Toyota Cup Scores :: Finals Week 1

[Pumba]

Friday (September 11)

Melbourne Storm - 54
TRIES: Dane Chisolm (5), Fred Makimare, Matt Duffie, Jesse Browmich, Justin O'Neill (2)
CONVERSIONS: Gareth Widdop (7/10)
DEFEATED
South Sydney Rabbitohs - 18
TRIES: Taioalo Vaivai, Josh Mansour, Jason Clark
CONVERSIONS: Adam Reynolds (3/3)
Referee: Gavin Reynolds; Sideline Officials: Luke Potter & Brenden Wood

Saturday (September 12)

WESTS TIGERS: 1. Jake Mullaney 2. Joel Jackson 3. Joel Wisbey 4. Jake Clarke 5. Sama Sauvao 6. Robert Lui 7. Darren Nicholls (c) 8. Andrew Fifita 9. Chris Corby 10. Aaron Woods 11. Simon Dwyer 12. Jason Schirnack 13. Matt Hyland
Interchange: 14. Patrick Politoni 15. Leivaha Pulu 16. David Fifita 17. Rhys Curran
BRONCOS: 1. Todd Murphy 2. Jessie Mogg 3. Josh Williams 4. Dale Copley 5. Dane Gagai 6. Corey Norman 7. Ben Hunt 8. David Hala 9. Kurt Baptise 10. Dunamis Lui 11. Brent Williams 12. Kurtis Lingwoodock 13. Guy Ford
Interchange: 14. Tariq Sims 15. James Ackerman 16. Mitchell Dodds 19. Rhys Matsen
Referee: Chris Butler; Sideline Officials: Shane Spicer & Tim Rutherford

SEA EAGLES: 1. Scott Blanch 2. Mitchell Porter 3. Matt Grieve 4. Josh Portlock 5. John Grey 6. Gary Riccardi 7. Daly Cherry-Evans 8. Michael Tiopira 9. Liam Higgins 10. Lama Tasi 11. Todd Wilson 12. Darcy Lussick 13. Jamie Buhrer (c)
Interchange: 14. Brad Bennett 15. James Cunningham 16. Magnus Stromquist 17. Mitchell Jowett; Reserves: 18. Nathan Clark
RAIDERS: 1. Haydon Hodge 2. Sami Sauiluma 3. Drury Low 4. Mick Cullen 5. Steve Naughton 6. Mick Picker (c) 7. Sam Williams 8. Matt Britt 9. Travis Waddell 10. Zac Merritt 11. Sam Mataora 12. Mark Nicholls 13. Jarrad Kennedy
Interchange: 14. Nathan Mossman 15. Mitch Kennedy 16. Justin Toomey-White 17. Mark Appleton; Reserves: 23. James Smart
Referee: Gavin Morris; Sideline Officials: Grant Atkins & Dave Ryan

Sunday (September 13)

DRAGONS: 1. Chris Astill 2. Kalifa Fai-Fai Loa 3. Dean Whare 4. Kane Linnett 5. Joe Vickery 6. Kyle Stanley 7. Beau Henry 8. Thomas Hancock 9. Mitchell Rein 10. Trent Merrin (c) 11. Jake Marketo 12. Clifford Morris 13. Nathan Jones
Interchange: 14. Shannon Wakeman 15. Warwick Carter 16. Alex McKinnon 17. Wes Suckley; Reserves: 18. Brock Dunn 19. Jarred Thompson 20. Ken Edwards
WARRIORS: 1. Jason Cook 2. Elijah Niko 3. Thomas Ah Van 4. Siuatonga Likiliki 5. Bill Tupou 6. Kurt Kara 7. Shaun Johnson 8. Leeson Ah Mau 9. Alehana Mara 10. Beau King 11. Michael Afioga 12. Sione Lousi 13. Elijah Taylor (c)
Interchange: 14. Matt Robinson 15. James Gavet 16. Ben Henry 17. Sebastien Ikahihifo
Referee: Adam Devcich; Sideline Officials: Jason Walsh & Mat Damaso

 

[Pumba]

