Storm belt Broncos to book showdown with Eels
By Todd Balym, 27 Sep 2009 Todd Balym is a Roar Pro
Will Chambers (Melb) scores the 1st try NRL - 2009 Preliminary Finals Melbourne Storm vs Brisbane Broncos Etihad Stadium, Melbourne Saturday 26 September 2009 © Sport the library/Jeff Crow ©Action Photographics
The most consistent team of the decade now has a chance to become the greatest after Melbourne booked a NRL grand final showdown with Parramatta with a 40-10 annihilation of Brisbane on Saturday night.
The Storm were simply dominant in the seven-tries-to-two victory as they secured a spot in their fourth straight grand final and a chance to add to their 2007 premiership.
It is the first time since Parramatta in 1981-84 that a team has reached the decider in four successive seasons.
The Storm booked their date with destiny in style, the emphatic victory continuing their irresistible finals form after a 40-12 thumping of minor premiers two weeks ago.
Fullback Billy Slater (two) and centre Greg Inglis (three) scored some breathtaking tries at Etihad Stadium but it was the performance of five-eighth Brett Finch that also stood out.
Finch set up two tries and is now set to become the story of the grand final as he faces the former teammates and club he walked out on just four weeks into the 2009 season.
Finch took just three minutes to make his mark on Saturday’s game, throwing a superb pass for Will Chambers to score untouched and spark a rampant first half for a 22-0 lead at the break.
The former Eel was at it again almost immediately into the second term, busting through the line from a scrum to offload for Inglis to score his second of the night.
Inglis scored his third with an 80m intercept while Slater capped the victory in front of 27,687 fans when he latched onto a Cameron Smith kick in the 73rd minute.
It took Slater’s amazing record to 13 tries in his last five appearances at the enclosed stadium, a tally which should have been 14 but referee Jared Maxwell refused to check the fullback’s effort in the 12th minute even though the ball was resting on the tryline.
Slater left no doubt with spectacular solo effort in the 20th minute when he broke out of the clutches of two defenders and grubbered for himself to score in the corner.
The star fullback didn’t just score tries, he saved two.
He joined Cooper Cronk and Inglis for a first-half trysaver on Ben Te’o, then denied Tonie Carroll with a superb solo tackle midway through the second half.
It was a dark night for the Broncos, who looked a shadow of the side which had won their last seven games and couldn’t find a genuine replacement for injured halfback Peter Wallace.
Utility Alex Glenn, the man named in the No.7 jersey but replaced by Carroll in the run-on side, crawled across in the 59th minute while Israel Folau scored off a kick after the final siren.
Adding to Brisbane’s woes, centre Justin Hodges was put on report for a mid-air tackle on Dane Nielsen in the 66th minute that could result in a suspension during the Four-Nations tour.
Storm coach Craig Bellamy rated the first half his side’s best of the year and believes they’re hitting perfect form heading into a decider.
“It was probably as good a half of footy we have played certainly this year,” said Bellamy.
“Our best footy this year has been the last month.
“Making four grand finals in a row is a massive achievement.”
Cameron Smith said winning a second title would almost certainly put the Melbourne side among some of the great teams in rugby league history given their squad has been decimated by the salary cap each season.
“Winning the grand final would go a long way to being considered as one of the greatest teams,” said Smith.
“Four in a row is a massive achievement … its hard to describe how good it is.
“To be able to lift that trophy would be the icing on the cake.
“It would be a hollow feeling to go in and not lift that trophy at the end of the game.”
Broncos coach Ivan Henjak said his side simply couldn’t fight their way into the contest.
But he refused to use the absence of halfback Wallace as an excuse.
“We are always going to miss someone of that calibre, he is an important part of the team,” said Henjak.
“We are not going to use that as an excuse. They played well tonight and they deserved to win.”
Skipper Darren Lockyer said the Storm are near impossible to beat when they perform so clinically.
“Melbourne give you nothing,” he said. “They are going to be difficult to beat.”
© AAP 2012Enjoy sports? Enjoy a bargain? All Sports Online has your favourite sporting brands at up to 70% off. Online only, premium quality sporting goods and merchandise at discounted prices. Get a deal now.
