A botched try from Melbourne Storm winger Justin O’Neill and a missed conversion from Cameron Smith proved costly as South Sydney notched a fighting 16-14 NRL victory in Perth on Saturday night.
The Storm were leading 10-4 in the 50th minute when O’Neill, under absolutely no pressure, dropped a simple cross-field kick with the tryline at his mercy.
South Sydney scored the next 12 points to edge out to a 16-10 lead, but the Storm were back in the contest when O’Neill scored his second try of the night in the 70th minute.
However, Smith couldn’t land the tricky conversion from the sideline, with the Rabbitohs surviving a surging run from Billy Slater in the 77th minute to secure the points.
The Rabbitohs’ eighth win of the season, which sees them go a game clear of Parramatta and the Warriors (who have a game to play on Sunday), also snapped an eight-game losing streak to the Storm.
O’Neill finished with two tries for Melbourne and Greg Inglis one, while Rabbitohs winger Fetuli Talanoa bagged a brace to go with Chris Sandow’s try.
Both sides had a case of the fumbles early but it was the Rabbitohs who adjusted better to the greasy conditions, with Talanoa twisting and turning his way through two tackles while pressed up on the touch line to notch the first try of the night in the 15th minute.
But slack defensive work from the Rabbitohs, when two defenders failed to attack a Smith grubber kick, saw O’Neill ghost in for the Storm’s opening try just five minutes later.
Slater was almost left red faced three minutes before half-time when his attempt to shepherd a grubber kick over the dead-ball line almost led to a try to Nathan Merritt.
The Storm survived that scare as the teams went into the break locked at 4-4, and a miracle pass from O’Neill in the 43rd minute, which gifted Greg Inglis a try, gave the Storm a handy lead.
But O’Neill undid all of his good work when he couldn’t grasp Brett Finch’s pin-point kick over the goal-line, with the Rabbitohs swiftly running the ball down the other end for Sandow’s try.
Issac Luke’s conversion followed by a penalty five minutes later put the Rabbitohs ahead 12-10, and the margin stretched to six points in the 61st minute when Dane Nielsen’s missed tackle on Rabbitohs centre Colin Best allowed Talanoa to bag his second.
O’Neill’s try 10 minutes from time gave the Storm hope but it wasn’t to be, with the Rabbitohs holding on in front of owner Russell Crowe and 13,164 fans.
“Certainly we had some chances,” Melbourne coach Craig Bellamy said.
“I thought the first half was pretty even as the scoreboard said but in the second half we created some chances but couldn’t quite get over the line, and you pay the price.
“They made some easy yards on us and we didn’t really pressure them with our defence and they put us under pressure with their defence.”
South Sydney coach John Lang was pleased with the performance of his team.
“We needed the two points. Every two points is valuable,” Lang said.
“And to beat the Storm at pretty much full strength … it was a really good win for us.”
Dogs Of War
Roar Guru
Yeah, I love watching him. Why isn't he being thought of for SoO. He is a real talent, and the Warriors will only get better with him driving them around the park. They just need to find someone pair him with (who can stay on the park for more than a few weeks).
oikee
Guest
The last thing on my mind is SBW, i am happy for him to play for the A.B's if he makes it, but apart from that, my interest in Sonny is zero. The guy who i think is a real talent, has that X,X,X factor is Maloney for the warriors. This guy is damm good.
Jeff
Guest
How could they possibly lure a AFL star, not enough room in the salary cap to keep our own here.
Crosscoder
Roar Guru
I notice SBW has only signed for 2 years with Canterbury S14 team,and judging by his comments another stint in rugby league is not out of the question. An ideal marquee player for the Reds or CC Bears one would think,if not the Bullydogs. The crowd for rugby league with out of town teams for years has been consistently around the 13-15,000 mark.So the AFL notion being played on the same day ,holds little water. The Reds were getting more than 8-9,000 when every man and his dog,knew they were switching to SL.
M1tch
Roar Guru
haha, I think we'd be more confident with the product rather than gimmicks..although I can see them trying to lure a Force player perhaps
Jay
Guest
we dont need to fall to their level.
Pete
Guest
Dogs, that's a nice idea. Sharks to reloacte to Christchurch... now that would be ironic given that their 4 Corners scandal occured there... danwighton - watched the Roosters game last night on Fox (I listened to it live on ABC radio)... now i see what you mean about weather! I was thinking the Christchurch folk are use to bad weather.. but to get 21k in those conditions is a fair effort,.
M1tch
Roar Guru
No doubt they would sign a english player or 2 Burgess and Ellis shows they can cut it in the NRL
oikee
Guest
I think they are considering t/v veiwing, like i mentioned 2 years ago, crowds dont really matter, its all about t/v dollars. The timeslot is perfect for rugby league followers. If they get re-instated come 2013, big name signings will be all the go, Isreal Folau, maybe a SBW, or even a AFL cross-over player. AFL not being the way forward, i think maybe a Pom or 2, or Sth African player would be a good signing.
Dogs Of War
Roar Guru
Pete, I see a NQ type setup, where although the towns don't hold that much, given that there may be only 1 or 2 games a year at that venue, it will be packed out, as it's all that is on offer from the NRL for that year, and people come from the little towns surrounding the area to support the club. South Island Sharks has a nice ring to it :)
Allan
Guest
The crowd for very poor considerating there was no AFL games played in Perth on that weekend. If a AFL game was played i think you would be looking at 8000 - 9000 max
M1tch
Roar Guru
Buddy Franklin to be number 1 target ;)
oikee
Guest
Perth should be fine with the right player signings and sponsers. Perth would have alot going for it as a player, think about the travelling and places you will be playing. If they signed a couple of poms south africans and a few Kiwis, all will be good. Maybe a afl player signing also might attrack some attention. :) Either way, the quality of the nrl now is very good, it wont be like last time they entered the comp, this time it will be more professional. Maybe a SBW or Isreal return signing might be the way to go. ? By then, who knows.
M1tch
Roar Guru
Good the see the Roosters take their game over..other sydney clubs need to do the same for non drawing games.
M1tch
Roar Guru
TV wise Perth is fantastic..the junior set up is great and they would have locals in their first grade team for 2013. They will get the go next expansion time.
Jay
Guest
As discussed earlier, I think the more encouragaing mark with the 21k in Christchurch. The next two teams need to be the Central Coast and a 2nd Brisbane Team. After than a Central Qld - PNG Joint Venture and 2nd team will round it out perfectly.
MattS
Guest
If a group of millionaires were to take over the storm, combined they could take losses of 3 million. But with more potential to grow members, crowds and merchandise, not to mention corporate sponsorship, the Storm have the ability to lessen those losses further.
Jeff
Guest
How many have NSW got now, -- my time to laugh.
Crosscoder
Roar Guru
The point has been made the Reds were ditched as a result of the SL war.Therefore a lot of people, no doubt would be extremely cautious about a rugby league ,until the NRL spelt it out in black and white:the Perth Reds are in and in for the long haul. Let's see the figure of 13,000 is being considered poor for 2 out of town teams,yet the AFL played on the GC with two out of town teams at times,with many freebies lucky to crack 10,000.Now they will have their own club.Go figure. The numbers of East coasters and NZedders and Poms that have moved to the west since the SL war days,with the huge growth in the mining and other ancillary industries is not to be sneezed at. Plus having one's own team domiciled where you live is a bigger incentive to attend,be a member or be a casual ,than for just a once a year PR game. MItch.Spot on the $6m figure loss(some critics like to throw up) for the Storm is incorrect.
Steve
Guest
2 rugby league teams in South Africa....hahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahaha. Thanks for the laugh