Friday (September 11)
Melbourne Storm - 54
TRIES: Dane Chisolm (5), Fred Makimare, Matt Duffie, Jesse Browmich, Justin O'Neill (2)
CONVERSIONS: Gareth Widdop (7/10)
DEFEATED
South Sydney Rabbitohs - 18
TRIES: Taioalo Vaivai, Josh Mansour, Jason Clark
CONVERSIONS: Adam Reynolds (3/3)

 

[Pumba]

Storm 54 defeat Rabbitohs 18 in Week One

The South Sydney Rabbitohs were steam-rolled by the Melbourne Storm in the first qualifying final of the 2009 Toyota Cup Finals Series, going down 54-18 at Melbourne’s Etihad Stadium tonight (Friday).

Melbourne scored ten tries to three in a dominant performance, with five-eighth Dane Chisholm scoring an amazing five tries in the game.

It was a nervous start for both teams with both sides turning over early possession.

The Storm were the first team to pull themselves together with Chisholm crossing first in the sixth minute. A good kick led to the try with Chisholm outpacing Rabbitohs fullback Luke Capewell to score.

The Rabbitohs struck back seven minutes later through centre Junior Vaivai, The Rabbitohs took advantage of repeat sets to gain good field position. Three long right-to-left passes found Vaivai who stepped through the defence to score. Halfback Adam Reynolds converted to give the Rabbitohs two-point advantage.

Five minutes later the Rabbitohs scored their second try through winger Josh Mansour. Mansour burrowed over the line from dummy half to score. Reynolds converted to give the Rabbitohs a 12-4 lead after 20 minutes.

The Storm thundered back when they scored tries to Fred Makimare in the 29th minute and Chisholm’s second in the 38th minute. The first try came on the back of ill-discipline from the Rabbitohs with piggy-back penalties putting Melbourne in scoring position. The second try came from the Rabbitohs failing to capitalise on a great scoring opportunity, and then the defence not stopping the roll the Storm found themselves on.

The Storm led 14-12 at the break, but the Rabbitohs were unlucky to be trailing. The bookends of Brad Lupi and Jake Shearer were working hard and making metres for South Sydney, and the Rabbitohs’ halves were using the width of the field and their strikepower in the backs to trouble the home side.

The Storm came out on fire in the second half, scoring two tries in the first six minute, both to five-eighth Chisholm. Two conversions to Widdop stretched the Storm’s lead to 14 in the wink of an eye.

Rabbitohs captain Jason Clark grabbed his side by the scruff of the neck and dragged them back into the game. In the 49th minute he charged hard on to a pass from the dummy half, and ran hard and elusively to the line to score adjacent to the posts. Reynolds converted to bring the Rabbitohs within eight.

The Storm were next to score in the 60th minute when winger Matt Duffie scored in the left corner to extend their lead to 32-18 with less than 20 minutes left on the clock.

Chisholm scored his fifth try in the 64th minute, again from a clever Widdop kick. Widdop converted from in front to extend the lead to 20.

Prop Jesse Bromwich was the next to score in the 71st minute, with four Rabbitohs defenders unable to stop him reaching out close to the line to register a four-pointer. Widdop’s conversion gave the Storm a 44-18 lead.

Melbourne extended their lead to 30 in the final five minutes when centre Justin O’Neill scored in the right hand corner in the 75th minute. O’Neill scored his second in the last 30 seconds from a Luke Kelly kick, sealing a massive win to the side that finished third on the Toyota Cup ladder.

The Storm registered the biggest win in Toyota Cup finals history at home tonight (Friday).

The Rabbitohs now have a nervous wait to see if the Sea Eagles (first) and the Dragons (second) win their respective games over the first weekend of the finals, in order to give them a second chance in week two.

Rabbitohs Website

 

[isaiah]

st george are a chance of getting upset but not manly, bye bye bunnies with the best backline of the comp.

add maguire to the broncs this arvo, they are a good chance of winning with him added! but only if ben hunt gets over his current funk.

