Finals Week 3
Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks 0 l. Melbourne Storm 28

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

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

Storm into their third straight grand final
Fri September 26, 2008
Source: www.melbournestorm.com.au

Melbourne Storm has progressed to their third straight NRL grand final with a commanding 28-0 win over the Cronulla Sharks at the Sydney Football Stadium in front of 27,570 fans.

Stand-in skipper Cooper Cronk was outstanding, involved in everything that was great about his team's performance, while fill-in hooker Russ Aitken more than held his own in the heat of finals football.

Cronk kicked off proceedings for the Storm when he made a terrific line-break in the fourth minute before putting in a pin-point kick to the corner.

Melbourne's speedy winger Steve Turner read the situation superbly, latching onto the ball as it bounced perfectly into his arms and all he had to do was jump across the line.

Cronk was at it again in the 24th minute, this time a short ball found Folau on the gallop, barging through makeshift Sharks five-eighth Blake Green to score the Storm's second of the night.

Just before half-time, front-rower Adam Blair made it three first-half tries when he danced past three would-be tacklers to cross next to the posts.

With the Storm leading 16-nil at half-time, it was always going to be a tough ask for the Sharks to get back in the game.

However, given the physical toll of their previous two finals, the Storm players looked tired in the second-half, and with the Sharks needing to pull something out of the hat to get back in the game, their intensity lifted.

However, Melbourne's renowned defensive toughness repelled everything the Sharks could throw at them, and in the 64th minute a typical Storm set-piece involving Cronk and Billy Slater set Turner up for a try under the posts, his second of the night.

With seven minutes to go, and the game clearly out of Cronulla's reach, Matt Geyer provided the icing on the cake to give the Storm a 28-nil win.

Melbourne will now meet the winner of the other preliminary final between the Manly Sea Eagles and New Zealand Warriors next Sunday, October 5th at ANZ Stadium.

STORM 28 (Tries: Turner 2, Folau, Blair, Geyer; Goals: Turner 4) def. SHARKS 0 at the Sydney Football Stadium.

Report Sent By: www.melbournestorm.com.au


Any Melbourne Storm punters out there?
Fri September 26, 2008
TAB Sportsbet has just issued the challenge to anyone wishing to back defending premiers Melbourne in their clash tonight with Cronulla.

Bet with TAB Sportsbet at a best price of $1.65 Melbourne who have drifted out from an opening quote of $1.50.

Cronulla are into $2.20 for the match tonight.

Latest TAB Sportsbet prices for tonight

HEAD TO HEAD
Cronulla 2.20
Melbourne 1.65

LINE
Cronulla +4.5 1.85
Melbourne -4.5 1.95

80 MINUTE MARGIN
Cronulla 13+ 5.75
Cronulla 1-12 3.50
Draw 26.00
Melbourne 1-12 3.10
Melbourne 13+ 3.10

Tue September 23, 2008
• NRL Finals Week 3 (2008) Teams, Stats and Predictions
  
Tue September 23, 2008
• Bellamy names 17-man squad for preliminary final
  
Mon September 22, 2008
• Storm and Sea Eagles early favourites for this weekend
  

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