NRL Match Thread Finals Week 3 - Saturday Penrith Panthers v South Sydney Rabbitohs

[Graham]

MELBOURNE V CANBERRA

Finals Week 3

So this do or die match offers the winners a place in the 2020 Grand Final.

Storm have had a week off to prepare having beaten Eels in Week 1 of the finals. Raiders by contrast had a gruelling game against Roosters last weekend. Raiders aim is to reach the finals for the second year in a row, though it will be a big ask as they face Storm who look to be able to name their first choice 17 for the clash. Raiders are likely to field the same 17 that faced Roosters.

Canberra have beaten Melbourne three times in the last four meetings. Storm though have a good record in Brisbane.

[LEEDSLADGONE SOUTH]

Melbourne by 18 

id love Canberra or win but the storm look like they have too much firepower, particularly out wide

[JasonNRL]

Storm v Raiders Preview:

• Head-to-head in 2020
• Patient Storm
• Raiders effort in defence
• Tips

https://rlwriters.substack.com/p/nrl-finals-storm-v-raiders-preview

[George Watt]

 

Nothing here for Ricky. Melbourne will win this narrowly.

[Graham]

Well with 20 minutes to kick off here’s the line ups:

Raiders as per last week and Storm have Cameron Munster, him having shaken off the leg injury. Back from injury is Dale Finucane.

[Graham]

Just two or three minutes to kick off in Brisbane.

[Futtocks]

Getting nervous now!

[Graham]

Morning Futtocks and everybody else everywhere whatever the time is with you.

[Graham]

Storm starting well.

Moving the ball sharpish.

Ah Bromwich is in for them.

Try

4-0 Storm kick to come.

[Graham]

Cam Smith converts

6-0 Storm about 7 minutes gone.

[DoubleD]

How good is the Storm’s ball movement?

[Futtocks]

Looking like a massacre so far.  

[DoubleD]

Game over

[Davo5]

Unbelievable play from the Storm.

[Graham]

Just to keep us up to date 18-0 Storm

[Graham]

Why was that not a try. He got downward pressure on it.

Bunker wrong for me there.

[Graham]

Well Olam is in now. Pity Paps couldn’t have scored chasing his kick through. It bounced lovely for Justin.

[Graham]

22-0 Storm

[Graham]

Converted by Smith

24-0 Storm

[Futtocks]

Cotric scores! At last, Canberra get on the scoreboard.

[Liverpool Rover]

Raiders on the board. Nice kick from Williams.

[Graham]

Cotric try after some time wasting by the ref checking a no try with video ref taking an age.

Great leap and put down by Cotric in the right hand corner

[Graham]

24-6 Storm

[Graham]

24-6 Storm

Half time

4 tries to 1

[Liverpool Rover]

Canberra started to get a foothold in the game but for most of the first half Melbourne were so dominant. They may as well not bother with the second half.