 

[joel caine number 1 fan]

what a joke the tigers dont get a home final when they finished top 4,this is probley more a broncos home final since its closer

 

[CJG 182]

st george are a chance of getting upset but not manly, bye bye bunnies with the best backline of the comp.

add maguire to the broncs this arvo, they are a good chance of winning with him added! but only if ben hunt gets over his current funk.

Not manly ay? Hahahahahahaha

 

[ElectricEelMan]

st george are a chance of getting upset but not manly, bye bye bunnies with the best backline of the comp.

add maguire to the broncs this arvo, they are a good chance of winning with him added! but only if ben hunt gets over his current funk.

Tremendous FAIL!

 

[I Bleed Green]

Gonna tape the Raiders vs. Manly game at 3:30am in the morning, shame it was the only TYC game not live ... went to golden point with the Raiders winning on the bell, awesome! Thought we were no chance after Manly dominated all year. We get Vidot back next week and are a big chance again now.

 

[isaiah]

Tremendous FAIL!

one out of 2 so far, as good as other experts on here.
souths still are gone, which is what i was replying to, dimwit!

by the way, where are the unbeatable eels?

hahahahahahaha

 

[Pumba]

Saturday (September 12)
Brisbane Broncos - 46
TRIES: Corey Norman, Ben Hunt, David Hala, Todd Murphy, Tariq Sims, Rhys Matsen, Josh McGuire, Dane Gagai
CONVERSIONS: Corey Norman (7/8)
DEFEATED
Wests Tigers - 22
TRIES: Jake Mullaney, Joel Jackson, Joel Wisbey, Simon Dwyer
CONVERSIONS: Jake Mullaney (3/5)
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Canberra Raiders - 32
TRIES: Jarrad Kennedy, Zach Merritt, Drury Low, Mitchell Kennedy, Hayden Hodge, Mark Appleton
CONVERSIONS: Michael Picker (4/5)
FIELD GOALS: Sam Williams (0/1)
DEFEATED
Manly Sea Eagles - 28
TRIES: Liam Higgins, Jamie Buhrer, John Grey, Josh Portlock, Gary Riccardi, Mitchell Porter
CONVERSIONS: Mitchell Porter (2/6)

 

[Pumba]

BRONCOS BEAT WESTS TIGERS 46-22 IN TOYOTA CUP

Wests Tigers suffered a heavy 46-22 loss to the Brisbane Broncos at Skilled Park tonight in the second Toyota Cup qualifying final.

The loss means Wests Tigers will survive to next week unless the seventh placed Warriors and eighth placed Canberra win their qualifying matches. Sixth placed South Sydney were heavily beaten on Friday night. The two lowest placed losing teams will be eliminated this weekend.

The fourth-placed Wests Tigers went into the match with no changes to the starting team named on Tuesday. The only change is on the bench with Jay Florimo coming in for Patrick Politoni.

It is the first time the Wests Tigers have made the finals of the Toyota Cup competition, now in its second year. The Broncos were beaten grand finalists last season. Brisbane finished the regular season in fifth place. Despite Wests Tigers finishing fourth, the game is being played as a curtain raiser to the Broncos v Titans NRL clash, allowing Brisbane supporters to watch both of their teams.

A poor pass from hooker Chris Corby to lock Matt Hyland saw him drop the ball in the opening set to give the Broncos a scrum feed and win 30 metres out. Some good defence kept the Broncos at bay.

Brisbane opened the scoring in the 11th minute when a midfield bomb by half-back and captain Bent Hunt saw winger Dane Gagai defuse the bomb in front of winger Joel Jackson before offloading inside to full-back Todd Murphy who sent the ball back out to five-eighth Corey Norman to score out wide for a 4-0 lead. The try was not converted.

Hunt, the 2008 Toyota Cup player of the year, scored under the posts when he stepped past Jason Schirnack to score. Norman converted the try for a 10-0 lead after 17 minutes.Wests Tigers have completed just five of 10 sets in the opening 22 minutes.

Wests Tigers' best scoring opportunity came in the 30th minute but prop David Fifita lost the ball in a strong charge to the line. It was only the fourth time Wests Tigers had been tackled in the Broncos' quarter, such has been Brisbane's dominance.

