The NRL’s best wrestlers, nigglers and grinders battled it out last night with the Storm’s old habits too much for a valiant Bulldogs outfit.
The old adage that ‘grand finals are won on the back of defence’ was anything but folklore.
Both the Storm and the Bulldogs repealed numerous attacking raids from the opposition to remain in the contest.
But it was the ‘one-percenters’ which significantly separated Melbourne from Canterbury in the decider.
Experience in key moments was telling, and ultimately saw the Storm walk away with the Telstra premiership last night.
The rugby league world was grateful the referees didn’t make a crucial blunder that cost a team the grand final.
It was what they didn’t do which was more telling on the result.
The storm is the best wrestling team in the NRL. Fact.
Canterbury is the second most penalised side in the NRL. Fact.
The bulldogs have won only three penalty counts in the 28 games they have played this season and lost the grand final penalty count 4-5.
The referees were reluctant to blow a contentious penalty if it meant one team had the ascendency over the other; and as a consequence both teams took advantage.
Melbourne is the best at holding teams down in the ruck and slowing down the play the ball.
The Storm’s major tactic was to hold down the fourth tackle play-the-ball. This tactic proved to be effective for one of two reasons.
The first reason is that it would allow the Storm time to rush up on the Bulldogs playmaker, which would cause him to rush his fifth tackle option.
The second reason was the Storm knew the referees didn’t want to give away a penalty on the last tackle, as it would give Canterbury a new set of six in a better attacking position; giving them the ascendency.
The first half scuffle will swarm the media due to the infamous biting scandal, but I want to touch on it for a reason that won’t get recognised.
The fight broke out as a reaction to Krisnan Inu’s push on Billy Slater, after the Sam Perrett try in the 25th minute.
But was it coincidental that Slater reacted the way he did because of the situation? The Bulldogs had just scored to level up the grand final at 4-all.
Instead of running back to the try line with momentum behind them, a fight broke out and players became flustered, breaking any rhythm that could have been built.
This was just old habits that are indicative of the Storm, dictating terms in crucial matches.
The Storm are the best team of the modern era.
Melbourne has played in five of the last seven grand finals and have won three in the process. Salary cap scandal or not, the Storm was beatable in those years.
And with a depleted roster, they have shown they are clinical and methodical enough to win crucial matches.
The Storm’s structure and gameplay are envied by the opposition, with many teams mimicking their style.
Not the Bulldogs.
Canterbury have an attacking style; built on offloads and second phase football to penetrate the ball up field.
Under coach Des Hasler, the dogs surged through the season, making it to the big day, which is not foreign to the former Manly coach as he led the Sea Eagles to three of the last five grand finals.
The Bulldogs coach Des Hasler and Storm coach Craig Bellamy are the best two NRL coaches after Wayne Bennett.
The two teams are different but very much the same.
The Bulldogs have improved in all facets this season but the Storm still continue to be the best at niggling, grinding and defending.
Those three qualities are the fundamentals of big games; all of which the Storm dominate, making them a force in September and October.
Melbourne Storm 2012.
Tim Coghlan
Roar Rookie
Both tonysalerno and oikee makes good points. Storm were better at slowing down the ruck in all tackles. The third or fourth man in who tackles the legs to make sure the player goes to the ground late in the tackle is how they did it. The Dogs did get pinged twice early and then ridiculously for standing the mark in the second half. Problem was the storm never got pinged for the same thing. No constistency in the refereeing. On top of that the 10 metres for the storm was not policed all night, including numerous times where they were in front of the try line without a foot on it. This is where they were able to get up so fast on the dogs to cut down the playmakers time. Who would have thought that the referees on the field would make the video referee look good. The ALRC only has two things on their agenda in the coming off season. 1. Clearout the referee heirarchy that has created their own rules over the last few years and then hasn't been able to give clear direction to the refereeing group. We don't need "get out"clauses at the end of the rule bookm that allows refs opinion on whether breaking a rule would have made a difference. All this does is create confusion and means Hollywood can say we got it right whenever they get it wrong. There is no benefit in that for the game, the pl,ayers or the fans. 2. Clear up the international player qualification. The international game has been in shambles since the ARL/Super League war. The game is healthy at club and state level. If the tighten these rules up we will stop seeing players from other countries playing for Australia/ New Zealand and Great Britan and other countries might be able to build decent squads. Cut the crap where players like Jarrod Hayne play for multiple countries. Have players commit to represent a country and thats it. If the genuinely want to change countries they have to apply and wait a two year period.Its not hard to sort out.
