Round 20
Sydney Roosters 26 d. Melbourne Storm 16

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

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

Miracle Man Freddy Strikes Again
Mon July 30, 2007
Brad Fittler's reputation as a Rugby League Messiah is growing more and more as the Roosters stunned Melbourne 26-16 at the SFS on Friday night.

The Roosters raced to 20-0 lead during the first half with tries to Anthony Tupou (12th minute), Ashley Harrison (27th) and John Williams (31st) with Craig Fitzgibbon landing three conversions and an early penalty goal.

Melbourne were shell shocked by the onslaught of Freddy's Roosters and were never at one stage in the match as the Roosters out played them all over the field and frustrated the competition leaders into submission.

Israel Folau scored for the Storm prior to half-time and any chance the Storm had of coming back in the second half was snuffed out by their panic ball control and the strong defence of the Roosters.

Amos Roberts landed a penalty goal in the 68th minute to push the lead out to 18-4 and Williams scored his second try three minutes later to make sure of the match.

Two late tries by Cooper Cronk and James Aubusson in the last three minutes reduced the margin from 22 to 10 points in what was not a true indication as the Roosters never at one stage appeared to be in any danger of losing the match.

Melbourne's season had been cruising along and a loss like this was bound to happen where it went all wrong for them.

However, praise to the Roosters as the Fittler genius rolls on for at least another week. The Roosters will be confident toppling the Warriors this weekend at the SFS and after that have one of the easier runs home into the Finals. They are now a genuine shot to snatch 7th or 8th position for the Finals, which is achieveable with Fittler in their ranks.


Storm Round 20 Game Notes v Roosters
Thu July 26, 2007
Source: www.melbournestorm.com.au

Melbourne continued their impressive run with a 34-6 win over the Canberra Raiders to maintain their four point lead at the top of the NRL ladder.

Israel Folau was outstanding in the centres, scoring a try and creating plenty of headaches for the Raiders' defence. His teammates named him the players'-player-of-the-week.

The Roosters enjoyed their second successive win under new head coach Brad Fittler, defeating the Knights 20-17 at Newcastle's EnergyAustralia Stadium. The win saw them climb two games clear of the wooden spoon.

WHO: Melbourne Storm v Sydney Roosters
WHAT: Round 20 of the 2007 Telstra Premiership season
WHERE: Aussie Stadium, Sydney
WHEN: Friday, July 27th
ON TV: Channel 9 LIVE into NSW and Queensland from 7:30pm, Channel 9 replay into Melbourne at midnight, Fox Sports 3 from 11:30pm
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
Craig Bellamy has named a 19-man squad for this Friday's clash against the Sydney Roosters.

After Saturday's 34-6 win over the Canberra Raiders in Melbourne, Bellamy has made a couple of changes to his team.

Anthony Quinn comes into the squad after being rested against the Raiders.

Jeremy Smith comes into the starting line-up after also being rested against the Raiders in place of Clint Newton who has been moved to the extended interchange bench.

FAST FACTS
* Matt King has scored 11 tries in his past nine games
* Melbourne has won 33 of their past 34 games when leading at half-time
* Sydney has conceded the first try in six of their last seven games
* Sydney has won four of their past five games at Aussie Stadium

DID YOU KNOW?
* Steve Turner will play his 50th game in Storm colours against the Roosters

KEY MATCH-UP
Although they won't line-up directly opposite each other, the battle of the Aubusson brothers will be great to watch.

James is a ready-made first-grade hooker and if it wasn't for Cam Smith, he'd better wearing the number nine jersey for the Storm week in, week out. His influence off the bench has been profound during 2007, much the same way Nathan Friend provided cover for Smith last year. He brings a lot of energy to the team and late in the game, when his teammates are tiring, he's definitely what the Storm needs. For a player of such small stature, he certainly does punch above his weight. He is a ferocious tackler and is extremely strong. He doesn't mind taking on the opposition line with his runs, and if the big fellas think running at him will put him off his game, they should think again. There's no doubt James will be looking to put a big hit or two on his brother this Friday night.

Mitch Aubusson has been one of the Roosters' best over the past fortnight, and it's no coincidence his game has gone up a notch since Fittler took over. He's playing in the centres at the moment, and will have his work cut out against Matt King or Israel Folau, but is cut out for the back-row. He's big and strong enough to mix it with the forwards, and if he starts running at his brother, watch out for some fireworks.

