Hoffman really went up a gear. I think if anyone has a point to prove it is him. I reckon he would have taken the stripping of premierships harder than the others and is desperate to get one back.
My biggest concern out of tonight is that we only managed a further 6 points in the 2nd half. Storm seem content to defend their lead rather than add to it. It might be viable against a team like Souths but we'll get taken apart by the Bulldogs or Manly. Attack needs to improve. Defense, on the other hand, was outstanding! 3 times in the 2nd half Farrel and Everingham were snuffed out by the defense for 2 going in to touch and the 3rd being held up. Still room to improve but tonight was probably our best showing against quality opposition since the Dogs in April.
Fonua, well, I had doubts about him under the bomb but he did a splendid job tonight! And for him to get over the line too!
Souths were their own worst enemy. They had all the ball and territory on the back of their first set of six and then pissed it away through poor last tackle options, errors, or just too-dam-good Melbourne defense. Ingliss was nuliffied to the point he was ineffective but don't know how he was expected to perform seeing as his forwards were more interested in fighting (Crocker, as much as I like him, has let his temper go out the window. If he was still at Melbourne and carrying on like that Bellamy would rip him a new arsehole. Taylor was not much better either) and pissing and moaning to the referee about being hard done by.
