09 :: R24 Sun :: Storm 16 Sea Eagles 20 @ Olympic

[gong_eagle]

The Adjudicator looks ahead to round 24 of the NRL



http://www.foxsports.com.au/story/0,8659,25940543-5018866,00.html

Melbourne Storm v Manly, Sunday 3pm (EST), Olympic Park
The Adjudicator says: "This will be the last grand final replay between these two for a while. There is still plenty riding on this game but their fall from grace, particularly in recent weeks, suggests they will simply be making up the numbers if they reach the finals. Everyone jumped on the Manly bandwagon, including yours truly, when they strung together a nice run mid-season, but they have never really convinced that they can make up the leeway conceded by their awful start. Melbourne are a shell of the team that took almost all before them over the last four years but there is something that inspires them at Olympic Park. Enjoy the headline billing while you can Storm and Sea Eagles fans! "


LATEST COMMENTS FROM FANS

Sea Eagles fan Robbie D of Gold Coast says: "This will be the final time Manly and Melbourne play in a grand final replay, as Manly will deliver the knockout punch to the Storm and see them crash. There are striking similarities to last year for Manly. They lost back to back at the tail end of the season as they have this year, their last loss in 08 was the Rabbits – and in 2009 perhaps it is the same path. Manly to beat Melbourne and be one point outside the top 4 (Eels to beat Tigers). With B. Stewart – Manly by 18, Without him – Manly by 6."

Sea Eagles fan Geoff of Gosford says: "Because I'm a MANLY supporter I say MANLY will win - I aways say that. I watched MANLY smash The Knights at home here at Gosford. Then Inglis self-destructed and shortly thereafter The Knights beat The Storm in Melbourne! So there is the huge Inglis factor. Storm loses one of the game's top 4 players - hey that's a big hit at this time of the year. The Storm are pretty secure in 4th on 29. They have two softer games after us so may finish on 33 and remain in 4th. There is the 40-0 factor. There is the home game factor for Smith's boys. Then there is OUR need to win. We MUST win everything to end up on 32 points. On probability we may count on just under two games - about 1.9 or 1.8 and that's risky. All our guys played well on Saturday against Easts, notwithstanding it was a tough game for Easts to lift. Lyon was better than in previous games, he was very good. So from a Manly supporter, MANLY to grind out a tough AWAY win 18-12."

Sea Eagles fan Phil says: "Manly have been undefeated this year when Brett Stewart has been in the side. His return is imminent. Manly looked for the most part of last week’s game to have regained shape and dynamics. If they back it up this weekend, they could surely start a run that will see them at ANZ Stadium come the Labour Day Weekend. It would be an interesting battle if Inglis’ suspension was lifted and Stewart was back. The battle of the golden boys turn bad. Despite their new reputations both have the capability of turning the game for their team. The only tip I am willing to make is that the NRL will not be collecting video footage for the 2010 NRL Season TV Ads.”

Storm fan JD of Canberra says: "Mr A - your words only seem to be ringing a lot of alarm bells for your position as the Adjudicator. You only seem to tip Melbourne when in Melbourne, as an easy way out beckons. You have even sat on the fence this week. Meanwhile, dear Mrs A has shown some gusto and more balls than you in the AFL tipping. Enjoy your own headlines while you can! Storm might not be the force they were, but didn't Dragons lose to Canberra last weekend? Tough crowd. Storm by 10.”

 

[gong_eagle]

Billy Slater says Melbourne Storm need to find their form, not NRL excuses

August 18, 2009
http://www.foxsports.com.au/story/0,8659,25946750-5018866,00.html

Billy Slater has warned Melbourne Storm are at a turning point and can kiss goodbye to hopes becoming NRL premiers if they start blaming poor performances on the absence of Greg Inglis and others.
Test full-back Slater lamented his own game wasn't up to scratch as a listless Storm was walloped 26-14 by a re-energised Newcastle with new coach Rick Stone at the helm on Monday night.

An uncharacteristic off-night saw Slater bomb an early try and fumble the ball on his own line to almost concede one as a poor defensive effort allowed the Knights to gallop out to a 26-point lead by the hour mark at EnergyAustralia Stadium.

But Slater refused to blame the Storm's poor attitude on off-field issues surrounding suspended superstar Inglis or injuries like that which ruled out emerging back Joseph Tomane.

"(Having) Greggy or Joseph doesn't help us tackle well," Slater said.

"Them not being in our side doesn't stop us doing what we do well.

"If we start looking who we didn't have in, the Sika Manus and those sorts of players, we starting to look for excuses.

"And when you start looking for excuses you may as well pack your bags for the rest of the season.

"We're at a turning point and I suppose it's up to us which way we go."

Inglis, who was stood down indefinitely after being charged with assaulting girlfriend Sally Robinson, was sorely missed in attack as the Storm failed to produce any real attacking flair until - faced with their worst loss this season - they scored three tries in six minutes.

"I don't think off-field stuff came into it, I think it was certainly an attitude thing, and certainly an effort thing," Slater said.

"We weren't prepared to work that little bit harder to get the result that we needed.

"They wanted to run harder than us, they wanted to wrestle harder than us, they pretty much wanted to do all the little things that build to a good performance better than us."

While the Storm are well-placed in fourth spot, a log-jam of teams are building momentum and vying for a spot in the finals.

Slater said the Storm must bounce back quickly and find a way to win away from Olympic Park.

AAP

 

[Carnifex]

Billy Slater says Melbourne Storm need to find their form

No sh*t sherlock.