Brisbane extended the lead to 14-0 when on the last tackle, prop David Hala charged over from five metres out. Norman converted the try for a 16-0 lead. The pressure told on Wests Tigers who are feeling the pinch after working overtime in defence.

The scoreline got worse two minutes later when Hunt took the ball to the line before Norman stepped inside five-eighth Robert Lui to race downfield to link up with Murphy to score. Norman converted the try for a 22-0 lead after 36 minutes.

Wests Tigers got a much needed try just before half-time when a scrum win 40 metres out saw Lui turn the ball back inside to lock Matt Hyland, who found full-back Jake Mullaney flying through to race away to score next to the posts. Mullaney converted the try for a 22-6 scoreline.

Mullaney has now scored points against every side in the Toyota Cup competition this year. He finished as the competition's leading pointscorer.

Wests Tigers got a penalty inside the final seconds before half-time, giving Mullaney a 47 metre shot at goal. It was on line but fell just short of the posts for a 22-6 scoreline at half-time.

2nd Half
Brisbane extended their lead two minutes into the second half when Toriq Sims beat a poor attempted tackle by Lui to score a soft try. Norman converted the try for a 28-6 lead.

Lui suffered a left knee injury in the 51st minute but remained hobbling on the field.

The Broncos went further ahead in the 52nd minute when Hunt gave a good ball to Norman to race clear before offloading to Rhys Matsen to score. Norman converted the try for a 34-6 lead. Lui left the field with a left knee injury following the try.

Wests Tigers got back to 34-10 when Jackson produced a great finish to dive over in the corner after the ball was spread right across the backline. The try was not converted.

The Broncos made it 38-10 in the 59th minute when Josh McGuire scored. Norman converted from in front of the posts for a 40-10 lead.

Gagai finished off a backline play to the left when he scored in the corner for a 44-10 lead after 65 minutes. Norman converted the try from the sideline for a 46-10 lead.

Some good work and a short grubber kick by captain and half-back Darren Nicholls saw centre Joel Wisbey dive on the ball to score in the 68th minute. Mullaney converted the try for a 46-16 scoreline.

Wests Tigers scored again when a grubber kick by Nicholls was spilt by the Broncos for lanky second-rower Simon Dwyer to pick it up to score. Mullaney converted the try for a 46-22 scoreline after 72 minutes.

Winger Sama Sauvao had a try disallowed in the 78th minute for a forward pass from Wisbey after good work by Jason Schirnack. The score remained 46-22 till full-time.

Wests Tigers Website

 

[Pumba]

Sea Eagles go down in Extra Time

The Sea Eagles staged an amazing second half comeback to level the match and send the game into extra time right on the final siren. But a knock on early into the first period of extra time and a repeat set after a field goal charge down was all the Raiders needed to stage a massive upset and claim victory over the minor premiers.

The Raiders got out to 6 nil lead midway through the first half and followed that up minutes later with a second that came from a questionable repeat set where a Sea Eagles defender was ruled to have played at a ball that was thrown into his shoulder.

Four minutes later the Raiders bagged their third try before the Sea Eagles really had a chance to attack the Canberra line.

The Sea Eagles got their first try in the 39th minute when Liam Higgins dived over from Dummy half and that was followed up by a try to Jamie Buhrer who dived on a kick that took a nice deflection off the posts.

Down 16-10 at half time the Sea Eagles weren’t doing that bad on the scoreboard considering the lack of field position they had experienced, but a try to the Raiders in the opening minutes of the second half undid some of the hard work from the Manly boys.

5 Minutes later the Sea Eagles got themselves back in the hunt when John Grey dived over in the corner. The score remained 22-14 until the final 11 minutes when the Sea Eagles fight back began.

Josh Portlock ran away for a great team try and Riccardi followed it up with 5 minutes remaining. The conversion put Manly in front for the first time in the match but the lead was short lived when the Raiders scored virtually from the kick off.

As the minutes ticked down it looked all over for the Sea Eagles but a high speed backline move (with a number of questionable passes) ended with Porter crossing the try line as the siren sounded.

Porter lined up for the kick and just as it looked like Manly might pull off the win the ball hit the post and came back into the field of play.

