Kimmorley ready for return
26 August 2004
Melbourne beware, Cronulla captain Brett Kimmorley has put his time on the sideline to good use.
Kimmorley today declared he was 100 per cent and ready to lead the Sharks' charge into the finals, starting with the scalp of his former NRL club at Toyota Park on Saturday night.
"It's good to be playing again," Kimmorley said today.
"The extra fortnight, it's helped and I have been able to start this week going flat out at full training."
Kimmorley hasn't played since round 13 after tearing his hamstring at NSW Origin training.
In his absence the Sharks have won only three of their nine matches but remain in finals contention, with victory in their final two games assuring the club of a position in the top eight.
"We're still alive," he said.
"We play the Cowboys the last game so this week is a huge (game) for us.
"It's in our own hands. If we win our two games we're sweet. If we lose it's our fault.
"It's promising."
And Kimmorley has used his time on the sidelines wisely.
More often than not he could be seen perched in the Cronulla coaching box, watching intently.
"I think I have noticed things about our club that have been helpful for me - things that do and don't work," he said.
"I have an idea where I can improve and what I can learn from being out."
The Storm is certainly bracing themselves for Kimmorley's return but they won't be focussing all their energy on the crafty No.7.
"With 'Noddy' (Kimmorley) coming back into the side it's going to be a huge boost for them and I'm sure they'll want to finish the season on a high while ending any momentum we've built up recently," Storm halfback Matt Orford said.
"Obviously we have a bit of an idea of how he plays but you can't get too tied up with worrying about one player, there's 17 guys in the other side that we've got to be prepared for.
"It's always going to be hard playing Cronulla no matter who they've got in their side, particularly when it's at their home ground."
The clash of the halfbacks could be the decisive factor in Saturday night's match.
Orford has been one of the competition's form No.7s this season and was at his best last weekend as the Storm ended the Bulldogs' 10-game winning streak.
"He's a quality player and while there's a chance he might be slightly underdone match fitness-wise, we know just how dangerous he can be, so we'll have to try and starve him of the ball," Orford said.
"Going up against an excellent halfback is always tough and even though you're playing against him, you're always picking up little things that can improve your own game.
"We've got to go into this game treating it as a must-win, as I'm sure they will be.
"We're on a bit of a roll at the moment and it would be great to keep that going heading into the finals.
"Not only do we have to prove that we can be a consistent side but we also need to keep up the confidence that we've taken out of the last two weeks.
"We certainly don't want to lose that now, coming into such an important time of the season."
Storm wary of Kimmorley-led Sharks
26 August 2004
Melbourne halfback Matt Orford admits the Storm will be hard-pressed to maintain its recent good form when it meets the Brett Kimmorley-led Sharks at Cronulla on Saturday night.
Orford believes Kimmorleys return from an 11-week layoff due to injury, simply strengthens an already formidable Sharks line-up, but he concedes Melbourne would be foolish to focus solely on the former Storm premiership winner.
With Noddy (Kimmorley) coming back into the side its going to be a huge boost for them and Im sure theyll want to finish the season on a high while ending any momentum weve built up recently, Orford said.
Obviously we have a bit of an idea of how he plays but you cant get too tied up with worrying about one player, theres 17 guys in the other side that weve got to be prepared for.
Its always going to be hard playing Cronulla no matter who theyve got in their side, particularly when its at their home ground.
While Kimmorley has not played since round 13 due to an ongoing hamstring injury, Orford has helped the Storm to two strong wins over the Raiders a fortnight ago and then the Bulldogs last week.
But Orford, who was selected as Kimmorleys replacement for the NSW State of Origin side earlier this year only to withdraw himself due to injury, is quick to point out Kimmorleys credentials as one of the NRLs premier halfbacks.
Hes a quality player and while theres a chance he might be slightly underdone match fitness-wise, we know just how dangerous he can be, so well have to try and starve him of the ball, Orford added.
Going up against an excellent halfback is always tough and even though youre playing against him, youre always picking up little things that can improve your own game.
The clash with Melbourne will be one of the last chances the ninth-placed Sharks have of keeping their season alive, whereas the Storm is aiming to build on its consistency ahead of the upcoming finals series.
Weve got to go into this game treating it as a must-win, as Im sure they will be. Were on a bit of a roll at the moment and it would be great to keep that going heading into the finals, Orford explained.
Not only do we have to prove that we can be a consistent side but we also need to keep up the confidence that weve taken out of the last two weeks. We certainly dont want to lose that now, coming into such an important time of the season.
Cronulla are one of just three teams in the NRL to have beaten the Storm at home this season a 10-point win in round nine - but the Storms 3-3 record at Toyota Park suggests the visitors wont be overawed by a visit to the Shire.
The last time Melbourne travelled to Cronulla (round one, 2003) the Storm pulled off a miraculous come-from-behind win in the final seconds of the match.
We were pretty lucky to get away with the two points in that match last year but hopefully it wont come down to that again this week, Orford said.
Hopefully we can put in a bit more of a convincing performance than the last time - they also got us in Melbourne earlier this year so we probably owe them one.
An injury cloud still hangs over Storm forward Kirk Reynoldson as he battles to overcome a calf injury in time for Saturday nights clash.
Reynoldson missed two weeks with a torn calf muscle before returning to the Melbourne side for last weeks win over the Bulldogs.
