Storm overall looked superior, but I gotta check the replay for a few things that annoyed me, some prior to Storm tries.
i) There first try came after a line drop-out, which was off the back of a break made by a player who looked tackled to me. I don't know which Eels player had him till I watch the replay, but he was on the ground holding the Storm players leg, and I thought I heard the referee call "Release", whereby he let go, and the ref let the player run on, making another 20-30m. Did anyone else hear this, or did I not hear correctly?
ii) Ben Smith being penalised when we were smashing them in defence, for "holding down". Storm score off the next set (Lowrie mistackle). Never was this penalty given to us, despite some far worse occasions where Melbourne laid all over the ruck, and for longer periods of time (particularly in the second half).
iii) Nathan Hindmarsh called "knocking-on" in the play the ball, when a Storm knee made contact with his arm while playing the ball. Fair enough as it was poor security, but where was the consistency with Moi Moi penalised against Slater that led to the field goal?
iv) Storm's fourth try, off of a knock-on called against Mateo - replay showed ball played at by Melbourne, Mateo pleaded "six again" - not forthcoming. Again, it was a loose carry, but it just highlights the sh*t inconsistency with the Slater penalty.
v) The Slate decision. FFS where was the consistency?
On the flipside, we had the holding back of Inglis not called.
I will watch the replay to set my mind one way or another on the above decisions, but as it currently stands, I am pretty annoyed with how the game was called.
Particularly, if he had called "release" and I am filthy about that penalty on Ben Smith.
