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Storm rain on Stacey's parade
Written by: Coby Delaney & Steven WilliamsSep 5, 2009 7:46pm
The Melbourne Storm have secured a home final with a convincing 30-0 win over the New Zealand Warriors in Auckland tonight. The six tries to nil shellacking dampened the celebrations for the 14,734 crowd, the locals in attendance to send off club legend Stacey Jones playing his final game for the Warriors. After taking a 12-0 lead at the break, the visitors went on with it in the second half, skipper Cameron Smith leading from the front. The result sees off the Warriors for 2009 but has secured the Storm a home final next week, Etihad Stadium being the venue of choice for the Melbourne club. Match Details
Melbourne Storm 30 def New Zealand Warriors 0
Round 26 - Saturday September 5th, 2009 05:30pm Venue: Mt Smart Stadium, Auckland Referee: Ashley Klein & Alan Shortall
Sideline Officials: Adam Reid & Phil Haines
Video Referee: Phil Cooley Crowd: 14,734 Halftime: New Zealand Warriors 0 Melbourne Storm 12 New Zealand Warriors 0
Melbourne Storm 30
Tries: Billy Slater, Will Chambers (2), Greg Inglis, Dane Nielsen, Ryan Hinchcliffe
Goals: Cameron Smith (3/5), Greg Inglis (0/1)
LeagueUnlimited.com Player of the Match 3 Points: Cameron Smith (Storm) 2 Points: Ryan Hoffman (Storm) 1 Point: Greg Inglis (Storm) LeagueUnlimited.com Live Commentary Talk about the Warriors v Storm Round 26 clash as it happens - forum discussion - click here! WARRIORS: 1. Wade McKinnon 2. Kevin Locke 3. Lance Hohaia 4. Patrick Ah Van 5. Aidan Kirk 6. Joel Moon 7. Stacey Jones 8. Sam Rapira 9. Aaron Heremaia 10. Evarn Tuimavave 23. Simon Mannering 12. Ukuma Ta’ai 13. Micheal Luck (c) Interchange: 11. Lewis Brown 14. Ian Henderson 15. Russell Packer 16. Jacob Lillyman STORM: 1. Billy Slater 2. Steve Turner 3. Will Chambers 4. Greg Inglis 5. Dane Nielsen 6. Brett Finch 7. Cooper Cronk 8. Brett White 9. Cam Smith (c) 10. Aiden Tolman 11. Adam Blair 12. Ryan Hoffman 13. Dallas Johnson Interchange: 14. Ryan Hinchcliffe 15. Hep Cahill 16. Ryan Tandy 17. Wairangi Koopu Cold but still night in Auckland. Melbourne playing for a home final. Warriors playing to give out-going halfback and legend Stacey Jones a hearty send-off. TEAM NEWS: Warriors well down on troops but forward Simon Mannering has been named in the run-on side and will be wearing the No. 23 jersey. Lewis Brown drops to the bench and Ben Matulino appears to have been dropped to make way for Mannering. Storm as per the card. Teams coming onto the field... Warriors kick off and the match is underway! 5 min: Possible TRY to Storm. Video ref looking... VERDICT... NO TRY - Storm winger Steve Turner denied after being thrown into the corner post. Storm dominating possession in the early stages. 10 min: Warriors with their first attacking raid. A penalty following a big bust up the middle from fullback Wade McKinnon. Unfortunately the Warriors turnover possession early in the set. Soild defence from Storm, regrouping after conceding the penalty. 18 min: Warriors are forced into their third line dropout after a great kick chase and one-on-one tackle from Ryan Hoffman. 22 min: Score remains at nil all, as a strong breeze pushes a Storm kick travel 65 metres and over the dead ball line. 23 min: Possible try to Billy Slater after he gets a favourable bounce from a Cooper Cronk kick... Video ref looking... VERDICT... TRY Melbourne Storm Slater opens the scoring for the Storm with his 11th try of the season. Conversion attempt by a bearded Cameron Smith successful. Melbourne Storm 6-0 27 min: Warriors originally fail to find a noted kicker on the last tackle, before a rushed Ian Henderson aimlessly puts the ball into touch. 28 min: Brett Finch nearly gets a miracle ball away attacking the Warriors line, however Dallas Johnson can't take the catch, and the ball goes to ground. 30 min: The Warriors find Stacey Jones on the last who rolls the ball along the ground towards Brett Finch. Finch makes a mess of the pickup, but luckily for the Storm, Greg Inglis is on hand to clean up the mess. Storm have the ball. 32 min: Another failed last tackle option from the Warriors, as Moon puts in a terrible kick to relieve pressure on the Storm. 34 min: Another video ref decision pending for a possible try to Chambers... VERDICT... TRY Melbourne Storm Chambers easily avoids a Wade McKinnon tackle attempt, and scores his first for the night to increase the Storm lead. Conversion attempt by Cameron Smith successful. Melbourne Storm 12-0 37 min: Warriors make a line break after a ball from Locke to Stacey Jones, but again, completion is an issue as the ball goes to ground. 