The Melbourne Storm have stamped their authority on the 2017 NRL season, knocking off the Dragons by 12 points on Sunday.
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Final score
St George Illawarra Dragons 22
Melbourne Storm 34
The game of the round comes to Wollongong this Sunday afternoon, as the second place St George Illawarra Dragons play host to the first place Melbourne Storm. Join The Roar for live scores and commentary from 4pm AEST.
The Dragons have been in good touch early this season, but they dropped a heartbreaker last weekend to the Roosters, as a Mitchell Pearce field goal in golden point sealed the deal.
It ended a fairly sombre day for the Dragons, as they lost five-eighth Gareth Widdop just before half time to a knee injury.
Widdop has arguably been the key to their fast start, so the next six weeks will provide the biggest test of the Dragons’ season so far.
The Storm won on ANZAC Night, rallying against the Warriors to record a 20-14 victory.
It was a late try to Josh Addo-Carr that sealed it, but the Warriors certainly made them work.
Craig Bellamy will certainly be expecting a better performance this weekend, as they have shown some chinks in the armour the last couple of weekends.
The Dragons will obviously lose Gareth Widdop for this clash, with Kurt Mann the man to start at five-eighth.
They have added five men to the last weekend’s side, with Blake Lawrie, Jacob Host, Jai Field, Luciano Leilua and Taane Milne set to fight it out for Widdop’s spot in the 17.
Just one change to the 17 from last weekend for the Storm, as Kenneath Bromwich has been named to return to the side.
Despite his man of the match performance last weekend, Nelson Asofa-Solomona still can’t force his way into the starting side.
Joe Stimson, Mark Nicholls, Young Tonumaipea and Curtis Scott have been added to the side, but it would seem unlikely for the Storm to make an unforced change.
The loss of Widdop has taken some of the intrigue out of this game, although Kurt Mann was more than serviceable in the second half of last weekend. Whether Mann can stand up in the #6 jersey might be one of the big keys to this game.
Prediction
As well as the Dragons have been traveling, the Storm are clinical. It’s hard to see them dropping this one.
Storm by 8
Preview prepared by Joel Erickson.
Artie Williams
Guest
Well said Jack James you are right on the money. But it has to be remembered that the NRL is a business first before anything else. Therefore an NRL team located in Melbourne has to be a success. Yes I too saw 7 incorrect decisions by referees all benefiting the Storm during the first 40 minutes which created a totally different ballgame than the one the paying public deserved to witness. No one who knows anything about the game would disagree that Craig Bellamy has been the best rugby league coach on the planet for the past decade. The Storm are capable of being highly competitive week after week and don't need overwhelming assistance by NRL officials on the field. During the last 15 minutes when it was obvious the Dragons had very little chance of winning there were several incorrect decisions going the Dragons way that evened up the 'top of the ladder clash' scoreline for the record. YAWN!
Juvill
Guest
How many offloads did dragon make against the storms?
Alex L
Roar Rookie
Funny how they looked consistently better with Widdop on the pitch then isn't it.
Alex L
Roar Rookie
With the ref having already called held, yeah, he was -- would've been a penalty for a double movement.
Paul
Guest
Dragons lost but the attack looks so much better with a 5/8 who not only takes the ball to the line, which Widdop doesn't, but can also beat defenders with footwork, which Widdop can't. Also doesn't do any harm to not miss many tackles, which Widdop does.
bbt
Guest
What was Cronk supposed to do. Allow the player to reach over his head and score?
Bill Larkin
Guest
Whinge away. The best team won. Live with it.
soapit
Guest
i think the ref disagrees with you brendan
Alex L
Roar Rookie
The bin of Cronk was fine if a slightly tough call, but Packer should've also been binned for pulling Slater down when Munster made a break.
Pedro the Saint
Roar Rookie
Deserved win to the Storm, they have the best finishers in the comp. True there were some terrible calls in the first half but good teams get back in the fight and Saints didn't do that. They got torched for speed. I thought we looked a bit battered and bruised from last Tuesday. The break will do us well and Mann will have some more time to gel with M'crone. Look forward to the Sharkies .....
Alex L
Roar Rookie
Booo hoo, if Russell Packer was refereed at the ruck properly the Dragons would literally only get the ball from kick offs with him on the ground.
jack james
Guest
Melbourne get the run of the green again. Ref totally responsible for their quick start. Penalties early on to Melbourne were rubbish and it caused St George to get too far behind. If Dugan kicks goals as well as Smith the score is 34_30 Hardly a walkover to Melbourne. Great learning lesson for St George and proves with natural improvement they can give this Premiership a red hot go!
Zedman
Roar Rookie
Give the Storm the ball thirty out and they will attack up the middle with Slater and out wide with two of the best finishers in the comp. The Dragons defence wasn't up to it today. Some rough decisions but the top sides handle them and stay in the hunt.
Brendon
Guest
Agreed, he left some big gaps there, but then he also made some good tackles with that very tactic. When the Dragons played their offload game towards the end, he shut them down a number of times. I think the big risky defence plays are needed on occasion
Brendon
Guest
Nah I've got to disagree. I argue the sin binning of Cronk, but the Storm certainly took the peddle in that one. Some lazy defence but when you're up by 30 points, its to be expected I guess.
Joe
Roar Rookie
Good win by the Storm. Dragons fight back was good but Storm were too far ahead. Dugan goal kicking didn't help matters. The Storm game plan and execution for the four wingers tries was outstanding. Helps tbat both wingers are exceptional athletes. Chambers defense is a worry. Keeps going in to help Cronk when he doesn't need to and leaves Vunivalu stranded. Dragons offload game chasing points was outstanding. I also think Nene McDonald is on a tragectory for Origin with his performances. Big, strong, fast and very skilled.
steveng
Roar Rookie
The score should have been 34-4 to the Storm, the last 15min was a complete assist to the Dragons from the referees.it was lucky that the refs didn't give the game to the Dragons.
Kenw
Guest
5 tries to 6. Dugan's goalkicking might have decided the game anyway but it means the ref-assisted start from Melbourne hurts even more. Not to say the Storm weren't on fire, sometimes teams get help like that and maybe jag 1 try that they otherwise wouldn't have been in position to get. They did it time after time, absolutely surgical and some of them true highlight reel tries.
Brendon
Guest
The penalty was for "Cronk coming in late", nothing to do with the duration of the tackle?
Scott Pryde
Expert
Well, it's been a massive afternoon of footy so thanks for joining me here on The Roar for our live coverage as both the New Zealand Warriors and Melbourne Storm picked up wins over the Sydney Roosters and St George Illawarra Dragons respectively. Hopefully you enjoyed the call. Be sure to keep an eye out for my Round 9 talking points, which will be live on the site in the next half hour or so. The Roar will be back to cover every game from the representative round next week, starting with the Kangaroos vs Kiwis on Friday evening. Bye for now.