Click the match link for full match details including teams, scoring details, articles and more
Fri May 1 2009, 7:30PM AEST GMT+10Fri: Manly-Warringah Sea Eagles 8 l. Melbourne Storm 22 at
Brookvale Oval, Brookvale, Sydney (NSW)Crowd: 10,752
Fri May 1 2009, 7:30PM AEST GMT+10Fri: Parramatta Eels 28 d. North Queensland Cowboys 18 at
Parramatta Stadium, Parramatta, Sydney (NSW)Crowd: 8,104
Sat May 2 2009, 3:00PM AEST GMT+10Sat: Gold Coast Titans 22 d. South Sydney Rabbitohs 14 at
Skilled Park, Robina, Gold Coast (QLD)Crowd: 19,833
Sat May 2 2009, 5:30PM AEST GMT+10Sat: Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks 12 l. Sydney Roosters 19 at
Toyota Park, Woolooware, Sydney (NSW)Crowd: 9,879
Sat May 2 2009, 7:30PM AEST GMT+10Sat: Newcastle Knights 28 d. Brisbane Broncos 12 at
Energy Australia Stadium, New Lambton, Newcastle (NSW)Crowd: 18,154
Sat May 2 2009, 7:30PM AEST GMT+10Sat: Canberra Raiders 10 l. Penrith Panthers 18 at
Canberra Stadium, Bruce, Canberra (ACT)Crowd: 8,850
Sun May 3 2009, 2:00PM AEST GMT+10Sun: St George Illawarra Dragons 12 d. New Zealand Warriors 11 at
WIN Stadium, Wollongong (NSW)Crowd: 14,562
Sun May 3 2009, 3:00PM AEST GMT+10Sun: Bulldogs 22 d. Wests Tigers 20 at
ANZ Stadium (Sydney), Homebush Bay, Sydney (NSW)Crowd: 25,622
Sat May 2, 2009
Source: www.melbournestorm.com.auThe Melbourne Storm have come away from Brookvale Oval with a 22-8 win and a confidence that could kick-start their season.
The Grand Final re-match sparked the Storm into producing some of their best attacking plays for the season and has put Manly's title defence in jeopardy.
The game was played at a frenetic pace and the Storm showed courage and skill to keep the Sea Eagles to only two tries.
The Storm achieved what all away teams dream of at Brookvale by getting the first try on the board.
Dallas Johnson deftly delayed a pass to put Greg Inglis through a hole in the third minute. The big centre set the tone for the Storm attack with a straight, hard running try.
The Storm had managed to put a dampener on the crowd and had Manly chasing them from the outset.
Manly, however, showed why they can never be discounted as they quickly replied. Showing attacking flair of their own, they moved the ball to the wing and into the hands of Brett Stewart's fullback replacement, Michael Robertson. Robertson scored his first try for the season despite the best efforts of Billy Slater. Brett Orford missed the conversion and the Storm kept a two-point lead.
The Storm used the ball well and Manly struggled to keep up with the pace of the game.
The Storm did something they haven't done for a while, making a quick reply to the Manly try. Steve Turner showing off his skill and power, receiving a cut-out ball from Slater before bouncing off his left foot and putting up a strong left arm fend to score in the corner in the 13th minute.
For a team that had struggled to put a decent score on the board, two tries in the first half would've been seen as a good result, a third try was better than expected.
Cam Smith put a kick out in front for Slater late in the first half and Slater sprinted away but was tackled metres away from the line. Quick support by Smith at dummy half found Matt Cross charging towards the line. Cross was unstoppable and fell over for a try with two manly defenders hanging off him.
Manly suffered from errors and penalties and it showed in the possession for the half with the Storm dominating with 65%.
Orford and Glenn Stewart tried hard but the momentum and the scoreboard was well and truly against them, down 16-4 at half-time.
The Storm's second half started much the same as the first, taking the game further away from Manly with an early try.
Cooper Cronk cut a pass back on the inside to a fast running Slater. He busted through a tackle and stretched behind his head to get the ball down. Smith made the conversion to take a commanding 22-4 lead.
With the attacking feats taking up more than the usual amount of room on the highlight reel, the defensive work can't be forgotten.
Manly threw everything at the Storm line for a five-minute period but the Storm put up a wall the Sea Eagles could not break.
Eventually the sustained pressure from Manly resulted in a try ? scoring in a similar fashion to their first.
Manly brought the ball quickly to the right wing and into the hands of David Williams. Williams had too much space and scored the try. The conversion was missed by Jamie Lyon to have the Storm leading 22-8 with 20 minutes to play.
Minutes later, Manly had a chance to really put the pressure on the Storm when they again tried to get the ball to Williams in the corner but the last pass went astray and the Storm were off the hook.
It's difficult to say what won the game for the Storm, the attacking prowess or the defensive work keeping Manly to just two tries.
Storm fans would remember the defensive work just as much as the tries after an amazing chase down by Slater on the breakaway by Steve Matai.
It was in the dying seconds of the game but opitimised the high work rate of the Storm who just wanted it more than Manly.
The Storm play the Roosters next Monday, a well-earned rest for the boys after a steller win.
Storm 22 (Tries: Inglis, Turner, Cross, Slater; Goals: Smith 3) def. Sea Eagles 8 (Tries: Robertson, Williams) at Brookvale Oval.
Fri May 1, 2009
Source: www.rleaguebetting.comBookmakers are undecided on the favourite for tonight's clash between the Sea Eagles and the Storm.
Take the $1.99 from
Pinnacle Sports of a Melbourne victory - the Storm's defence has been a high standard this year whereas Manly have struggled all over the park. You can also give up 3 points start at
Sports Alive and take the $2.20 odds of a Storm victory by 4 or more.
It's hard to see too many points being scored at Brookie, but the line at 34.5 is very low - take the $1.90 for 35 or more points at
Sports Alive as both teams look to get their attack on track. Also, favour the $2 odds from
Bet365 that no team will score 3 unanswered tries.
Sportingbet are quoting $11 for favourite Billy Slater to be the
1st Try Scorer - a very attractive price considering you can get $8 elsewhere.
Sports Alive have excellent value along the three quarter line, with Jamie Lyon at $14, Michael Bani at $16, and Joseph Tomane also at $16. For a roughie, take Adam Blair's price of $51 from
Centrebet.
Click Here to Compare Odds on Sea Eagles vs StormIn tonight's other match, don't be surprised if the Eels turn the tables on an inconsistent Cowboys outfit. There is much better value in
SportsBets quote of $2.80 for the Eels than the $1.53 you can get for the Cowboys. Or take the $4.25 odds from
IASBet of an Eels victory by 1-12.
Bet365 are providing crazy odds of $2.50 for the Eels to be
first to 10 points - this is excellent value compared to the $2.15 you can get elsewhere. The Eels have also struggled to score points in the 2nd half so it might be worth taking the $2.10 odds - also from Bet365 - that more points will be scored in the 1st Half than the 2nd Half.
Jarryd Hayne looks like he is ready to explode any game now, and a possible move to fullback could be just the tonic needed.
Sports Alive will give you $13 for him to be the first try scorer. Meanwhile,
Centrebet have an attractive quote of $41 for Carl Webb to be first over the white line.
Click Here to Compare Odds on Eels vs Cowboys* Note all prices are subject to change
Round 8
Manly-Warringah Sea Eagles 8 l. Melbourne Storm 22
rleague UK Edition
rleague RSS Feed