The NRL Finals - Round 2 Thread

[THE RED ROOSTER]

Going .. Going Gone...

This week its the case against the visitors

Melbourne Storm v Sydney Roosters

• Roosters on a seven game winning streak - all streaks come to an end
• Roosters minus Joseph Suaalii, Joey Manu and Billy Smith - Stom without Xavier Coates and Jahrome Hughes - On balance it hurts the Roosters more
• Last weeks was one of two titantic battles and the Roosters will be not just physically but mentally drained
• Roosters defence kept them on the game against Sharkies but they lack, invention, speed and guile going forward
• Melbourne havew a suspect pack but Bellamy has had a week to fix this with assistance from Brandon Smith "poking the bear" in the media so to speak.
• Flying to Victoria is an advantage to the home team

New Zealand Warriors v Newcastle Knights

• Knights on a ten game winning streak - all streaks come to an end
• Knights without Jackson Hastings but Shaun Johnson returns for the Warriors - a big swing to the Warriors
• Last weeks was one of two titantic battles and the Knights will be not just physically but mentally drained
• Ricky's depleted Raiders gave the Knights a joust to remember and exosed the chinks in the Knights Armour defensively.
• The Warriors have the backing of a whole nation at Mount Smart - Big time mana for the Warriors
• Flying across "the ditch" to New Zealand is an advantage to the home team

As always good luck with your Tips, and in the NRL it's not always obvious as to how the game pans out.

[Graham]

Note the Storm bench!

[Graham]

The game has kicked off

[Graham]

King drops ball first Storm error in a dangerous place.

[Graham]

Melbourne hit back with powerful tackling forces the Roosters to lose the ball.

[Futtocks]

Wishart opens the scoring!

[Graham]

Wishart created his own super try there. Big dummy and squirts through.

[Graham]

Meaney missed the conversion… poor kick 

4-0 Storm

10 minutes gone

[Graham]

Storm close but not try. Reimus knocked on.

[Graham]

Storm applying pressure.

Roosters conceding penalties. High shot that time.

[Graham]

6-0 Storm

penalty goal Meaney

[Graham]

Grant on

NAS off

[MZH]

I'd feel pretty sick about that if I was a Roosters fan. That was obviously a knock on from Grant, you didn't need a replay to know that. How Klein thought he caught it I have no idea.

[Sports Prophet]

Great try

[Graham]

10-0 Storm

not converted 

[Sports Prophet]

Just now, MZH said:

I'd feel pretty sick about that if I was a Roosters fan. That was obviously a knock on from Grant, you didn't need a replay to know that. How Klein thought he caught it I have no idea.

Especially when they go downfield for an unconverted try

[Graham]

That was Seve scoring Storm’s second try.

[MZH]

2 minutes ago, Sports Prophet said:

Especially when they go downfield for an unconverted try

Exactly. Don't get me wrong, it was a mediocre defensive set and a decent try, but they should have been attacking the Melbourne line. I'm surprised there wasn't a challenge. Even on the long shot at full speed it didn't look like there was any way he caught it clean.

[MZH]

Good game this. I've seen better quality games but it's high intensity.

[Farmduck]

Chooks doing a lot better than I expected.

[Graham]

HT

Storm 10 - 6 Roosters

[Graham]

Score Summary

T. Wishart 8M. Seve 26	Tries	B. Smith 34
	Conversions	S. Walker 35
N. Meaney 18	Penalty Goals

[StandOffHalf]

Jeez, how did Klein miss Grant putting that down under his own sticks.

Pretty blatant; a shocking ref miss, unfortunately.

[StandOffHalf]

Brandy seemed to be saying that Reimis Smith had his hand on the ball as he pulled it in. I think he used the ground and pulled it in in a forward motion.

Correct call by the Bunker IMO.

[Futtocks]

Collins gets the ball with a yawning gap in front of him.

12 all with 13 minutes to go.