Round 10
Storm 18 d. Cowboys 6

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

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

Storm clear on top
Sun May 14, 2006
Melbourne Storm avenged their 40-8 drubbing in Townsville in Round 3, claiming outright top spot on the NRL ladder in the process by defeating the North Queensland Cowboys 18-6 at Olympic Park in front of 10,830 fans.

The win ended a three game losing streak at the hands of the Cowboys for Melbourne, including last year's heartbreaking semi-final loss in Sydney.

The build up to the game was enormous, with Storm CEO igniting the fuse during the week, claiming the club was going to show the Cowboys who was boss at "The Graveyard", and the players didn't let him down.

First to cross the try line was Storm back-rower David Kidwell who was put into space after wonderful lead up play by Scott Hill, Adam Blair and Dallas Johnson.

Then it was Matt King's turn to increase the Storm lead when Steve Turner made a break down the wing to get his teammate within a couple of metres of the try line.

After the break, the Storm were determined not to let their first-half intensity drop, and when Cam Smith put his team 14-0 up after converting a penalty from right in front 10 minutes into the second-half, the Cowboys started to throw everything they had at them.

The next 20 minutes was the kind of arm wrestle you would expect from the two top teams in the competition, but when Cam Smith decided to go alone from dummy half on the fifth tackle, his strength and perseverance was rewarded with the try that sealed the game for the Storm.

In the dying seconds, the Cowboys saved their own blushes when Brenton Bowen scored in the corner to at least take something from the game.

The win elevates Melbourne Storm to top of the table, two points clear of the Cowboys and Broncos before Sunday's games, a position even Storm coach Craig Bellamy didn't expect at the beginning of the season.

"It's a nice feeling," said Bellamy.

"I don't think anyone expected us to be there at the start of the year, but as I just said to the players, it's only Round 10 and there's a long way to go."

Queensland State-of-Origin coach Mal Meninga would have been in front of his television at home salivating at the prospect of having both the Storm's Greg Inglis and Cowboys Matt Bowen in his Maroons line-up.

Bellamy said, "A couple of special players out there those fullbacks.

"He (Inglis) made a goose of me again tonight. I don't think I'll be seeing him this week and he goes with all of my blessings."

Storm's next home game is on Sunday, May 28th against the Panthers starting at 2:30pm.

Report sent by: www.melbournestorm.com.au

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