An early error in the first period of extra time gave the Raiders perfect field position but some dire defence kept the attackers out - including a field goal charge down. Unfortunately for the Sea Eagles the tackle count was restarted and a couple of tackles later the Raiders burrowed over the line from dummy half and ended the game.

The Sea Eagles were desperately unlucky not to pull off the win especially when a legitimate try was disallowed to Captain Jamie Buhrer in the second half.

As top ranked team the Sea Eagles will remain in the finals regardless of other results but they will be back next week in a sudden death shoot out from now on.

Sea Eagles Website

 

[isaiah]

Not manly ay? Hahahahahahaha

where were your all-knowing tips?

 

[broncos_warriors_storm]

good job to the defending prems. i was hoping the raiders pull it off so the storm would get a week off. i dont see the dragons losing today either!

broncos did well, i wonder if they can go one further in 2009? bye bunnies and bye bye either broncos or Warriors

 

[Country Bronco]

good job to the defending prems. i was hoping the raiders pull it off so the storm would get a week off. i dont see the dragons losing today either!

broncos did well, i wonder if they can go one further in 2009? bye bunnies and bye bye either broncos or Warriors

Sorry to intervene but its either tigers or warriors. Souths are now safe.

 

[ElectricEelMan]

one out of 2 so far, as good as other experts on here.
souths still are gone, which is what i was replying to, dimwit!

by the way, where are the unbeatable eels?

hahahahahahaha

TREMENDOUS FAIL number two!
Wow you sure are on a roll!

You idiot!
You said Manly were NO CHANCE to lose. None. Zero. Zippo. That's your fail you dimwit!

Everyone gets picks wrong you dimwit, but you said Manly were NO CHANCE to lose!

And for that you get a ... TREMENDOUS FAIL!

And what the f*ck do the Eels have to do with anything ... you are just changing the subject from your TREMENDOUS FAIL into a 'who cares' fact.

Isaiah = TREMENDOUS FAIL

 

[ElectricEelMan]

Sorry to intervene but its either tigers or warriors. Souths are now safe.

How are Souths safe?
They finished 6th and lost
Tigers finished 4th

Souths will go before the Tigers

And with the Raiders victory, the Rabbitohs are GONESKI!

 

[nadine]

They just showed the highlights of the Sea Eagles v Raiders match and when you saw Porter's last Sea Eagles try, he clearly knocked the ball on before he got over the line, so if I would have been annoyed if I was a Raiders fan and lost to that. In the end Porter's poor kicking that lost them that match, if he had converted all their tries they would have won. Deserving win to the Raiders, unlike the Sea Eagles / Titans match last week they managed to hang on against the minor premiers.

ETA: Chase Stanley's playing for the Dragons today in TC.

 

[isaiah]

TREMENDOUS FAIL number two!
Wow you sure are on a roll!

You idiot!
You said Manly were NO CHANCE to lose. None. Zero. Zippo. That's your fail you dimwit!

Everyone gets picks wrong you dimwit, but you said Manly were NO CHANCE to lose!

And for that you get a ... TREMENDOUS FAIL!

And what the f*ck do the Eels have to do with anything ... you are just changing the subject from your TREMENDOUS FAIL into a 'who cares' fact.

Isaiah = TREMENDOUS FAIL

are you 11 years old?

your sentences sound like my daughter's

 

[skeepe]

They just showed the highlights of the Sea Eagles v Raiders match and when you saw Porter's last Sea Eagles try, he clearly knocked the ball on before he got over the line, so if I would have been annoyed if I was a Raiders fan and lost to that. In the end Porter's poor kicking that lost them that match, if he had converted all their tries they would have won. Deserving win to the Raiders, unlike the Sea Eagles / Titans match last week they managed to hang on against the minor premiers.

ETA: Chase Stanley's playing for the Dragons today in TC.

To be completely fair to Manly, while he did knock on and there were several forward passes, they also had a legitimate try disallowed earlier in the half. Thems the breaks with no video refs though, and the referee made the decision based on his on field position and advice from the touch judges. In the end I think the right team won.