Round 4: Melbourne Storm vs St George-illawarra Dragons

[DIEHARD]

Melbourne Storm vs St George-illawarra Dragons[

[Sydney Titans Fanatic]

Storm v Dragons
Etihad Stadium
Friday 2.10pm (AEDT)

Bogey teams – every NRL side has them. And some more than others. Unfortunately for the Dragons, theirs is Melbourne – the Storm are their out-and-out nemesis, given they’ve only beaten them six times in 23 outings, which represents their worst win ratio against any side in the NRL.

But more than that, the Storm haven’t surrendered the competition points to the Red V on home soil in the Victorian capital since 1999!

That adds extra interest to this Good Friday afternoon clash between two of the three undefeated sides after Round 3.

The Storm may have six competition points but they have been far from impressive. They scraped home (14-10) to inflict the Sharks’ 11th straight loss in Round 1, before similarly unconvincing wins against the beleaguered Knights (20-14) and then the Panthers last week (16-10).

They’ve not been without their personnel problems, with Brett White, Sika Manu, Ryan Hoffman, Chase Stanley and John Kite all sidelined through injury – although they received a boost last week when Cooper Cronk had his first run for the season and immediately rescued them from the flames at CUA Stadium.

Conversely the Dragons have absolutely flown out of the blocks, their three wins (Eels 18-12, Bulldogs 26-6 and Cowboys 33-8) giving the joint venture their best ever start to a season.

Also, their 26 points conceded is the second fewest surrendered by any side over the past decade.

Watch out Storm: Massive territory gained and an unrivalled average completion rate tell the story for the Dragons.

Wayne Bennett has his side completing 88 per cent of their sets through three rounds – a massive eight per cent better than the next best Sea Eagles and 18 per cent better than the Storm.

With that much ball, it’s no wonder their big forwards are posting impressive numbers – Dan Hunt 41 runs for an average 104 metres a game, Michael Weyman 35 runs for an average 8.6-metre carry, Matt prior 101 metres a game.

Overall the Dragons rank third for territory gained, averaging 1387 metres compared to the Storm’s modest 1135 metres – which is the second fewest metres gained in the comp to date.

This disciplined approach has earned the Dragons excellent field position from which to launch attacks – mostly down the left edge where Brett Morris (averaging 152 metres a game, fifth in the NRL) has five tries already.

The Storm need to try to bustle their opponents into error and keep them out of their 20-metre zone – the Dragons have scored eight of their 13 tries inside the 20.

Watch out Dragons: Beware the sleeping giant. Or make that ‘GI’ant. Greg Inglis’ 2010 stats aren’t anywhere in the superstar league – he is averaging just 73 metres a game and has just one line-break. Worse, he is yet to record a line-break assist – one of his fortes.

The Storm need Inglis to find form soon – and given the history between these two teams, and Inglis’ classic ‘don’t argue’ fend on Jamie Soward when scoring a try last year, this is just the game to reignite his passion.

Also, the Dragons need to put towering prop Aiden Tolman on his backside early – Tolman leads the NRL for most runs (60) and will be a thorn if not contained.

Billy Slater is an obvious danger man. He has been involved in 50 per cent of the Storm’s eight scoring plays – he has three try assists and one four-pointer himself.

Where it will be won: In the early exchanges. The Dragons have been ultra impressive in the first three weeks, with quick starts a feature in all of their wins. They led the Eels 12-0 after 22 minutes, then raced away from the Bulldogs to lead 16-0 in even time in Round 2. Last week they led the Cowboys 10-2 after 14 minutes.

Meanwhile, it took the Storm 35 minutes to get on the scoreboard against the Sharks in Round 1; they trailed Newcastle 14-0 after 22 minutes and held just a 6-4 lead over the Panthers after 34 minutes last week.

It’s not rocket science: Wayne Bennett will be drilling his side into trying to play error-free football from the start. Conversely Craig Bellamy will be after better ball control from his side.

The History: Played 23; Storm 16, Dragons 6, drawn 1. The Storm have won six of the past eight games between the sides and hold a 1-0 advantage at Etihad Stadium.

Melbourne won 17-16 in a golden point nail-biter in Round 1 last year, before the Dragons won 26-12 at Kogarah in Round 21.

Conclusion: Wayne Bennett lost his very first NRL game at the helm of the Dragons to this side in Round 1 last year. But since then, his players have never been out of the top eight.

