Round 5
Melbourne Storm 26 d. Manly-Warringah Sea Eagles 4

2008 NRL Telstra Premiership Index [Table] [Draw] [Player Stats] [Club Headlines]

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

Slater puts his hand up for Kangaroos selection
Fri April 11, 2008
Source: www.melbournestorm.com.au

Storm fullback Billy Slater thrust his name right into Kangaroo calculations with yet another best-on-ground performance tonight, helping his team to an emphatic 26-4 mauling of the Manly Sea Eagles at Olympic Park.

Slater's two-try performance, not to mention his bullet-like pass to winger Anthony Quinn to set him up for his try, did not go unnoticed by his coach Craig Bellamy.

"Thank God he's playing for us," said Bellamy at the post-match press conference.

"Certainly his first half tonight when he scored those two tries. I don't know what else to say about him to be quite honest.

"As I've said a thousand times, and it's certainly no disrespect to any other fullback in the competition, because there's such a good batch out there, we're just glad he's playing for us."

The clash marked the grand final rematch between the teams, with Manly seeking revenge on the reigning premiers.

With the Sea Eagles and the Storm in 5th and 6th place respectively on the NRL ladder, both teams went into the match looking to put a stamp on their 2008 season.

The Storm began the match having won only two of their past six clashes against the Sea Eagles, and up against a defensive unit that had only conceded five tries in their first four games of the season, they could have been forgiven for thinking this one was going to be a tough assignment.

History was disregarded in the opening half as it was dominated by the strength and speed of the Storm, with a relentless and methodical defence keeping the Sea Eagles scoreless at the half- time break.

A little bit of magic from Slater opened Melbourne's account early with a strong try from the fullback putting the Storm out in front.

Cameron Smith failed to convert following the opening try, leaving Melbourne with a 4-0 lead.

The Storm did not take long to punish to Sea Eagles again, with Greg Inglis driving through the Manly defenders to give Melbourne their second try in a matter of minutes.

Smith's kick was good to put the Storm out to a handy lead of 10-0.

A great centering kick from Will Chambers set the Storm up for their third try in the opening half with the lightning speed and skill of Slater allowing the Storm to increase their lead to 14-0.

Manly had a horror start to the second term, with errors in possession setting up the Storm to open the scoring, making it virtually impossible for Manly to get themselves back into the game.

In what looked to be a simple training drill, the Storm linked up with brilliant execution to see Anthony Quinn score his fourth try in two weeks, courtesy of a final ball from Slater that the best halfbacks in the competition would have been proud of.

The video referee denied the Sea Eagles their first scoring opportunity, deciding that Inglis' tackle prevented Bell from clearly putting the ball down over the line.

Manly's horror night worsened with the Storm being awarded a penalty kick; Smith easily converted to extend the home side's lead.

Just when Manly coach Des Hasler thought the night couldn't get any worse for his Sea Eagles, Ryan Hoffman received an impressive pass from Cooper Cronk to score the Storm's fifth try of the night.

Smith's kicking was online yet again to put the Storm out to an impressive 26-0 lead as the match drew to a close.

The Sea Eagles were able to salvage some respect in the final minutes of the game with Michael Barney scoring Manly's first and only try closing the gap to 26-4.

Manly's disappointing performance was exemplified with Orford failing to convert leaving Manly to trail the Storm by 22 points.

At the final siren, the scoreboard showed 26-4 in favour of the Storm, and signalling a return of the Melbourne side's top form.

STORM 26 (Tries: Slater 2, Inglis, Quinn, Hoffman; Goals: Smith 3) def. SEA EAGLES 4 (Try: Barney) at Olympic Park.

News sent by: www.melbournestorm.com.au


Storm Round 5 v Sea Eagles Game Notes
Fri April 11, 2008
Source: www.melbournestorm.com.au

The Storm got back in the winner's circle last week with an emphatic 28-8 win over the previously undefeated Brisbane Broncos at Olympic Park. The win elevated Melbourne to 6th on the ladder.

Manly also enjoyed a resounding victory in round four, defeating the winless Rabbitohs 20-2 to sit in 5th position on the NRL ladder.

