SOUTH SYDNEY RABBITOHS 22
Tries (4): Jamie Simpson 2, David Fa'alogo, Nathan Merritt
Goals (3): Issac Luke (2 from 2), Chris Sandow (1 from 2)
MELBOURNE STORM 28
Tries (6): Cooper Cronk, Ryan Hoffman, Greg Inglis, Wairangi Koopu, Joseph Tomane, Steve Turner
Goals (2): Cameron Smith (2 from 5), Joseph Tomane (0 from 1)
Venue: Members Equity Stadium, Perth (WA)
Crowd: 15,197
Referee: Ashley Klein
Halftime score: 10-all
Comments:
| |
+ Submit additional information or a correction to this match
Click the match link for full match details including teams, scoring details, articles and more
Fri June 12 2009, 6:30PM NZST GMT+12Fri: New Zealand Warriors 13 d. Newcastle Knights 0 at
Mt Smart Stadium, Penrose, Auckland (NZ)Crowd: 14,255
Fri June 12 2009, 7:30PM AEST GMT+10Fri: Brisbane Broncos 22 l. Bulldogs 44 at
Suncorp Stadium, Castlemaine Street, Milton, Brisbane (QLD)Crowd: 26,353
Sat June 13 2009, 5:30PM AEST GMT+10Sat: Sydney Roosters 20 l. Gold Coast Titans 24 at
BlueTongue Central Coast Stadium, Gosford, Central Coast (NSW)Crowd: 6,232
Sat June 13 2009, 7:30PM AEST GMT+10Sat: Penrith Panthers 6 l. Manly-Warringah Sea Eagles 20 at
Penrith Stadium, Mulgoa Road, Penrith, Sydney (NSW)Crowd: 15,806
Sat June 13 2009, 7:30PM AWST GMT+8Sat: South Sydney Rabbitohs 22 l. Melbourne Storm 28 at
Members Equity Stadium, Perth (WA)Crowd: 15,197
Sun June 14 2009, 2:00PM AEST GMT+10Sun: Canberra Raiders 22 l. Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks 24 at
Canberra Stadium, Bruce, Canberra (ACT)Crowd: 10,104
Sun June 14 2009, 3:00PM AEST GMT+10Sun: St George Illawarra Dragons 32 d. North Queensland Cowboys 18 at
WIN Stadium, Wollongong (NSW)Crowd: 11,374
Mon June 15 2009, 7:00PM AEST GMT+10Mon: Parramatta Eels 6 l. Wests Tigers 23 at
Penrith Stadium, Mulgoa Road, Penrith, Sydney (NSW)Crowd: 12,003
Tue June 16, 2009
Source: www.melbournestorm.com.auThe Storm got out of jail in their Round 14 clash against the Rabbitohs with a fascinating 28-22 win over in Perth.
In the end, it was the Storm's superior fitness that got them over the line.
As is often the case, opposition teams relish the opportunity to play the Storm and the Rabbitohs came out firing.
They scored an early try when Jamie Simpson intercepted a long pass from Brett Finch.
In the first 10 minutes, the Rabbitohs had 70% of the possession and the Storm was on the back foot.
The Rabbitohs were not going to miss a chance to extend their lead further when Billy Slater dropped a catch he'd usually take.
From the scrum, the Rabbitohs sent it right and Simpson scored his second for the night in the corner despite the close attention of Slater.
Chris Sandow made the conversion to give South Sydney a 10-0 lead in the 20th minute.
Craig Bellamy had warned the Storm could be slow off the mark after their big win last week and they needed a spark.
That spark came when Ryan Hoffman made a superb offload to Greg Inglis who only had to contend with one-on-ones before crossing the line.
Cam Smith missed badly but the Storm had narrowed the gap to 10-4.
Hoffman again was in the thick of things scoring a try in the 31st minute.
The Storm attack lined out right and the Rabbitohs were convinced it'd go that way.
Smith however, had other ideas and passed to a fast running Hoffman on the left for an easy try.
A few missed chances and some uncharacteristic errors cost the Storm but the 10-all scoreboard reflected a high quality and even contest.
The second half started a lot like the first.
Repeat sets went the way of the Rabbitohs before David Fa'alago pushed over for a try in the 44th minute. Isaac Luke made the conversion.
The teams traded tries when Wairangi Koopu scored in the 48th minute after running in support for Steve Turner.
Dallas Johnson was forced from the field after being hit in a heavy tackle but another try from replacement fullback Nathan Merritt probably hurt more.
The Rabbitohs were playing well and with a 22-14 lead the Storm had to work hard for the last 25 minutes.
Cooper Cronk got the Storm going when he did it all by himself, selling the dummy twice on his way to the line.
Inglis was having a destructive night with the ball in his hand. His fend was working like a steam roller, flattening the defence.
Inglis' 50 metre run down the wing late in the half got the Storm into position to score.
Smith brought the ball wide to Turner for a try and to take the lead for the first time for the night.
The lead was further extended by Joseph Tomane when Inglis notched up another try assist to the young winger.
Tomane took the kick after Smith had only managed two conversions all night but he too missed, the Storm failing to seal a win with poor kicking in front of goals.
The Rabbitohs had one final crack at the Storm but almost poetically a fumble by former Melbourne hard man, Michael Crocker, ended the game.
The Storm was able to run the game out harder in the final 15 minutes, making good metres in their sets while keeping their defense tight.
Inglis and Cronk both had great games while Hoffman and Adam Blair played well for the forwards.
The Rabbitohs certainly gave the Storm a scare but coming away with a win on the road after backing up from the Broncos game as well is something to smile about.
The Storm play at home next Sunday against the Tigers.
Rabbitohs 22 (Tries: Simpson 2, Fa'alago, Merritt; Goals: Luke 2, Sandow) def. by Storm 28 (Tries: Inglis, Hoffman, Koopu, Cronk, Turner, Tomane; Goals: Smith 2).
ROUND 14 NRL MATCH & PLAYER STATSWarriors 13 v Knights 0Broncos 22 v Bulldogs 44Roosters 20 v Titans 24Panthers 6 v Sea Eagles 20Rabbitohs 22 v Storm 28Raiders 22 v Sharks 24Dragons 32 v Cowboys 18Eels 6 v Wests Tigers 23Thu June 11, 2009
Melbourne Storm forward Sika Manu will not make the trip to Perth today for Saturday's clash against South Sydney with his team-mates after developing flu-like symptoms on Tuesday.
As a result, Manu has been quarantined for three days, in accordance with guidelines established by the Victorian Government.
No other member of the squad has displayed any flu-like symptoms.
Storm general manager of football operations, Frank Ponissi, said: "It's important to remember that this is a precautionary move.
"We are acting under guidelines provided to us by the Victorian Government. These guidelines are quite different to those in the northern states."
Meanwhile, the Storm have lost winger
Joseph Tomane to the Gold Coast Titans starting from next year.
Ponissi said, "We're disappointed that Joseph will be moving on at the end of the year.
"However, we understand the reasons behind his decision.
"It's fortuitous that we have a number of outstanding young outside backs emerging through our system and we are more than happy with where those players are at."
Tomane will start on the wing in Saturday night's round 14 NRL match against South Sydney, which is a Rabbitohs home game that has been moved to Members Equity Stadium in Perth.
The clash will be live on Fox Sports Two at 9:30pm.
Round 14
South Sydney Rabbitohs 22 l. Melbourne Storm 28
rleague UK Edition
rleague RSS Feed