26 August 2004
Melbourne beware, Cronulla captain Brett Kimmorley has put his time on the sideline to good use.
Kimmorley today declared he was 100 per cent and ready to lead the Sharks' charge into the finals, starting with the scalp of his former NRL club at Toyota Park on Saturday night.
"It's good to be playing again," Kimmorley said today.
"The extra fortnight, it's helped and I have been able to start this week going flat out at full training."
Kimmorley hasn't played since round 13 after tearing his hamstring at NSW Origin training.
In his absence the Sharks have won only three of their nine matches but remain in finals contention, with victory in their final two games assuring the club of a position in the top eight.
"We're still alive," he said.
"We play the Cowboys the last game so this week is a huge (game) for us.
"It's in our own hands. If we win our two games we're sweet. If we lose it's our fault.
"It's promising."
And Kimmorley has used his time on the sidelines wisely.
More often than not he could be seen perched in the Cronulla coaching box, watching intently.
"I think I have noticed things about our club that have been helpful for me - things that do and don't work," he said.
"I have an idea where I can improve and what I can learn from being out."
The Storm is certainly bracing themselves for Kimmorley's return but they won't be focussing all their energy on the crafty No.7.
"With 'Noddy' (Kimmorley) coming back into the side it's going to be a huge boost for them and I'm sure they'll want to finish the season on a high while ending any momentum we've built up recently," Storm halfback Matt Orford said.
"Obviously we have a bit of an idea of how he plays but you can't get too tied up with worrying about one player, there's 17 guys in the other side that we've got to be prepared for.
"It's always going to be hard playing Cronulla no matter who they've got in their side, particularly when it's at their home ground."
The clash of the halfbacks could be the decisive factor in Saturday night's match.
Orford has been one of the competition's form No.7s this season and was at his best last weekend as the Storm ended the Bulldogs' 10-game winning streak.
"He's a quality player and while there's a chance he might be slightly underdone match fitness-wise, we know just how dangerous he can be, so we'll have to try and starve him of the ball," Orford said.
"Going up against an excellent halfback is always tough and even though you're playing against him, you're always picking up little things that can improve your own game.
"We've got to go into this game treating it as a must-win, as I'm sure they will be.
"We're on a bit of a roll at the moment and it would be great to keep that going heading into the finals.
"Not only do we have to prove that we can be a consistent side but we also need to keep up the confidence that we've taken out of the last two weeks.
"We certainly don't want to lose that now, coming into such an important time of the season."
Storm wary of Kimmorley-led Sharks
26 August 2004
Melbourne halfback Matt Orford admits the Storm will be hard-pressed to maintain its recent good form when it meets the Brett Kimmorley-led Sharks at Cronulla on Saturday night.
Orford believes Kimmorleys return from an 11-week layoff due to injury, simply strengthens an already formidable Sharks line-up, but he concedes Melbourne would be foolish to focus solely on the former Storm premiership winner.
With Noddy (Kimmorley) coming back into the side its going to be a huge boost for them and Im sure theyll want to finish the season on a high while ending any momentum weve built up recently, Orford said.
Obviously we have a bit of an idea of how he plays but you cant get too tied up with worrying about one player, theres 17 guys in the other side that weve got to be prepared for.
Its always going to be hard playing Cronulla no matter who theyve got in their side, particularly when its at their home ground.
While Kimmorley has not played since round 13 due to an ongoing hamstring injury, Orford has helped the Storm to two strong wins over the Raiders a fortnight ago and then the Bulldogs last week.
But Orford, who was selected as Kimmorleys replacement for the NSW State of Origin side earlier this year only to withdraw himself due to injury, is quick to point out Kimmorleys credentials as one of the NRLs premier halfbacks.
Hes a quality player and while theres a chance he might be slightly underdone match fitness-wise, we know just how dangerous he can be, so well have to try and starve him of the ball, Orford added.
Going up against an excellent halfback is always tough and even though youre playing against him, youre always picking up little things that can improve your own game.
The clash with Melbourne will be one of the last chances the ninth-placed Sharks have of keeping their season alive, whereas the Storm is aiming to build on its consistency ahead of the upcoming finals series.
Weve got to go into this game treating it as a must-win, as Im sure they will be. Were on a bit of a roll at the moment and it would be great to keep that going heading into the finals, Orford explained.
Not only do we have to prove that we can be a consistent side but we also need to keep up the confidence that weve taken out of the last two weeks. We certainly dont want to lose that now, coming into such an important time of the season.
Cronulla are one of just three teams in the NRL to have beaten the Storm at home this season a 10-point win in round nine - but the Storms 3-3 record at Toyota Park suggests the visitors wont be overawed by a visit to the Shire.
The last time Melbourne travelled to Cronulla (round one, 2003) the Storm pulled off a miraculous come-from-behind win in the final seconds of the match.
We were pretty lucky to get away with the two points in that match last year but hopefully it wont come down to that again this week, Orford said.
Hopefully we can put in a bit more of a convincing performance than the last time - they also got us in Melbourne earlier this year so we probably owe them one.
An injury cloud still hangs over Storm forward Kirk Reynoldson as he battles to overcome a calf injury in time for Saturday nights clash.
Reynoldson missed two weeks with a torn calf muscle before returning to the Melbourne side for last weeks win over the Bulldogs.
