South Sydney Rabbitohs 22 vs Melbourne Storm 28
Round 14 - Full Time :: June 13th, 2009 9:30pm
Venue: Members Equity Stadium, PerthReferee:
South Sydney Rabbitohs (22)
Tries: Jamie Simpson (2), David Fa\'alogo, Nathan Merritt
Goals: Chris Sandow (3/4)
Melbourne Storm (28)
Tries: Greg Inglis, Ryan Hoffman, Wairangi Koopu, Cooper Cronk, Steve Turner, Joseph Tomane
Goals: Cameron Smith (2/5), Joseph Tomane (0/1)
Talk about the game as it happens - Rabbitohs v Storm forum discussion - click here!
RABBITOHS: 2. Nathan Merritt 21. Jamie Simpson 3. Colin Best 4. Beau Champion 5. Fetuli Talanoa 6. John Sutton 7. Chris Sandow 8. Scott Geddes 9. Craig Wing 10. Roy Asotasi (c) 11. Luke Stuart 12. David Fa’alogo 13. Michael Crocker
Interchange: 14. Issac Luke 15. Eddy Pettybourne 16. David Kidwell 18. Jaiman Lowe
STORM: 1. Billy Slater 2. Steve Turner 3. Will Chambers 4. Greg Inglis 5. Joseph Tomane 6. Brett Finch 7. Cooper Cronk 8. Jeff Lima 9. Cameron Smith (c) 10. Adam Blair 15. Matt Cross 12. Ryan Hoffman 13. Dallas Johnson
Interchange: 14. Ryan Hinchcliffe 16. Aiden Tolman 17. Brett White 18. Wairangi Koopu
Full house in Perth tonight!
The Storm backline is unchanged. Sika Manu has been ruled out with the 'flu' and Matt Cross has taken his place in the back row.
For the Rabbitohs, fullback Luke Capewell is out. Nathan Merritt goes to fullback, Jamie Simpson comes in to take Merritt's spot on the wing.
South Sydney Rabbitohs kick off and the match is underway!
6 min: TRY South Sydney Rabbitohs
Replacement winger Jamie Simpson snares an intercept off a Brett Finch pass and runs 80-90m without a hand being laid on him. Against the run of play and a great start for the underdogs. Conversion attempt by Chris Sandow 15m in from touch is unsuccessful.
South Sydney Rabbitohs 4-0
15 min: Souths defending strongly after Melbourne earlier being under the hammer at the other end.
17 min: Storm fullback Billy Slater takes a bo-peep at halfback Chris Sandow running through after a Souths up-and-under, and Slater drops it cold. Rabbitohs now on the attack.
18 min: TRY South Sydney Rabbitohs
Simpson gets a double in the corner. Next play after the repeat set with centre Colin Best creating the space and Simpson finishing off beautifully, surviving video ref scrutiny on the touchline. Sideline conversion attempt by Sandow is a ripper.
South Sydney Rabbitohs 10-0
23 min: TRY Melbourne Storm
Greg Inglis takes a great outside offload from Ryan Hoffman on the burst, catching the defence flat to score 15m wide of the posts. Conversion attempt by Cameron Smith unsuccessful.
South Sydney Rabbitohs 10-4
25 min: From the kick off restart, the Storm are forced into a line drop after being caught behind the goal line.
28 min: Storm recover following a run from Inglis and ruck it out to create a chance down the South Sydney end, but Souths respond in kind. Razzle dazzle stuff from both sides. End to end.
30 min: 40/20: Cooper Cronk kicks a 40/20 to put the Storm on the attack.
31 min: TRY Melbourne Storm
Hoffman next to the sticks. Follows a simple dummy-half play from Cam Smith to a running Hoffman from close range, the Souths defence is nowhere to be seen. Conversion attempt by Smith successful.
10 all
35 min: Great passage of play with a kick ahead from Storm into the in-goal, Simpson recovers to get back into the field of play, but is forced back into the in-goal by the Storm chasers. Souths recover when the line drop out is knocked-on by a Storm receiver.
Half time: 10 all
Rabbitohs enjoying 55% of the ball and slightly ahead on the completions. They have turned up to play.
Too close to call. The Storm are red hot favourites for this match, but are looking well off their game. Souths still looking a tad lazy around the ruck at times and Melbourne could easily roll over them in the second half. Nevertheless, a boilover is on the cards.
Second half underway...
44 min: TRY South Sydney Rabbitohs
Second rower David Fa’alogo crashes over following a short pass from five-eighth John Sutton. Storm defence flat footed, Souths making a mockery of the form guide. Conversion attempt by Sandow 15m wide of the posts is successful.
South Sydney Rabbitohs 16-10
48 min: TRY Melbourne Storm
Wairangi Koopu scores after winger Steve Turner makes a bust down the right side. Follows what looks like a forward pass. It's play on and the Storm are back in the driver's seat. Conversion attempt by Smith unsuccessful.
South Sydney Rabbitohs 16-14
50 min: INJURY - Storm forward Dallas Johnson forced off following a heavy knock to the jaw in a tackle. Waiting for a report but he should be OK.
52 min: TRY South Sydney Rabbitohs
Merritt scores under the posts following a neat grubber kick from Sutton. Conversion attempt by Sandow successful.
South Sydney Rabbitohs 22-14
60 min: Storm with an opportunity now after earning a repeat set close to the Souths line.
62 min: TRY Melbourne Storm
Cronk bamboozles the defnce as he dummies twice and scores just wide of the posts. Souths defence going to sleep. Conversion attempt by Smith successful.
South Sydney Rabbitohs 22-20
67 min: Melbourne cough up the ball in front of their own line, and Souths with a chance, but Colin Best loses it on the first tackle.
68 min: TRY Melbourne Storm
Turner scores but the try belongs to Inglis who made a long run down the right flank, pushing aside would-be tacklers to get the Storm into a try scoring position. Conversion attempt by Smith unsuccessful.
Melbourne Storm 24-22
75 min: Storm now dominating in defence to shut the game down.
76 min: TRY Melbourne Storm
Winger Joseph Tomane scores in the corner with Finch and Inglis setting it up in the backline. Conversion attempt by Tomane unsuccessful.
Melbourne Storm 28-22
Full time: Storm 28-22
A gutsy effort from Souths but the Storm getting out of jail in the backend of the match thanks to the individual magic of Greg Inglis.
Rabbitohs had every opportunity to stage an upset with over 50% possession and a much improved completion rate - probably the better team overall but they conceded the tries and thems the breaks.
LeagueUnlimited.com Player of the Match
3 Points: Greg Inglis
2 Points: David Fa\\\'alogo
1 Point: Ryan Hoffman