Do you have what it takes to become a sports writer? Write for the roar
Rugby League articles
- An open letter to Channel Nine (107)
- Gallop and some of his precious Sydney NRL clubs must go (101)
- The NRL is back baby! (65)
- The NRL’s scariest players (56)
- The NRL needs a vision (52)
- Federal Court has it wrong on sports broadcast copyright (48)
- Bulldogs setting benchmark for Sydney’s NRL clubs (46)
- Rugby league’s new era: where to now? (24)
- Federal Court has it wrong on sports broadcast copyright (49)
- An open letter to Channel Nine (109)
- The NRL’s scariest players (56)
- Is the All Stars match increasing the divide? (25)
- Channel Nine needs NRL-cricket ODI compromise (36)
- The NRL needs a vision (52)
Mick from Giralang said | September 27th 2009 @ 8:17am | Report comment
I think Henajk is being disingenuous about Wallace. The Broncos looked rudderless around the halves. They hould have put a genuine number 7 into Wallace’s spot even if they were forced to go to the QLD Cup . Instead they made the situation worse by pulling Lockyer out of is usual role at 5/8. He subsequently had an ordinary game, by his high standards.
And not a bad crowd. Who would ever have thought nearly 30,000 would turn up to watch rugby league in Melbourne on oz rules grand final day?
JamesI said | September 27th 2009 @ 8:37am | Report comment
Agree 100% Mick, as a longtime Broncos fan I thought they might have a chance considering their form against St George – until they announced during the week that they weren’t replacing Wallace with a halfback. They’ve done this before, playing people out of position in the halves (Hunt in last Storm game when he had a shocker).
Rudderless is an understatement – we had nothing in attack. I’m a huge Locky fan but he does need to be one further out from the play the ball in attack and these days seems lost without a good 7 inside him. Just hope the extra two years he has decided to play won’t see a great career tarnished by falling performances.
But despite all of that the Storm were incredible – even with Wallace I reckon’ the way they played they still would have beaten us by 20. They are an brilliant side – hard defence, great attack.
Their 2006 and 2008 GF losses obviously burn deep – I think they they will be too good for the Eels next week. They don’t want to have a four GF for 1 win record. Their defence is incredible and maybe only Parra’s devil-may-care touch footy attack can unlock it. But i think the Storm will come out on top in an open attacking game.
And yeah well done to the Storm faithful for coming out and making it such a good crowd.
Michael C said | September 27th 2009 @ 9:12am | Report comment
At least Molly Meldrum had something to smile about last night.
Crap game though, all of Melbourne (other than Geelong supporters) were potentially going to tune in (we did) with nothing else to do on a Saturday night, and the Broncos served up that tripe!!
Mick from G – - important factor re the crowd and GF day is that it was not the afternoon, but the evening……and for teams NOT involved in the GF…..especially teams knocked out in the Prelim final week – - the GF is very, very hard to watch …….. Doggies fans would’ve been searching for a ‘distraction’!!!
But, yeah, 27K wasn’t too shabby. Not great, not bad – - I think they were hoping for 25-30K, so, right on par.
Pippinu said | September 27th 2009 @ 9:43am | Report comment
I agree re the crowd – I would have expected minimum 25,000, no problem at all.
Brisbane was pretty woeful defensively.
Harry said | September 27th 2009 @ 10:13am | Report comment
Superb performance from Melbourne – I enjoy watching Slater more than any other rugby player, league or union. His first try was a ripper. Inglis is also exciting and exhilerating to watch.
While on cross-code comparisions … Brisbane’s younger players made lot of very basic mistakes and were ordinary under pressure – dropped ball, missed kicks, defensive lapses and poor positioning in defence…. watch Foleau, supposedly one of the best players in the game, be woefully exposed in defence in the Storm’s first try (note, scored by the outside centre in next year’s winning S14 team) However they won’t cop the same intense cricticisms and scrutiny that O’Conner, Turner and Pocock copped last week.
