Storm 3 2 1s

[Valheru]

How good was that!

JWH and Lodge taking it to the merkins and they were rattled as well.

We did exceptionally well to hold on in the end with multiple try saving plays. IMO if toops stays on we win more comfortably, losing a winger is the hardest position to cover, it just requires such a drastic restructure as you don't carry a spare.

Keary looked at his damaging best the first 20 minutes and that game will do young walker a world of good, he was half a second slow in his decisions IMO and just needs to go with his first instinct which was correct, the execution just suffered because of hesitation.

Hoping toops is back for finals. JWH shouldn't get suspended, sin bin was enough for that incident and he didn't even hit olam on the 2nd one. Collins will probably get a week. Radley's incident was sickening to watch but apparently he remembers everything so who knows what will happen there. He certainly won't play next week.

That is top 8 secured and if vermin lose today it also, excluding a 40 point loss next week, secures a home final. There are so many permutations still in play in terms of exactly where we finish as well as other teams in the 8. I reckon we want to avoid 5th though if 1v4 is penrith/storm.

3 lodge
2 big dog
1 teddy

 

[Babyface O'reilly]

I thought we gave Melbourne a dose of their own medicine last night and thoroughly enjoyed the game day thread meltdown.
Everyone in that team toughed it out last night in a galant defensive display and even little Sammy stood up when the big men ran at him pulling off at least one try saver to boot. Storm were their own worst enemy with handling errors in try scoring opportunities but our pressure can take some credit for that. We saw some great individual heroism on display last night - none more so than Teddy’s last ditch try saver under the sticks.

Jared does not deserve a suspension although you never know in Vlad’s rugbah loig. Our two big bastards up front laid the platform last night and I hope they continue to wreak havoc at least deep into September. If those two weren’t playing like they were, we go nowhere near winning.

I must admit I’m a little confused with the Collins cannonball tackle as there was little to no force and if the judiciary can’t take any injury (unlucky as it was) sustained into account, then how does he cop a week, although I suspect he will.

Hope Rads/Tupou recover quickly as they’re finals experience will be badly needed.

Thoughts to next week against the vermin with no Rads, Toops and possibly Lindsay. Those merkins seem to meet us when we‘re down a few, don’t they? Lots to play for and I’m sure they’ll want to spoil our party at our new digs. If they lose this week, then it will make last night’s game look like a trial.

Same three for me.

3. Lodge
2. JWH
1. Teddy

 

[Valheru]

I think our biggest challenge is this game not turning out to be our "grand final", we have to keep going.

It would be a big danger with most teams but Robbo got dis IMO. He seemed thoroughly nonplussed with the result and somewhat bored in the presser haha. It was just another game for him with nothing of note was achieved.

 

[Captain Apollo]

3 points: Matt Lodge

2 points: Jared Warea-Hargreaves

1 point: James Tedesco.

 

[H.H]

3 - Rads
2 - Jared
1 - Ted

Lodge unlucky and overall better than Ted possibly on the night, but Ted saved 4 tries straight out so can't not give him a point. Thought Radley was huge before he went off. Jared is a beast - Nelson learned a good lesson there - take the big man on at your own peril.