HEAD-TO-HEAD
Total: Played: 15, Storm: 8, Roosters: 7
At Aussie Stadium: Played: 5, Storm: 3, Roosters: 2

FOR AND AGAINST 2007
Points for: Storm: 478, Roosters: 296
Points against: Storm: 207, Roosters: 479
Tries for: Storm: 87, Roosters: 51
Points differential: Storm: +271, Roosters: -183

LAST ROUND MATCHES
Storm: def. Raiders 34-6 @ Olympic Park, Melbourne
Roosters: def. Knights 20-17 @ EnergyAustralia Stadium, Newcastle

LAST EIGHT CLASHES
2007 Storm def. Roosters 26-2 @ Olympic Park
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

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
ROUND 10: Storm 26 (Tries: Hoffman, Folau, Slater, Lima, Chambers; Goals: Turner 3) def. Roosters 2 (Goal: Fitzgibbon) @ Olympic Park
ROUND 11: Storm 12 (Tries: Folau, King; Goals: C. Smith 2) def. by Sea Eagles 13 (Tries: Watmough, Hicks; Goals: Lyon 2; Field Goal: Orford) @ Brookvale Oval
ROUND 12: Storm 26 (Tries: Turner, King, Geyer, Inglis; Goals: C. Smith 5) def. Rabbitohs 10 (Tries: Widders, Hegarty; Goal; Merritt) @ Olympic Park
ROUND 13: Storm 4 (Try: J. Smith) def Warriors 2 (Goal: Martin) @ Mt Smart Stadium
ROUND 14: Storm 58 (Tries: King 2, Inglis 2, Geyer, J. Smith, Newton, Cronk, Tagataese, Turner; Goals: C. Smith 9) @ Dairy Farmers' Stadium
ROUND 15: Storm 24 (Tries: King, Newton, Turner, Hoffman, Geyer; Goals: C. Smith 2) def. Dragons 6 (Try: Scott; Goal: Soward) @ Olympic Park
ROUND 16: BYE
ROUND 17: Storm 12 (Tries: King, Folau; Goals: C. Smith 2) def. Rabbitohs 8 (Tries: Gordon, Merrit) @ Bluetongue Stadium
ROUND 18: Storm 44 (Tries: Slater 2, Quinn 2, Turner 2, Hoffman, King, Newton; Goals: C. Smith 3, Turner) def. Knights 0 @ Olympic Park
ROUND 19: Storm 34 (Tries: Inglis 2, King, Folau, S. Turner, Geyer; Goals: C. Smith 5) def. Raiders 6 (Try: G. Turner; Goals: Dobson) @ Olympic Park

2007 TRY SCORERS (STORM)
Folau 14, King 14, Turner 9, Slater 8, Hoffman 8, Cronk 5, Geyer 5, Inglis 5, Newton 4 (Newcastle 1), Quinn 4, J. Smith 3, White 2, C. Smith 2, Johnson, Chambers, Lima, Tagataese

2007 GOAL SCORERS (STORM)
C. Smith 60, Turner 5

2007 FIELD GOAL SCORERS (STORM)
N/A

2007 POINTSCORERS (STORM)
C. Smith 128, Folau 56, King 56, Turner 46, Hoffman 32, Slater 32, Cronk 20, Geyer 20, Inglis 20, Newton 16 (Newcastle 4), Quinn 16, J. Smith 12, White 8, Johnson 4, Chambers 4, Lima 4, Tagataese 4

MELBOURNE STORM MEDIBANK PRIVATE INJURY UPDATE
Antonio Kaufusi: Season (Patella Tendon)
Danny Vaughan: Season (ACL)
Pale Ale: Season (Back)
Michael Crocker: 2 weeks (Shoulder)

THE STORM AHEAD
Round 21: Monday, August 6th v Sharks @ Toyota Park, 7:00pm
Round 22: Sunday, August 12th v Broncos @ Olympic Park, 3:00pm
Round 23: Friday, August 17th v Eels @ Olympic Park, 7:30pm
Round 24: Friday, August 24th v Bulldogs @ Telstra Stadium, 7:30pm

2007 TELSTRA PREMIERSHIP LADDER
1. Storm 34
2. Sea Eagles 30
3. Eels 24
4. Cowboys 22
5. Broncos 20
6. Warriors 20
7. Bulldogs 20
8. Wests Tigers 20
9. Rabbitohs 18
10. Titans 18
11. Knights 18
12. Sharks 16
13. Raiders 16
14. Dragons 16
15. Roosters 16
16. Panthers 12

SQUAD FOR FRIDAY'S GAME
Starting team:
1. Billy Slater
2. Steve Turner
3. Matt King
4. Matt Geyer
5. Israel Folau
6. Greg Inglis
7. Cooper Cronk
8. Ben Cross
9. Cam Smith
10. Brett White
11. Jeremy Smith
12. Ryan Hoffman
13. Dallas Johnson

Interchange:
14. Jeff Lima
15. Adam Blair
16. Clint Newton
17. Anthony Quinn
18. James Aubusson
19. Garret Crossman
(two to be omitted)

Coach: Craig Bellamy

News sent by: www.melbournestorm.com.au

Tue July 24, 2007
• Bellamy names 19-man squad for Roosters clash
  
Tue July 24, 2007
• Roosters forced into one change for big Storm clash
  

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