Round 10
Melbourne Storm 26 d. Sydney Roosters 2

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

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

Storm's young guns shine
Sun May 20, 2007
Source: www.melbournestorm.com.au

It was a new-look Melbourne Storm who ran onto Olympic Park tonight, but the result remained the same. The Sydney Roosters had no answers as the Storm overcame an absence of six regular first-graders with an imposing 26-2 victory.

The State of Origin period was always going to be tough for the Storm and coach Craig Bellamy was full of praise for his team.

"I really enjoyed the young blokes' performances. They really aimed-up and aimed-up well," said Bellamy.

"But more than anything I must say that I enjoyed our senior players, they were just simply outstanding. They just led the way."

The opening exchanges of the first half saw neither side dominating or sustaining any pressure on the opposition's line. Most of the play was up the middle of the field. The conservative approach probably a result of a total of nine players across both teams on State of Origin duty.

An early highlight for the Storm featured Billy Slater shoulder charging Roosters' winger John Williams not just into touch. It was a huge hit, with members of the 9354-strong crowd ducking for cover with Williams looking like he was about to be launched into the grandstand.

With ten minutes remaining in the half, the Roosters received a penalty that was converted by Craig Fitzgibbon.

The Storm looked flat and Ryan Hoffman finally woke Melbourne from its slumber with his customary 'charge onto a ball by Cooper Cronk close to the line'. It was his sixth four-pointer of the season and the big second-rower has become somewhat of a try-scoring machine this season.

Realising that the home side looked their best when they were treading on a familiar path, the next time they were at striking distance of the Roosters' line Cronk slipped the ball to Israel Folau -- the only player to score more tries than Hoffman.

With Nigel Plum, Shaun Kenny-Dowall and Sam Perrett hanging off him, the teenager out-muscled the Roosters trio, grounded the ball and sent the Storm into sheds leading 10-2.

It might have been the opportunity to show up his younger brother Mitchell, who was playing five-eighth for the Roosters, but one player to benefit from the Melbourne's representative commitments was utility James Aubusson. Stepping into the shoes of the Storm's most consistent player Cameron Smith was never going to be easy, but the former Rooster was superb in his dummy half runs and delivery.

His sweetest moment will probably be a monster 40-20 kick that gave the Storm possession five metres out from the Roosters line.

The hooker was in the action again soon after, feeding the ball to a hungry Jeff Lima who bustled his way over the line for his first try in Melbourne colours.

The match was sealed for the Storm with ten minutes to go. Off the back of some quick passes by Aubusson and Cronk, debutant Will Chambers accelerated through some tired defence to score near the western touchline.

Slater provided the cherry on top. Picking the ball up from dummy half close to the eastern touchline, the fullback exchanged passes with Matt Bartlett and then caught the Roosters napping and crossed the try-line. It was a well-deserved result for Slater, who responded to his Origin non-selection by producing a strong game in attack and defence.

Bellamy was full of praise for 'The Kid'.

"He was really safe for us. He scored a try for us and I think it wouldn't be many players who could score that try," said Bellamy.

"The thing I like about Billy is that he's still got the ability to enthrall everybody with his pace and footwork, but he just does so much cleaning up for us now, too.

"Three years ago he could score one for you, but probably give one away for you too. But that's out of his game now. He's a complete footballer."

Next week will be a big one for the Storm, with five players away on Origin duty followed by a top-of-the-table clash at Brookvale Oval against the Manly Sea Eagles. Tonight tough, they proved that depth is not something that Melbourne is missing.

STORM 26 (Tries: Hoffman, Folau, Lima, Chambers, Slater; Goals: Turner 3) def. ROOSTERS 2 (Goal: C. Fitzgibbon)

News sent by: www.melbournestorm.com.au


Storm Round 10 v Roosters Game Notes
Fri May 18, 2007
Source: www.melbournestorm.com.au

Melbourne Storm bounced back from their loss to the Tigers in Round 8 to defeat the Bulldogs 38-14 at Olympic Park on Monday night.

The win means the Storm are equal on points (16) with Manly at the head of the NRL ladder.

Cooper Cronk was sensational at halfback for the Storm, scoring two tries and setting up three others in a clear best-on-ground performance and was deservedly voted the Storm's players'-player-of-the-week.

The Sydney Roosters scored a confidence boosting 24-18 win over the Gold Coast Titans, which means they are equal with Brisbane, Penrith and St George on six points.

