Round 13
Storm 20 d. Roosters 16

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

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

Geyer celebrates 200th game with a win
Sat June 3, 2006
Source: www.melbournestorm.com.au

Melbourne Storm celebrated Matt Geyer's 200th NRL game with a hard fought 20-16 victory over the Sydney Roosters, extending the club's unbeaten run at Olympic Park to 10 wins.

The Storm players were keen to get a win on the board for Geyer, one of only two foundation players left at the club.

"He's a good club man, he's well liked and we wanted to do something special for him," said Storm captain David Kidwell.

"He's a real family man and is looked up to by all of the young fellas, and even us senior blokes, so we wanted this milestone to be one to remember."

Although it was Geyer's milestone game, the biggest cheer of the night was reserved for the entrance of Billy Slater who was given his chance in the 54th minute.

"We want to give him as much footy as we can, but at the same time we can't take any risks that will hurt the team on the night," said coach Craig Bellamy.

"I was very happy with his involvement. He made a couple of tough runs for us, but we just wanted him to go out there and play the percentages for us tonight.

"In the next few weeks he'll be getting a lot more football than that."

The Storm went into the half-time break leading 12-4 with tries from Steve Turner, and yet another that will feature on the Greg Inglis highlight reel, the reply coming from Roosters centre Ryan Cross.

However, it was several other incidents that will create most of the first-half talking points.

The first came when Turner appeared to catch a Cooper Cronk kick in the in-goal area before putting the ball down close to the dead ball line. But the touch judge ruled he had spilled the ball and play resumed without the referee even bothering to go upstairs for a look.

The second talking point came when both Ashley Harrison and Lopini Paea of the Roosters lifted Ben Cross into a dangerous position, before dropping him onto his head. When it looked like one or both players may have been given a 10 minute rest, the referee decided a stiff talking to and being placed on report was enough.

"I thought he (Cross) copped a few knocks before that actually, they got stuck into him a bit," said Bellamy.

"I think he's ok. He was a bit stunned when he actually got tipped on his head, but he went back on so there's not too much wrong with him."

The second half saw more of the same from both sides, as neither team was prepared to give an inch.

First to score was Jake Webster, extending the Storm's lead, before the Roosters hit back, first through Vince Mellars and then a classic from Amos Roberts, skipping past Inglis on his way to the posts to tie up the scores.

However, Inglis decided enough was enough, and took matters into his own hands.

From dummy-half, Inglis faked before scooting past a defender to cross the stripe and restore the Storm's lead.

For the final 15 minutes, the Storm absorbed everything the Roosters could throw at them, and at the final whistle the Storm had secured a well deserved win.

"It was a tight old game, especially those last couple of sets on our line," said Bellamy.

"I thought it was a really high quality game. They defended well and we defended well. I thought we held our composure really well.

"I haven't got too many complaints about the performance."

Report sent by: www.melbournestorm.com.au

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