Round 22
Storm 46 d. Tigers 4

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

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

Webster equals club record in dominant Storm display
Sat August 5, 2006
Source: www.melbournestorm.com.au

Melbourne Storm's hot streak has continued with a convincing 46-4 victory over Wests Tigers in front of another strong crowd of 12,481 at Olympic Park.

The win, their 15th at Olympic Park and 10th in the league, continues the Storm's dominance over the reigning premiers who have never beaten the Melbourne team away from their Leichhardt Oval home base.

The victory was all the more impressive with Storm coach Craig Bellamy electing to rest Test player Matt King and Queensland State of Origin lock Dallas Johnson from the game.

However, David Kidwell came back into the team after being rested last week, and in his own words, "had a spring in his step" he had been lacking in recent weeks.

The Storm were quickly out of the blocks scoring in the seventh minute when winger Steve Turner crossed for his first try in the corner.

Centre Jake Webster crossed for his first five minutes later, and the signs were not looking good for Wests with the Storm piling on the pressure at every opportunity.

Another try to Webster extended the Storm lead to 16-0 before Wests Tigers centre Jomaal Lolesi scored in the dying minutes of the first half to give the visitors some hope.

The second half didn't start well for the Tigers with hooker Cameron Smith extending the lead from a penalty conversion in the opening minutes.

Greg Inglis got in on the act with a try of his own just minutes later, and when a Billy Slater grubber kick behind the defence found Turner with millimetres to spare in the corner for his second, you could tell it was going to be Melbourne's night.

Webster then got his third and fourth tries in the space of four minutes to equal Matt Geyer and Aaron Moule's club record for most tries in a match, and the icing was put on the cake when Geyer crossed for a try of his own with less than a minute remaining.

The only worrying sign for the Storm was the report of front rower Brett White for a late, high tackle on Lolesi, although replays suggest the initial contact may have been to shoulder.

Report sent by: www.melbournestorm.com.au

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