WHO: Melbourne Storm v Sydney Roosters
WHAT: Round 10 of the 2007 Telstra Premiership season
WHERE: Olympic Park, Melbourne
WHEN: Saturday, May 19th @ 7:30pm
ON TV: Fox Sports 3 LIVE
CHECK IT OUT: Melbourne Storm's website with all the latest stats, profiles, updates, schedule and training times, alerts, news etc - www.melbournestorm.com.au

INS AND OUTS
Melbourne Storm coach Craig Bellamy has named a 20-man squad for this Saturday night's Round 10 clash against the Roosters. The game will be played at Olympic Park in Melbourne from 7:30pm.

With five Storm players in the New South Wales and Queensland State-of-Origin squads, Bellamy has had to make several changes to the his squad.

Will Chambers has been named to make his first-grade debut, taking the place of Matt King in the centre.

Anthony Quinn will also start in the centre with Matt Geyer moving to the five-eighth position vacated by Greg Inglis.

James Aubusson will come into the team at hooker in place of Queensland-bound Cam Smith; while Ben Cross has been named to start in the front-row with Brett White named to make his Origin debut for New South Wales.

Jeremy Smith returns from a fractured fibula at lock with Dallas Johnson joining the Maroons Origin squad.

Sika Manu and Scott Anderson have been named on the extended interchange bench and could also make their first-grade debuts.

FAST FACTS
* Melbourne has won seven of their past eight Saturday night games, and 21 of their past 22 games at Olympic Park
* Sydney has lost nine of their past 10 games away from home
* Sydney has not won consecutive games since the final two games of 2005

DID YOU KNOW?
* James Aubusson (Storm hooker) will line-up against his brother Mitchell (Roosters five-eighth) for the first time at NRL level.

KEY MATCH-UP
With so many players missing from both teams, the onus on the halfbacks to steer their inexperienced teams around the paddock will be vitally important.

For the Storm, Cooper Cronk has been in superb touch and his leadership skills have been one of the major reasons his side sit on top of the NRL perch with Manly. He is constantly barking instructions to his teammates, which are clearly being heeded as Melbourne are considered one of the most organised teams going around. Add to this his precision kicking game and his ability to break the line and you have a halfback who is really on top of his game.

For the Roosters, their young halfback Mitchell Pearce will be under added pressure to perform. In his first season in the playmaker's role at NRL level, Pearce has played well, but this weekend will be a different kettle of fish altogether. However, Pearce would be used to pressure as his father, Wayne, is a rugby league great and it's never easy following in such large footsteps. Pearce Jnr. has excelled at every level of junior football and he will be up for the challenge provided by Cronk, the current Dally M Halfback of the Year.

HEAD-TO-HEAD
Total: Played: 14, Storm: 7, Roosters: 7
At Olympic Park: Played: 8, Storm: 5, Roosters: 3

FOR AND AGAINST 2007
Points for: Storm: 234, Roosters: 110
Points against: Storm: 148, Roosters: 210
Tries for: Storm: 42, Roosters: 19
Points differential: Storm: +86, Roosters: -100

LAST ROUND MATCHES
Storm: def. Bulldogs 38-14 @ Olympic Park, Melbourne
Roosters: def. Titans 24-18 @ Aussie Stadium, Sydney

LAST EIGHT CLASHES
2006 Storm def. Roosters 20-16 @ Olympic Park
2006 Storm def. Roosters 22-18 @ Aussie Stadium
2005 Storm def. Roosters 24-10 @ Olympic Park
2004 Roosters def. Storm 26-10 @ Olympic Park
2003 Roosters def. Storm 27-20 @ Olympic Park
2002 Storm def. Roosters 48-10 @ Olympic Park
2002 Roosters def. Storm 34-6 @ Aussie Stadium
2001 Roosters def. Storm 50-28 @ Aussie Stadium

