Storm belt Broncos to book showdown with Eels
By Todd Balym, 27 Sep 2009 Todd Balym is a Roar Pro
- Tagged:
- Brisbane Broncos, grand final, Melbourne Storm, NRL, nrl preliminary finals, Parramatta Eels
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.”
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September 27th 2009 @ 7:52pm
Westy said | September 27th 2009 @ 7:52pm | Report comment
Mr bellamy is a very good coach. Melbouren a structured team with a touch of class in key positions play a Parramatta harlem globe trotters ball flung out the back passes stick and hayne the unpredictable.
September 28th 2009 @ 6:49am
Crosscoder said | September 28th 2009 @ 6:49am | Report comment
The game was well and truly won by half time.However watching the pure footbal skills and athleticism of Slater and Inglis was worth watching till the end of the match. Add the pin point accurate kicking of Cronk and the sublime passing of Finch resulted in a tremendous running game that blew the Broncs off the park.
The G/F with the add lib style and offloading of Parra,against the structure and athletic and football brilliance of some of the storm players ,should result in a great spectacle.It will no doubt be a sellout.
4 G/Fs in a row,Bellamy should get an OBE- an Outstanding Bleeding Effort.
September 28th 2009 @ 7:38am
Paul J said | September 28th 2009 @ 7:38am | Report comment
I can not believe the Storm. For the most part ignored at home and disliked everywhere else and yet another grand final. They just won’t go away! When they kicked off in ’98 I would not have guessed that the Storm could make four grand finals in their first 50 years let alone four in a row already. Fantastic coaching staff and a core group of players they don’t let go despite the salary cap.
I agree with Westy about Melbourne’s structure vs Eels Harlem Globetrotter stuff. Should be interesting to see which style wins – just as long as the Eels turn up as we know the Storm will.
Broncos will struggle in 2010 to get to the final 4.
September 28th 2009 @ 8:01am
ohtani's jacket said | September 28th 2009 @ 8:01am | Report comment
What’s the difference salary cap wise between the Storm making four in a row and the Roosters playing in four from five?
September 28th 2009 @ 9:21am
oikee said | September 28th 2009 @ 9:21am | Report comment
I think the Broncos played their grand final last week-end, but i am totally satisfied with what they have acheived this year. Making the top 8 was enough for me.
As for the Grand Final, it has been sold out for over a month now, it was officially sold out a week after tickets went on sale. The only tickets held back were for the winning teams, and some tickets have been resold.
The Broncos were not that bad, the Storm were just way to good.
September 28th 2009 @ 9:31am
Redb said | September 28th 2009 @ 9:31am | Report comment
Oikee,
Broncos defence was crap they looked they were made of paper mache. Boring contest. Where was their spirit their fight?
Eels v Dogs was a much better game, great atmosphere too.
Glad Hayne is playing as with without him Storm would have just steamrolled Parra without a fight. (Storm will still win)
NRL seems to have done a Barry Hall (for the good of the game), but in the end it was not a vicious knee but Hayne needs to be careful.
Redb
September 28th 2009 @ 10:51am
oikee said | September 28th 2009 @ 10:51am | Report comment
Mate the Broncos were alright, your just a one eyed storm supporter.
September 28th 2009 @ 11:01am
Redb said | September 28th 2009 @ 11:01am | Report comment
No I barrack for the West Tigers in the NRL and have little interest in the Herald Sun Storm. But they blew thru your boys like tissue paper.
September 28th 2009 @ 12:23pm
oikee said | September 28th 2009 @ 12:23pm | Report comment
I’ll give you tissue paper,
Like i said, we over-acheived this year. I see the tigers are in the under20 final on the week-end? you dont barrack for the stormers, they have 2 finals this week-end, cheers.
September 28th 2009 @ 10:03am
TammyS said | September 28th 2009 @ 10:03am | Report comment
The broncos were rubbish in both attack and defence. Who knew losing Wallace would have that much of an effect on brisbane?
I reckon the storm’s easy run into the GF could work against them. It happens all the time, team has two or three fairly easy games, head into a big game and completely get thrashed.
September 28th 2009 @ 11:08am
Midfielder said | September 28th 2009 @ 11:08am | Report comment
Oikee
They did better than the Saints … have a look at the following youtube…
Loved the line …He’s only FOUR FEET >>>> F>>>>ing tall
Can’t even ride a roller coaster…
Hope you enjoy …. BTW if you are a Saints supporter please do not report me for being cruel…
September 28th 2009 @ 12:25pm
oikee said | September 28th 2009 @ 12:25pm | Report comment
Very good, you cant beat hitler for commentary.
September 28th 2009 @ 11:24am
captain nemo said | September 28th 2009 @ 11:24am | Report comment
parra have really whipped Foi Foi Moi Moi into shape. early in the year, parra could only get about 15 minutes out of the big man with maybe 4 hit ups in that time. Now he is doing 25 minutes and has lost about 10 kgs. with foi being on the field for 25 mins, will keep Brett White busy