tonysalerno
Roar Guru
Mr Tom Blaz from Melbourne. I knew this article would draw out a bit of interstate banter amongst fans with both codes playing their premier matches in consecutive days. I didn't use the word 'great' nor did i mean to imply it, even though judging by your comment I probably did. But credit must go to the Bulldogs for the drastic turn around they achieved to be minor premiers and grand finalists. Don't get me wrong, I do admire the way the storm go about their business. I acknowledged them as the 'the best team of the modern era' and 'blind freddy' could see they were the better team on the night. I was going to write about it but i didn't want this piece to be another cliche about how great Melbourne is, the day after they won the NRL grand final (such as the ones that have swarmed my inbox). That is strange comment for a Melbournian given the pride and passion they support fellow Victorian teams. Tom from Melbourne? or Tom from (South) Melbourne? :P lol thanks mate.
oikee
Guest
To think Gallop had to strip them of players because they were to good. Bellamy brought through a team from kids, the game allows clubs to be stripped if these players become too good, we cant have that. They will want to bust up the big 3 soon. Or take Bellamy away from the club. You can take our players our premiershps our immortals, but you will never take our freedom. :) Good old Braveheart,.
Renegade
Guest
How about the storm are the best team in the competition that's why they won. At full strength they won 9 straight to begin the year and they've managed to win 8 straight to finish off the year. They're completion rate last night was 92% or something. They executed their game plan unbelievably well. They have been the side in the comp since 06 and no side is more deserving of the premiers tag.....the city of melbourne should be doing more for this mob.
BA Sports
Guest
Were you in Lakemba or Belmore when you wrote this? I stopped reading when you blamed Melbourne for the mele after the Perett try.
oikee
Guest
The Storm’s major tactic was to hold down the fourth tackle play-the-ball. This tactic proved to be effective for one of two reasons. The first reason is that it would allow the Storm time to rush up on the Bulldogs playmaker, which would cause him to rush his fifth tackle option. The second reason was the Storm knew the referees didn’t want to give away a penalty on the last tackle, as it would give Canterbury a new set of six in a better attacking position; giving them the ascendency ??????? Mate come-on, your reasoning is all back the front. You dont want to hold down on the forth or fifth tackle to give away a penalty that can allow for a repeat set, your trying to say they did this on purpose, come-on mate, sore loser much.? The game was super fast in the tackles, you know why, because the refs penalised dogs twice in 2 minutes for holding players on the ground wrestling them, not letting them up. Des as coach did exactly the same at Manly, so Bellamy knew what to expect. On cue, Dessy delivered. Cant teach old dogs new tricks. So the speedy play the balls had the big dog forwards tired and ineffective, as well as the passing game of the worlds biggest Halves got exposed. Towards the end of the game you had a slow Graham or Kasiano running to the line and passing the ball to a halfback, in which the storm said thankyou, we will tackle these little blokes all day. Bellamy served him up some aces, Game, Set and Match. Des and his slowing the play tactic backfired, he had gotten away with it all year, in the final the refs said no more. The push and shove backfired as well. After every try the dogs,(normally Reynolds) push players , this is bad sportmanship and got punished. Hasler brought a Manly mentallity to the dogs, it backfired. The first thing the Bulldogs need to do is fire that Ju-jutsi coach. :) Second would be to get his halves to steer the team with forwards running off them, not this forwards passing to the halves. They got found out, big time, on the biggest stage. They never thought it out and the refs had a gutful of the holding down tactics by the dogs, not the Storm. You must have had the rose tints on. .
TOM BLAZ
Guest
What a miserable lot you are, yes including you Mr Tony Salerno. You complain about a 4-5 penalty count, when in the AFL Grand Final it was 21-10 in favour of Hawthorn, but a Great side (like The Swans) still got over the top. The Bulldogs are far from being a great side, because they have done nothing yet. Why not talk about the brilliant play by Cronk, instead? I Know why. Your hatred for anything outside Sydney Town clouds you senses. Thank you Tony, it just makes me enjoy it that much more. But i will say 'great stuff Swanies', because i do acknowledge a great side. Tom from melbourne
steve b
Roar Guru
The Storm got the win which i'm happy about seeing as i got great odds back when they had their slump , but in saying that i thought the Dogs were hard done by on a few decisions ' and the standard of the refs still needs looking into , Graham 's brain explosion will get him eight weeks no doubt .I would have to say it wasn't the greatest game we have seen all year but it's over for another year and i think we are about to see an interesting off season , with player transfers and the new commish making a heap of changes from the rules to the ref's ...
Matt
Guest
Bulldogs aren't good at holding down and wrestling? Maybe they should stop doing things wrong and they'll get less penalties. It's like the roosters, they constantly hit high, hold down, knee, then wonder why the officiating is "against them". Surely they're not serious.