THE STORM STORY SO FAR
ROUND 1: Storm 18 (Tries: J. Smith, Hoffman, Folau; Goals: C. Smith 3) def. Wests Tigers 16 (Tries: Moodie, Harrison, Whatuira; Goals: Marshall 2) @ Olympic Park
ROUND 2: Storm 32 (Tries: White 2, Folau 2, Slater, Geyer; Goals: C. Smith 4) def. Raiders 16 (Tries: Carney, Graham, Best; Goals: Dobson 2) @ Canberra Stadium
ROUND 3: Storm 30 (Tries: Slater 2, Folau 2, Hoffman, King; Goals: C. Smith 3) def. Warriors 12 (Tries: Vatuvei, Rapira; Goals: Martin 2) @ Olympic Park
ROUND 4: Storm 22 (Tries: Folau 2, King, Quinn; Goals: C. Smith 3) def. Knights 12 (Tries: Simpson, Abraham; Goals: Gidley 2) @ Energy Australia Stadium
ROUND 5: Storm 24 (Tries: Turner 2, Quinn, Folau, King; Goals: C. Smith, Turner) def. Dragons 10 (Tries: Morris, Naiqama; Goal: Naiqama) @ Oki Jubilee Stadium
ROUND 6: Storm 30 (Tries: Cronk 2, C. Smith 2, Hoffman; Goals: C. Smith 5) def. Panthers 20 (Tries: Lewis, Pritchard, Jennings; Goals: Gordon 4) @ Olympic Park
ROUND 7: Storm 28 (Tries: Slater 2, Turner, Hoffman, Folau; Goals: C. Smith 4) def. Broncos 18 (Tries: Hannant, Stagg, Eastwood; Goals: Lockyer: 3) @ Suncorp Stadium
ROUND 8: Storm 12 (Tries: King, Johnson; Goals: C. Smith 2) def. by Tigers (Tries: Lawrence 2, Galea, Farah; Goals: Collis 7) @ Bluetongue Stadium
ROUND 9: Storm 38 (Tries: Cronk 2, King 2, Hoffman, Folau; Goals: C. Smith 7) def. Bulldogs 14 (Tries: El Masri, Maitua, Millard; Goals: 1) @ Olympic Park

2007 TRY SCORERS (STORM)
Folau 10, King 6, Slater 5, Hoffman 5, Cronk 4, Turner 3, White 2, Quinn 2, C. Smith 2, J. Smith, Geyer, Johnson

2007 GOAL SCORERS (STORM)
C. Smith 32, Turner

2007 FIELD GOAL SCORERS (STORM)
N/A

2007 POINTSCORERS (STORM)
C. Smith 72, Folau 40, King 24, Slater 20, Hoffman 20, Cronk 16, Turner 14, White 8, Quinn 8, J. Smith 4, Geyer 4, Johnson 4

MELBOURNE STORM MEDIBANK PRIVATE INJURY UPDATE
Danny Vaughan: Season (ACL)
Russell Aitken: 8 weeks (Hamstring)
Ryan Shortland: 6 weeks (Knee)

THE STORM AHEAD
Round 11: Saturday, May 26th v Sea Eagles @ Brookvale Oval, 5:30pm
Round 12: Saturday, June 2nd v Rabbitohs @ Olympic Park, 7:30pm
Round 13: Sunday, June 10th v Warriors @ Mt Smart Stadium, 2:00pm (AEST)
Round 14: Saturday, June 16th v Cowboys @ Dairy Farmers Stadium, 7:30pm
Round 15: Sunday, June 24th v Dragons @ Olympic Park, 3:00pm
Round 16: Bye
Round 17: Saturday, July 7th v Rabbitohs @ Bluetongue Stadium, 5:30pm
Round 18: Monday, July 16th v Knights @ Olympic Park, 7:00pm
Round 19: Saturday, July 21st v Raiders @ Olympic Park, 7:30pm

2007 TELSTRA PREMIERSHIP LADDER
1. Sea Eagles 16
2. Storm 16
3. Cowboys 12
4. Sharks 10
5. Wests Tigers 10
6. Warriors 10
7. Knights 10
8. Rabbitohs 8
9. Titans 8
10. Eels 8
11. Bulldogs 8
12. Raiders 8
13. Broncos 6
14. Panthers 6
15. Dragons 6
16. Roosters 6

SQUAD FOR SATURDAY'S GAME
Starting team:
1. Billy Slater
2. Steve Turner
3. Will Chambers
4. Anthony Quinn
5. Israel Folau
6. Matt Geyer
7. Cooper Cronk
8. Antonio Kaufusi
9. James Aubusson
10. Ben Cross
11. Michael Crocker
12. Ryan Hoffman
13. Jeremy Smith

Interchange:
14. Matt Bartlett
15. Jeff Lima
16. Ian Donnelly
17. Sika Manu
18. Scott Anderson
19. Garret Crossman
20. Sam Tagataese
(three to omitted)

Coach: Craig Bellamy

News sent by: www.melbournestorm.com.au

Tue May 15, 2007
• Bellamy names 20-man squad for Roosters clash
  

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