him, at full stretch, Inglis somehow managed to regather in the air and get the ball down. It was a case of pure magic as he scored his first try of the season.

As a bonus, the win was good enough to propel the Storm to the top of the NRL - and with a number of State-of-Origin stars missing next weekend, the Storm's depth will be tested when they take on the Warriors in New Zealand next Sunday afternoon.

STORM 26 (Tries: Turner, King, Geyer, Inglis; Goals: C. Smith 5) def. RABBITOHS 10 (Tries: Widders, Hegarty; Goals: Merritt).

Report sent by: www.melbournestorm.com.au


Peachey, Rogers and Rigon return, Williams in Premier League
Tue May 29, 2007
Source: www.souths.com.au

The South Sydney Rabbitohs are pleased to announce their side to take on the Melbourne
Storm in round 12 of the NRL Telstra Premiership this Saturday, 2 June at 7:30pm at Olympic
Park.
Head Coach Jason Taylor has made a number of changes to the side which took on the Gold Coast last Saturday night.

Fullback David Peachey returns to the side with Reece Simmonds going back to Premier League. Shannon Hegarty shifts from centre to wing, with Fetuli Talanoa taking a centre position. Paul Mellor returns to Premier League.

Jeremy Smith shifts to halfback with Ben Rogers coming into the five-eighth position. Joe Williams will play Premier League.

Stuart Webb will start the match at hooker with Daniel Irvine going back to Premier League.

Shane Rigon returns to the side from injury and Scott Geddes will start from the interchange bench following Jaiman Lowe's suspension.

The Rabbitohs NRL side is:

1. David Peachey
2. Nathan Merritt
3. Nigel Vagana
4. Fetuli Talanoa
5. Shannon Hegarty
6. Ben Rogers
7. Jeremy Smith
8. Peter Cusack (c)
9. Stuart Webb
10. Roy Asotasi (c)
11. Luke Stuart
12. David Fa'alogo
13. Dean Widders

Interchange:
14. Shane Rigon
15. Joe Galuvao
16. Manase Manuokafoa
17. Scott Geddes

Coach - Jason Taylor

News sent by: www.souths.com.au

Tue May 29, 2007
• Bellamy named 19-man squad for Rabbitohs clash
  

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