 

[kia ora storm]

nah , more like Slater fumbles yet another grubber kick ingoal for Orford to dive on for the winning try

But Orford fails to ground it properly and Jeff Lima scoops up the ball and runs 80 metres to score under the posts.:lol:

 

[cupid]

But Orford fails to ground it properly and Jeff Lima scoops up the ball and runs 80 metres to score under the posts.:lol:

But the touch judge comes in before the try is scored and said Orford was take out illegally whilst trying to score the try. Manly get the penalty try and win by 8

 

[kia ora storm]

But the touch judge comes in before the try is scored and said Orford was take out illegally whilst trying to score the try. Manly get the penalty try and win by 8

But the the other touchie comes in and says "he did'nt see anything" and the decision is overturned.

No penalty try and no try whatsoever...;-)

 

[gong_eagle]

But Orford fails to ground it properly and Jeff Lima scoops up the ball and runs 80 metres to score under the posts.:lol:

:lol: Jeff Lima running 80 metres,

which is still 20 metres short of the line

 

[gong_eagle]

Perry - we're not scared of anyone

* By Dean Ritchie
* From: The Daily Telegraph
* August 19, 2009

http://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/sp...scared-of-anyone/story-e6frexnr-1225763502020


THEY are confronting an 11-year hoodoo in Melbourne, but Manly prop Josh Perry yesterday ensured an explosive build-up to Sunday's match against the Storm by declaring: "We're not scared of anyone."

The Daily Telegraph can reveal that premiers Manly - and the previous Northern Eagles - have never won in Melbourne since the Storm's inception back in 1998.

During that period, the Eagles have lost all seven games - six at Olympic Park and one at Etihad Stadium (formerly Colonial Stadium) - but Perry is unconcerned at his club's miserable record in Victoria and believes Manly can still secure successive NRL titles.

"We are right in the thick of it, despite everything that has gone on this year," Perry said. "We'll still finish fifth or sixth.

"But we're not scared of anyone. There is still a lot of confidence in the camp. We have the team to go back-to-back.

"The Storm and Dragons look pretty good but anyone in the top eight can do the job. We're looking forward to the big one against Melbourne. I'm not sure how many competition points will get teams into the finals, we just want to win all our games.

"We have played against Melbourne in the last two Grand Finals - there is always plenty of rivalry, especially down there, where we haven't won for a while."

Manly are adamant injured fullback Brett Stewart will not return for this game, with his comeback likely to be against Cronulla next weekend at Brookvale.

 

[kia ora storm]

Perry - we're not scared of anyone

* By Dean Ritchie
* From: The Daily Telegraph
* August 19, 2009

http://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/sp...scared-of-anyone/story-e6frexnr-1225763502020


THEY are confronting an 11-year hoodoo in Melbourne, but Manly prop Josh Perry yesterday ensured an explosive build-up to Sunday's match against the Storm by declaring: "We're not scared of anyone."

The Daily Telegraph can reveal that premiers Manly - and the previous Northern Eagles - have never won in Melbourne since the Storm's inception back in 1998.

During that period, the Eagles have lost all seven games - six at Olympic Park and one at Etihad Stadium (formerly Colonial Stadium) - but Perry is unconcerned at his club's miserable record in Victoria and believes Manly can still secure successive NRL titles.

"We are right in the thick of it, despite everything that has gone on this year," Perry said. "We'll still finish fifth or sixth.

"But we're not scared of anyone. There is still a lot of confidence in the camp. We have the team to go back-to-back.

"The Storm and Dragons look pretty good but anyone in the top eight can do the job. We're looking forward to the big one against Melbourne. I'm not sure how many competition points will get teams into the finals, we just want to win all our games.

"We have played against Melbourne in the last two Grand Finals - there is always plenty of rivalry, especially down there, where we haven't won for a while."

Manly are adamant injured fullback Brett Stewart will not return for this game, with his comeback likely to be against Cronulla next weekend at Brookvale.

I question why players come out and talk it up just before a game ??..it can come back to bite them big time.

Each to their own though..

 

[gong_eagle]

as long as he delivers its ok by me, then there's the opposite like Darius LOL

 

[nathanbrown'sghost]

as long as he delivers its ok by me, then there's the opposite like Darius LOL

Darius did talk it up. He said Saints were "going pretty good eh"

 

[Butters]

The battle of the pretenders..

Melbourne by 10

 

[effnic]

The battle of the pretenders..

Melbourne by 10

5 grand final apperances between both teams in the past 3 years, pretty good if you ask me.

 

[mave]

A little too much love in this thread for my liking. Where has all the melbourne hate gone?

40- 0 arseholes

 

[cupid]

A little too much love in this thread for my liking. Where has all the melbourne hate gone?

40- 0 arseholes

Pretty much right when we one 40-0,

 

[LESStar58]

Don't have the balls to tip the winner myself but reckon there'll be no more than a try in it come full-time.

 

[MSIH]

A little too much love in this thread for my liking. Where has all the melbourne hate gone?

40- 0 arseholes

Yeah 40-0 removed all my hate for Melbourne.

 

[Butters]

5 grand final apperances between both teams in the past 3 years, pretty good if you ask me.

Got nothing to do with the fact that both teams will just be making up the numbers come the finals.

 

[Jatz Crackers]

Got nothing to do with the fact that both teams will just be making up the numbers come the finals.

In that case, a carefree, unpressured, unhurried and unfettered Manly to win by volumes.

 

[kia ora storm]

A little too much love in this thread for my liking. Where has all the melbourne hate gone?

40- 0 arseholes

Tool...wipe the drible off ya chin.