WHO: Melbourne Storm v Manly Sea Eagles
WHAT: Round 5 of the 2008 Telstra Premiership season
WHERE: Olympic Park, Melbourne
WHEN: Friday, April 11th @ 7:30pm
ON TV: Channel 9: Sydney - 7:30pm, Brisbane - 9:30pm, Melbourne - 12:10am Saturday; Fox Sports Two - 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
Melbourne Storm coach Craig Bellamy has named an unchanged 18-man squad for this Friday night's clash against the Manly Sea Eagles.

With Adam Blair entering an early guilty plea for his contrary conduct charge, thus avoiding a suspension, he has been named to start in the front-row.

FAST FACTS
* Manly has been the first try-scorer in 21 of their past 22 matches
* Melbourne has scored an average 29 points in their past 16 games at Olympic Park
* Melbourne has won only two of their past six clashes against Manly
* Manly has conceded only five tries in their opening four games of the season

DID YOU KNOW?
Melbourne Storm has a new member of the Cheerleading squad for one night only. After a call from the Starlight Children's foundation, Brian Waldron, Storm CEO, was more than happy to help grant a sick little girl's wish.

Young Olivia was offered a trip to the Gold Coast from the Starlight Children's foundation, but declined the offer. Her real wish was to become a cheerleader with the Melbourne Storm.

A costume has been made and Olivia has been counting the days until Friday, April 11th. One more sleep till her big day!

KEY MATCH UP
With State-of-Origin selection on the horizon, many players will be looking for big games, none more so than the halfbacks and fullbacks.

Cooper Cronk was back to his best last week after a couple of unusually below-par kicking games. He is close to the best in the business at putting quality boot to ball and he was definitely back on song against Brisbane. With Darren Lockyer injured and possibly unavailable for Queensland, a spot in the halves has opened up and Cronk, a proud Maroon, will be intent on making the jersey his.

His opposite number on Friday night will have the same designs on the vacant number seven New South Wales jersey. Orford is a class act and has the ability to control games any way he sees fit. Never one to shirk a challenge, Orford was particularly unimpressed when rumours began circulating that Wests Tigers hooker Robbie Farah might be given the NSW halfback job, claiming it was a kick in the teeth to all halfbacks if NSW went for a number nine in the role. With NSW coach Craig Bellamy looking on from the opposition coaches box, there has never been a better time for "Ox" to show what he is capable of.

Coming even sooner is the Centenary Test between Australia and New Zealand at the SCG next month, and the most hotly contested position for the Kangaroos is the fullback spot. Never before have there been so many quality fullbacks in the NRL, with any one of up to eight fullbacks capable of wearing the number one jersey with distinction.

At the head of the queue, without any shadow of a doubt, are incumbent Kangaroo fullback Brett Stewart, and the form fullback of the competition Billy Slater.

Stewart can score a try from anywhere as he demonstrated last week when he took a kick-return 55 metres to score his 44th try in 45 games at Brookvale Oval. He will no doubt have the moment that turned last year's grand final, when he was taken out by Michael Crocker and Billy Slater, firmly on his mind and nothing would give him greater pleasure than reversing that result and in doing so sew up the Kangaroos fullback position.

While Stewart is a quality player in good form, is there a player in the NRL in better form at the moment than Billy Slater? He is in career best form, not only with his attacking game, but also the way he defends. He is safe under the high ball, strong in the tackle, a wonderful organiser and is a major calming influence on the team when the Storm's try-line is in danger of being breached. He also happens to have scored four tries already this season, with Bellamy claiming, with all due respect to other fullbacks in the competition, that he wouldn't swap Billy for any of them. Coming from a guy who doesn't dish out the compliments willy-nilly, that is some wrap.

HEAD-TO-HEAD
Total: Played: 11, Storm: 6, Sea Eagles: 5
At Olympic Park: Played: 4, Storm: 4, Sea Eagles: 0

FOR AND AGAINST 2008
Points for: Storm: 82, Sea Eagles: 94
Points against: Storm: 53, Sea Eagles: 37
Tries for: Storm: 14, Sea Eagles: 17
Points differential: Storm: +29, Sea Eagles: +57

LAST ROUND MATCHES
Storm: def. Broncos 28-8 @ Olympic Park, Melbourne
Sea Eagles: def. Rabbitohs 20-2 @ Brookvale Oval, Sydney