The aura of invincibility Melbourne have had around them when it comes to the Dragons over the past decade seems to be dissipating.

Even though this one is in Melbourne, a comparison of the performances of these two sides to date is like chalk and cheese. The Dragons by a two-try margin.

Match officials: Referees – Jared Maxwell & Gerard Sutton; Sideline Officials – David Abood & Gavin Morris; Video ref – Bill Harrigan.

Televised: Channel 9 – Delayed from 4pm; Fox Sports 2 – Delayed 1am Sat.

[Sydney Titans Fanatic]

Melbourne Storm:
1,Billy Slater
2,Luke MacDougall
3, Greg Inglis
4, Dane Nielsen
5, Anthony Quinn
6, Brett Finch
7, Cooper Cronk
8, Aiden Tolman
9, Cam Smith
10, Jeff Lima
11, Adam Blair
12, Kevin Proctor
13, Todd Lowrie.
Interchange from:
14,Ryan Hinchcliffe
15, Hep Cahill
16, Ryan Tandy
17, Jesse Bromwich
18, Bryan Norrie.

St George Illawarra Dragons:
1,Darius Boyd
2, Brett Morris
3, Beau Scott
4, Matt Cooper
5, Jason Nightingale
6, Jamie Soward
7, Ben Hornby ?
8, Matt Prior
9, Luke Priddis
10, Michael Weyman
11, Jeremy Smith
12, Ben Creagh
13, Dean Young.
Interchange:
14,Jon Green
15, Nick Emmett
16, Dan Hunt
17, Jarrod Saffy.

[Sydney Titans Fanatic]

Nine pulls the plug - and the Storm's live support system fails Melbourne again
RICHARD HINDS
April 1, 2010
source:smh.com.au
As The Chaser team found, putting any cause - in their case, a clumsy attempt to milk a laugh - up against the plight of sick children is a no-win situation.

So, on the surface, Channel Nine's abandonment of live coverage of tomorrow's Storm-Dragons game in Melbourne in deference to the city's long-running Royal Children's Hospital Appeal, shown on Seven, seems easily defensible. ''What, you'd rather watch Billy Slater than cure Little Johnny? You heartless cad!''

The truth, however, is that an event that could have given the Storm a rare moment in the spotlight in their home town - while making a respectful contribution to the appeal - is just the latest victim of the game's highly conflicted administrative/ownership structure and inability to penetrate beyond its own borders.

Would the Storm be in the perverse position of requesting that the blockbuster game NOT be shown live in Melbourne if they were not owned by News Ltd, a major partner in the Royal Children's Hospital Appeal? Would it have happened if the game's national vision was not clouded by a retrograde and self-destructive administrative structure?

The tragedy for the Storm, who have lost yet another chance to gain well-deserved exposure, is that they would not be pulling the plug on a sick kid's life support by featuring in two hours of televised rugby league on an achingly dull afternoon. They would simply be answering the cry of sports-loving Melburnians who are desperate for something - anything - to watch on Good Friday. Yes, even rugby league.

It is not as if cinemas will be closed or rival television networks showing only test pattern. The Storm, however, have been self-censored.

As former Storm chief executive Brian Waldron was well aware when he stitched up the Good Friday match, free dates in a winter calendar almost fully booked by the AFL are rare and fleeting. When Archbishop Demetriou sheds his clerical robes, it's a good bet his successor will cave in to the demands of AFL clubs to play on Good Friday - while giving generously to the Good Friday Appeal, as the Storm intend to do.

The Good Friday blackout is merely the latest example of how the NRL is failing even to attempt to maximise national coverage at a time when the game has never been better.

Asked about Nine's treatment of the game in Melbourne, where neither Friday night nor Sunday afternoon matches are seldom shown before midnight, NRL boss David Gallop is careful not to upset his broadcasting partner.

''There is no point showing games in prime-time if the Iron Chef on SBS beats you,'' he said, in reference to failed attempts by Ten to show non-Swans AFL games in prime-time in Sydney. ''You want to improve the timeslots but you can't expect broadcasters to take a belting in the ratings.''

Which is true. However, there is no escaping the perversity of a situation where viewers in the nation's second-largest city have no reasonable access to the NRL's showcase games.

The AFL has insisted Friday night matches not shown on free-to-air (Seven) be made available on Foxtel. Gallop says the NRL is pushing for a similar agreement - difficult given the reluctance of networks to be put in direct competition with their own product. If that does not happen now, it should be a compulsory part of the next rights agreement.