39 min: 1 minute left on the clock, and the Warriors are forced into their fourth line drop out of the match, after McKinnon takes a high ball well, but is deemed to have jumped from the field of play. 40 min: And the first half ends as Billy Slater flicks another pass to ground. HALFTIME: Melbourne Storm 12 New Zealand Warriors 0 The Warriors matched the Storm for intensity and completions throughout the second half, however Melbourne capitalised on more chances. Melbourne were impressive in absorbing some heavy pressure from the Warriors in the first 25 minutes, but if not for several drop balls from both teams in critical times, this scoreline could be vastly different. 41 min: And we're back underway in the second half with Cameron Smith kicking off. 41 min: Warriors with a scrum feed 10 metres out from the Storm line, as Henderson chases his own kick and helps push Billy Slater out over the sideline. 42 min: Patrick Ah Van attempts to get around the outside of his man, but is forced into touch by some good cover defence. 44 min: The kicking game seems to be the difference between the two teams at the moment. The Storm seem to be finding open space on all of their kicks, while the Warriors are struggling to find a patch of grass not occupied by Billy Slater. 45 min: TRY Melbourne Storm Greg Inglis makes a break past some weak jumper grabbing defense, and runs almost 60 metres, before being almost tackled a metre short. However, in customary Inglis style, he manages to stretch out and plant the ball over the tryline. Ashley Klein points to the spot, and the Storm increase their lead. Conversion attempt by Cameron Smith unsuccessful. Melbourne Storm 16-0 49 min: Warriors on the attack again, and manage to complete their set - however the Melbourne defense looks almost indifferent to all attacking charges. Warriors look unlikely to score any time soon. 51 min: Yet another Warriors line drop out... the Storm kick chase really is on song. 54 min: TRY Melbourne Storm Will Chambers gets his second for the night, as some quick hands get the ball wide early. Cameron Smith fails to convert, as the attempt sails well wide. Melbourne Storm 20-0 56 min: The Storm impress with their kick chase again, as McKinnon is tackled in goal, forcing the Warriors into yet another line drop out. 60 min: The pressure is let off for the Warriors, as a Storm kick is too heavily weighted, and rolls over the dead ball line. 61 min: TRY Melbourne Storm More quick passing from the Storm, as Dane Nielsen scores in the eastern corner. Some lovely passing from both Smith and Hoffman set up the try. Questions are asked about the long Smith pass, but the try is awarded. Conversion attempt by Cameron Smith successful. Melbourne Storm 26-0 65 min: 15 minutes left in the half, as a grubber kick from Joel Moon rolls meekly towards the Storm defender for an easy pick up. 66 min: Video referee decision pending... a possible try for the Warriors. VERDICT... NO TRY. A knock on ruled against Moon for the Warriors, and the Storm are awarded the 20m tap. 66 min: First play after the restart, and Adam Blair is placed on report for a blatant chickenwing tackle. A scuffle ensues, and the referee steps in to sort things out. 69 min: TRY Melbourne Storm A dummy half run and quick pass at the defensive line finds some tired Warriors defense, as Ryan Hinchcliffe runs 20 metres to score his second try of the season. A change of kicker, as Greg Inglis steps up to the tee. The kick is a shocker, and the score remains at 30-0. Melbourne Storm 30-0 73 min: Dane Neilsen looks for his second try, as he runs over the top of McKinnon, but is dragged down by some desperate defense. Bellamy takes Smith, Cronk and Hoffman off the field for a well deserved rest. 78 min: Just over a minute left in the game, and the Warriors season - and the Warriors cannot take a trick. A high kick from Joel Moon is knocked on by the Warriors attackers, and the Storm accept the changeover. 79 min: Stacey Jones tries one last chip and chase, but it is ruined by Will Chambers who swoops on the ball and is tackled soon after. 80 min: Fulltime here at Mt Smart Stadium, as Melbourne run out convincing winners, 30 points to nil. A strong second half from the Storm, as they increased on their halftime score of 12-0 to unfittingly end Stacey Jones' NRL career with a loss. FULLTIME: Melbourne Storm 30 New Zealand Warriors 0
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- September 5th, 2009 9:09pmLeagueUnlimited.com Player of the Match 3 Points: Cameron Smith (Storm) 2 Points: Ryan Hoffman (Storm) 1 Point: Greg Inglis (Storm) Go to make a cup of tea everytime Tolman ran the ball(27r/230m) did you.