Tom said | September 27th 2009 @ 3:55pm | Report comment
Reds winning next years’ Super 14? Hahahahahahahahahahaha
…
…
hahahahahahhahahahaha
But on a more serious note, as a Manly supporter I couldn’t really imagine a worse GF, but can’t help but think the Storm are more worthy winners by some margin.
Harry said | September 27th 2009 @ 6:57pm | Report comment
Well spotted and yes, I was being entirely facetious. In truth I would be relieved if the Reds have a non-teen (13th or 14th) finish, and delighted were they to finish in single figures on the ladder (8th or 9th). I’m expecting 13th or 14th though.
As to the GF, even with the let-off of Haynes I expect the Storm to win easily.
Tom said | September 28th 2009 @ 5:26pm | Report comment
I was always told a successful Reds season was one in which they beat NSW; everything else was by the by…
The Link said | September 27th 2009 @ 5:19pm | Report comment
Yeah, the game was probaby gone after 20 minutes, but more due to the Storm’s brilliance, particularly Slater and Inglis. RL is fortunate in some senses that it has these marquee players performing in a developing market. Inglis will be one of the greats, if not already.
approx 30k is OK in Ethiad considering the timing, but the game deserved a bigger crowd.
Pippinu said | September 27th 2009 @ 6:11pm | Report comment
Does anyone know what kind of crowd the last three grand finals have pulled (the Storm being in each of them)?
I was wondering whether there’s any chance that Friday night’s crowd (a record of 75,000 plus), could end up being bigger than the actual grand final crowd?
And is it still a night final, or have they gone back to the afternoon?
Two teams with big names on either side will guarantee a great contest.
Dogs Of War said | September 27th 2009 @ 6:24pm | Report comment
Parra supporters will make sure that it is a sell out. Melbourne supporters only get 24hrs to pick up the tickets that are allocated for the Grand Final teams (7K) each, and then they go out to everybody. It is a top event that I just don’t see not selling out. Especially considering how hard it is to make the Grand Final, if you get a chance to see your team in it, then you snap up that opportunity.
Game is on at 5:30pm. Still prefer an afternoon Grand Final, but at least they came halfway. As for crowds, their hasn’t been a poor one since Stadium Australia became the venue. Worst crowd was 79K in 2006 (Brisbane vs Melbourne)
Pippinu said | September 27th 2009 @ 6:39pm | Report comment
79K in 2006 – you’re right – it will be bigger than that one.
With four in a row for Melbourne, playing against a tradional team – there will be massive interest in Melbourne – I wouldn’t be surprised if it gives the all time record (in ratings) a nudge.
Pippinu said | September 27th 2009 @ 7:05pm | Report comment
By the way Roarers – to make four consecutive grand finals is a pretty decent effort in anyone’s language.
I’m not sure when it last happened in the NRL – but I’d say you’d have to look back a while ago, maybe as far back as 20+ years (maybe the bulldogs??)
Brisbane did it in the AFL 2001 to 2004, and then Hawthorn were in seven in a row in the 1980s.
Just as Geelong really had to win yesterday to make the most of three consecutive grand finals, I think the Storm is in a similar boat, it would be a travesty to have only one premiership from four attempts.
Look at this way, the Swans were in four consecutive grand finals from 1933 to 1936 but only won one of them – they would then wait 72 years for their next flag – sport can be very cruel like that.
You have to make it count while you have the chance.
Sean Fagan said | September 27th 2009 @ 7:14pm | Report comment
Parramatta 4 – 1981 to 1984 (won 3, lost 1984)
Souths 5 – 1967-71 (won 4, lost 1969)
St George 11 – 1956-66 (won all 11)
Pippinu said | September 27th 2009 @ 7:17pm | Report comment
heh, heh – we all know about St George’s 11!!
I thought the bulldogs may have come close in the 1980s.
Sean Fagan said | September 27th 2009 @ 7:18pm | Report comment
http://www.RL1908.com/clubcomps/Honours.htm
Pippinu said | September 27th 2009 @ 7:20pm | Report comment
ah ha – they made four in five years, winning 3, missed out altogether n 1987.