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http://www.news.com.au/heraldsun/sport/nrl/story/0,27074,24127504-5016544,00.html
it's about time the merkins at 9 got a spray. you'll never hear Gould bagging them though. doesn't fit in with his agendasStorm fury at Nine
By Christian Nicolussi | August 05, 2008 12:00am
CHANNEL 9 is under enormous pressure to telecast Friday night's blockbuster between the Storm and Sea Eagles live into Melbourne.
Storm fans are up in arms after being told yesterday the clash between last year's grand final combatants would be shown at midnight south of the border.
The heavyweight clash at Brookvale Oval has been timetabled on the back of CSI: Crime Scene Investigation at 8.30pm, followed by Cold Case, Close To Home and a re-run of Seinfeld.
Nine's snub has been made even tougher to take for Storm fans given rival Channel 7 will broadcast a lopsided AFL clash featuring run-away leaders Geelong and wooden-spoon favourites Melbourne.
The Storm are desperate to draw level with Manly on top of the table and end a nine-year hoodoo at Brookvale. They have won just once from six starts at the northern beaches' venue.
While Nine officials were not commenting last night, NRL chief operating officer Graham Annesley said he hoped to speak with the station today about the matter.
An angry Storm chief executive, Brian Waldron, said: "Given two of the top teams are playing I thought it was an ideal opportunity to show the game in a reasonable timeslot, and midnight is not a reasonable timeslot.''
Matt Geyer, the only member of the current Storm side to have won at Brookvale, said live games helped the NRL muscle its way into AFL territory.
"We've got our core supporters in Melbourne, but it's the extras who have a (passing) interest in the game we're trying to attract,'' Geyer said. "We played a game against Parramatta earlier this year shown live and it was a great advertisement for the game.
"In the next two weeks we've got the three top teams (including Manly and the Roosters) playing against each other and what better opportunity to show league on TV.''
Geyer, who took the park in the 1999 victory at Brookvale, denied the ground represented any hoodoo for the premiers. But when Melbourne did triumph at Brookvale last, star back Israel Folau was just 10 years old.
"I remember the night we won and it was a case of 'Noddy' (Brett Kimmorley) stealing the show,'' Geyer said. "He scored two tries and kicked the ugliest field goal I've ever seen - the only time the ball got in the air was when it crossed the crossbar.
"It's not a case of the Storm not being able to win there, it's just a ground that Manly has turned into a fortress.''
Geyer said Manly were more consistent this season and were "motivated to succeed'' following their grand final loss, just as the Storm were last year following their 2006 defeat in the season decider.
The veteran utility was surprised the Storm are expected to start favourites with TAB Sportsbet, admitting that the premiers were "not as hot as Manly at the moment''.
"I don't like to bet against us and always think we're a chance against whoever we play, but Manly are in top form, and we're probably not as hot,'' Geyer said. "Had we been at our ground we'd start favourites, but being up there is a different story.''
Geyer said there were no injury concerns at the Storm. Folau, who suffered a rib injury in Friday's win over the Gold Coast, has indicated he will definitely play in the most anticipated club match of the season so far.