- Messages
- 100,993
Storm wipeout Sea Eagles
By Steve Jancetic
February 15, 2008
MELBOURNE picked up in 2008 where they left off last season, the reigning NRL premiers far too strong for Manly 56-10 in their opening trial at Bluetongue Stadium.
While the match carried nothing near the weight of their previous clash in last year's grand final, it was a similar story with the Storm warming up for their World Club Challenge clash against Leeds in a fortnight with a dominant display.
The Storm leave for England on Monday injury free and ready for a crack at the Rhinos, while the best news for the Sea Eagles was that they too emerged unscathed from a match played over three 30 minute periods.
All the first third showed was that Melbourne's depth is better than Manly's, both sides sending out reserve outfits as the Storm raced in 20 unanswered points.
The Storm did have a couple of ring-ins playing with the back-up boys though with skipper Cameron Smith and Queensland Origin prop Antonio Kaufusi having a run.
Kaufusi was playing his first game following a knee reconstruction midway through 2007 while Smith was kept out of the main group because he is unavailable for the WCC due to the impending birth of his first child.
It took the Storm just 50 seconds to go over for their first via flying fullback Jade Williams and another three followed in what resembled little more than a training run before both sides sent out their top tier players for the second 30 minutes.
The Sea Eagles looked far more impressive in the second period, though former Wigan centre David Vaealiki looked like he had lost a yard or three of pace following his stint in the English Super League with the Kiwi three-quarter unable to finish the job when put into the clear by halfback Matt Orford.
Both sides crossed for a brace of tries to see the Storm take a 32-10 lead into the last third, the final period highlighted by a massive hit from Melbourne backrower Sam Tagataese on Manly youngster Jeff Robson and a double to Storm fullback Billy Slater.
AAP
http://www.foxsports.com.au/story/0,8659,23221444-23214,00.html
By Steve Jancetic
February 15, 2008
MELBOURNE picked up in 2008 where they left off last season, the reigning NRL premiers far too strong for Manly 56-10 in their opening trial at Bluetongue Stadium.
While the match carried nothing near the weight of their previous clash in last year's grand final, it was a similar story with the Storm warming up for their World Club Challenge clash against Leeds in a fortnight with a dominant display.
The Storm leave for England on Monday injury free and ready for a crack at the Rhinos, while the best news for the Sea Eagles was that they too emerged unscathed from a match played over three 30 minute periods.
All the first third showed was that Melbourne's depth is better than Manly's, both sides sending out reserve outfits as the Storm raced in 20 unanswered points.
The Storm did have a couple of ring-ins playing with the back-up boys though with skipper Cameron Smith and Queensland Origin prop Antonio Kaufusi having a run.
Kaufusi was playing his first game following a knee reconstruction midway through 2007 while Smith was kept out of the main group because he is unavailable for the WCC due to the impending birth of his first child.
It took the Storm just 50 seconds to go over for their first via flying fullback Jade Williams and another three followed in what resembled little more than a training run before both sides sent out their top tier players for the second 30 minutes.
The Sea Eagles looked far more impressive in the second period, though former Wigan centre David Vaealiki looked like he had lost a yard or three of pace following his stint in the English Super League with the Kiwi three-quarter unable to finish the job when put into the clear by halfback Matt Orford.
Both sides crossed for a brace of tries to see the Storm take a 32-10 lead into the last third, the final period highlighted by a massive hit from Melbourne backrower Sam Tagataese on Manly youngster Jeff Robson and a double to Storm fullback Billy Slater.
AAP
http://www.foxsports.com.au/story/0,8659,23221444-23214,00.html
