Round 4 Melbourne Storm v Sydney Roosters

[TITAN PETE]

SUNDAY

Melbourne Storm v Sydney Roosters at AAMI Park, 2:00pm (local). #NRLMELSYD

STORM: Billy Slater, Matt Duffie, Dane Nielsen, Justin O'Neill, Anthony Quinn, Gareth Widdop, Cooper Cronk, Jesse Bromwich, Cameron Smith (c), Bryan Norrie, Sika Manu, Ryan Hoffman, Todd Lowrie. Interchange: Ryan Hinchcliffe, Kevin Proctor, Siosaia Vave, Jason Ryles

ROOSTERS: Anthony Minichiello, Justin Carney, Joseph 'BJ' Leilua, Shaun Kenny-Dowall, Sam Perrett, Braith Anasta (c), Mitchell Pearce, Jared Waerea-Hargreaves, Jake Friend, Martin Kennedy, Boyd Cordner, Mitchell Aubusson, Frank Paul Nuuausala. Interchange: Tinirau Arona, Mose Masoe, Lama Tasi, Daniel Mortimer

[TITAN PETE]

I think Roosters will give them a run for their money but Billy & Smith will be too good.

[TITAN PETE]

Storm beat Roosters, another Slater double

By Melissa Woods AAP Sun, Mar 25, 2012 - 6:53 PM

The numbers don't matter to Melbourne Storm fullback Billy Slater as long as his NRL team are winning.

And thanks to another try-scoring double to the superstar - his fourth in succession - they are, with the Sydney Roosters the latest casualty in a 44-4 thrashing at AAMI Park for Melbourne to go to the top of the competition ladder.

He's the only player ever to start an NRL season with such figures in the four opening rounds and his tally of eight is more than three clubs - Gold Coast, Parramatta and the Roosters - have all managed.

Last week Slater became the highest try-scoring fullback in rugby league history and will take some catching at this rate.

But the 28-year-old said he wasn't concerned about the number of tries or metres covered and wasn't even sure if he was in career-best form.

"It's not really important, it's a team game and it's the performance that we put on show," Slater said.

"A lot of players around me are playing really good as well so that certainly helps your individual performance.

"We're getting better as a side so the easier it (becomes) individually."

Slater also had a hand in several others of Melbourne's eight-try romp, including a second-half effort when he showed his array of skills to kick ahead for halfback Cooper Cronk to touch down.

The Storm put the Roosters on the back foot just after the opening whistle to each half with early tries, while their defence was impeccable.

Centre Dane Nielsen was on the scoreboard in the third minute thanks to some clever lead-up work by Cronk, while tries by Kevin Proctor and Slater helped the home side to a 16-0 halftime lead.

The Roosters appeared hard done by just before the break when video referee Rod Lawrence ruled against a try by winger Sam Perrett.

While unhappy with the decision Roosters skipper Braith Anasta said his side couldn't blame refereeing for the loss.

"It's hard to blame the referee when we played like that; they were too good for us, there's no doubt about that.

"You can try and deflect it but they were too good for us."

His coach Brian Smith added: "It felt like we were playing up-hill and against the tide most of the day".

Any hope the Roosters had of a second-half fight-back was quickly snuffed out by a Ryan Hoffman try in the 41st minute after an initial Slater break.

The man of the moment then got his second in the 46th minute.

Veteran coach Smith said it was hard to say if there had ever been a better fullback than Slater.

"Our game has been graced with a lot of fantastic fullbacks ... he's an outstanding player," Smith said.