LAST EIGHT CLASHES
2007 Storm def. Sea Eagles 34-8 @ ANZ Stadium (Sydney)
2007 Sea Eagles def. Storm 13-12 @ Brookvale Oval
2006 Storm def. Sea Eagles 30-20 @ Olympic Park
2006 Sea Eagles def. Storm 34-12 @ Brookvale Oval
2005 Sea Eagles def. Storm 25-18 @ Brookvale Oval
2004 Sea Eagles def. Storm 30-28 @ Brookvale Oval
2003 Storm def. Sea Eagles 40-10 @ Olympic Park
2003 Sea Eagles def. Storm 20-14 @ Brookvale Oval

THE STORM STORY SO FAR
WORLD CLUB CHALLENGE: STORM 4 (Try: Hoffman) def. by RHINOS 11 (Try: Donald; Goals: Sinfield 3; Field Goal: Sinfield) @ Elland Road, Leeds
ROUND 1: STORM 32 (Tries: Slater 3, Johnson, Tagataese; Goals: C. Smith 5, Turner) def. WARRIORS 18 (Tries: Vatuvei 2, Ropati; Goals: Witt 3) @ Telstra Dome, Melbourne
ROUND 2: STORM 16 (Tries: Aitken, White, Falou; Goals: C. Smith 2) def. by SHARKS 17 (Tries: Kearney, Gallen, Simmons; Goals: Covell 2; Field Goals: Kimmorley) at Olympic Park, Melbourne
ROUND 3: Storm (Try: Slater; Goal: C. Smith) def. by ROOSTERS (Try: Kenny-Dowell; Goals: FitzGibbon 3) at Sydney Football Stadium
ROUND 4: STORM 28 (Tries: Quinn 3, Folau, Hoffman; Goals: Smith 4) def. BRONCOS 8 (Tries: Robinson, Stagg) at Olympic Park, Melbourne

2008 TRY SCORERS (STORM)
Slater 4, Quinn 3, Folau 2, Hoffman, Johnson, Tagataese, Aitken, White

2008 GOAL SCORERS (STORM)
C. Smith 12, Turner

2008 FIELD GOAL SCORERS (STORM)
N/A

2008 POINTSCORERS (STORM)
C Smith 24, Slater 16, Quinn 12, Folau 8, Hoffman 4, Johnson 4, Tagataese 4, Aitken 4, White 4, Turner 4

MELBOURNE STORM MEDIBANK PRIVATE INJURY UPDATE
Aidan Guerra (ankle): 6 weeks
Danny Vaughan (knee): season
Ben MacDougall (knee): season

THE STORM AHEAD
Round 6: Monday, April 21st v Raiders @ Canberra Stadium, 7:00pm
Round 7: Saturday, April 26th v Cowboys @ Dairy Farmers Stadium, 7:30pm
Round 8: BYE
Round 9: Monday, May 12th v Knights @ Olympic Park, 7:00pm
Round 10: Saturday, May 17th v Dragons @ ANZ Stadium, 7:30pm
Round 11: Saturday, May 24th v Rabbitohs @ Bluetongue Stadium, 7:30pm
Round 12: Saturday, May 31st v Bulldogs @ Olympic Park, 5:30pm
Round 13: Monday, June 9th v Titans @ Skilled Park, 7:00pm

TELSTRA PREMIERSHIP LADDER
1. Broncos 6
2. Roosters 6
3. Titans 6
4. Sharks 6
5. Sea Eagles 4
6. Storm 4
7. Knights 4
8. Bulldogs 4
9. Panthers 4
10. Wests Tigers 4
11. Raiders 4
12. Eels 4
13. Warriors 4
14. Dragons 2
15. Cowboys 2
16. Rabbitohs 0

SQUAD FOR FRIDAY'S GAME
Starting team:
1. Billy Slater
2. Steve Turner
3. Will Chambers
4. Israel Folau
5. Anthony Quinn
6. Greg Inglis
7. Cooper Cronk
8. Jeff Lima
9. Cam Smith [c]
10. Adam Blair
11. Jeremy Smith
12. Ryan Hoffman
13. Dallas Johnson

Interchange:
14. Matt Geyer, 15. Antonio Kaufusi, 16. Michael Crocker, 17. Clifford Manua, 18. Sika Manu

Coach: Craig Bellamy

News sent by: www.melbournestorm.com.au

Tue April 8, 2008
• Blair escapes suspension and named in Storm squad
  

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