Meanwhile, rather than one of the most anticipated games of the season, tomorrow at 2pm Melbourne viewers can watch the The Maldonado Miracle, a movie about a statue of Christ that cries tears of blood.

League fans in Melbourne trying to follow the NRL, and also convince sceptical locals to put aside their preconceived notions and give a pulsating game a chance, will know how the statue feels.

[titansrawesome]

well how are we ment to be fighting the afl when we concede like this.

[Dragons]

well how are we ment to be fighting the afl when we concede like this.

Even here in QLD we are on delayed TV by three and a half hours, because Channel Nine are showing it a 4.00pm. Why cant we watch it live?

[titansrawesome]

Even here in QLD we are on delayed TV by three and a half hours, because Channel Nine are showing it a 4.00pm. Why cant we watch it live?

i agree its bullshrimp, by that time i would have had enough and gottten the result on foxsportsnews

[AmericanTitan]

I have a good friend who is going to this game.

Hopefully he'll have some good pictures.

[DIEHARD]

Disgrace that News pulled the plug. Missed opportunity for the game.

Hope we get a good crowd.

With things such as an annual Good Friday Storm game, which is at the moment... AFL free and the possible annual scheduling of a Storm blockbuster in Round 1, where there is no AFL. It would all add up to something attractive the Storm can work with.

Ironically I was at the last Good Friday Storm game. 2001 Storm vs Northern Eagles at the then Colonial Stadium now Etihad.

Lots of bad blood between the Storm and Dragons, which means we are in for a treat.

Also the mighty Titans play them at home next week, so keep a close eye on the Storm.

[Sydney Titans Fanatic]

Storm Promote Emergency Cup
nrlnews.com.au
April 1, 2010

Melbourne Storm’s blockbuster Good Friday clash against St George-Illawarra Dragons will see the two teams once again compete for the Emergency Services Cup, the trophy up for grabs whenever these sides meet.

The Cup, named in honour of the men and women in the Emergency Services in Victoria and New South Wales who fought the Black Saturday bushfires and helped those affected by the disaster, is one piece of silverware missing from the Storm’s trophy cabinet the Storm players would like to see returned.

“The Dragons beat us the last time we played so unfortunately we don’t hold the trophy at the moment,” said star Storm fullback Billy Slater.

“They beat us at Kogorah late last year by 14 points after we beat them in the inaugural contest in round one by a point, so we’re pretty keen to win the Cup back.”

Not only would the Storm players like to win the Cup back given it would add another two premiership points to their tally and preserve their unbeaten start to the season, but given the bushfires occurred in their home city, the players and staff are aware of the devastation caused.

“I have the utmost respect for those who fought the fires and helped those who were shattered after Black Saturday,” said Slater.

“Being so close to the bushfires really gave us as a Club a sense of what was going on, and to be able to honour the Emergency Services personnel with this Cup is something we’re very proud of.

“The whole squad went out to Whittlesea a couple of days after the bushfires to try and bring a smile to the faces of those affected, and to see what had happened was a real eye opener.

“The outpouring of help for these people was amazing and I’m just really glad we can play for this trophy regularly against a Club we really respect.”

The Storm and Dragons meet at Etihad Stadium on Good Friday, April 2 from 2.10pm.

Gates open at 12.30pm with plenty of entertainment for the whole family to enjoy. Dora the Explorer will be entertaining the kids from 12.30pm, before well known entertainer Axle Whitehead sings a couple of songs at 1.50pm.

After the game the Emergency Services Cup will be presented to the winning captain by the Minsiter for Roads and Ports Tim Pallas, before Storm CEO Matt Hanson makes a donation to the Good Friday Appeal on behalf of the Club.

[DIEHARD]

4pm on Channel 9. Wish it was LIVE....

[AmericanTitan]

I think I get this game here in a few hours live through Big Pond!

Woooo, live League is the best!

[AmericanTitan]

4-0 Storm at halftime.

Really good defense.

Overall both teams have to be happy with where they are at. Should be a great second half.

[Sydney Titans Fanatic]

is it worth putting a couple of dokllars on the dragons

[AmericanTitan]

is it worth putting a couple of dokllars on the dragons

Its close enough as to where I could see either team winning.

If you're a gambler and you're getting good odds I would probably say it's worth a shot.


I think Melbourne is playing a little better at this time though.