The Melbourne Storm have celebrated Cameron Smith’s 350th game with a thumping 40-6 win over the Manly Sea Eagles.
After a tight opening half an hour, the Storm kicked into gear and started to pile on the pain for Manly, including five second-half tries to maintain their spot at the top of the table while Manly continue to hang on the edge of the finals equation.
Final score:
Melbourne Storm – 40
Manly Sea Eagles – 6
One of the biggest rivalries in the NRL over the past decade has another installment when Melbourne Storm hosts the Manly Sea Eagles in Round 21. Join The Roar for live scores from the match and a live blog of the game at AAMI Park on Sunday afternoon from 2pm (AEST).
The clubs played in grand finals in 2007 and 2008. Melbourne won in 2007, only to have the title subsequently stripped for breaching the salary cap, while Manly turned the tables on the Storm with a 40-0 thumping in 2008. Cameron Smith didn’t play in that match due to suspension.
Since then the two clubs have had an intense rivalry. They played each other in Round 7 this season, with Melbourne edging out the Sea Eagles 30-26.
The Storm are currently on top of the ladder and premiership favourites for 2017. They’re coming off the back of a win over Canberra, but will be missing fullback Billy Slater who is recovering from concussion after being on the end of a high shot from Raiders’ backrower Sia Soliola. Soliola was suspended for five weeks by the judiciary during the week for that hit.
Regular five-eighth Cameron Munster will move to fullback to cover for Slater, with Ryley Jacks coming into the squad at number six. Cameron Smith has been named at hooker for his 350th NRL game despite going off last week with a pectoral injury, but it wouldn’t surprise if he was a late withdrawal. If he is, Slade Griffin will take his place.
Manly are currently in sixth spot and are coming off the back of a disappointing 52-22 loss to St George last week. Coach Trent Barrett will be looking for a vastly improved defensive effort.
Api Koroisau returns from a calf injury at hooker this week, pushing Cameron Cullen back to the bench. Blake Green is back at five-eighth in place of Jackson Hastings, who drops out of the squad. Prop Brenton Lawrence and winger Matthew Wright also return in place of Lloyd Perrett and Brad Parker. Lewis Brown has been added to the bench.
The Sea Eagles need the two points to stay in touch with the top 4.
Prediction
Melbourne by 7.
Join The Roar at 2pm AEST for live score updates and a live blog of the game.
The Fatman
Guest
Refs always favour Melbourne don't they??? Ask Sticky.
Michael Clare
Guest
Yep!
frnq
Guest
350 and counting. 100 points in two games. don't blame the ref
Tom G
Guest
I think you need to learn the difference between investigation and proven guilt. The penalty the Storm received has never been accepted pure and simple.
Fortress
Guest
Yes the storm won ,refs are pathetic 350 games the crowd baying for every penalty when the game was close he gave the storm a no try for god sake the player was held up as soon as the ref broke the manly spirit then with momentum the storm lifted and that was it, We will be back what a better way than a victory over the roosters hope the boys confidence is back because we finish with 5 wimable games don't count us out yet that old mighty eagles spirit will lift is I'm so proud of the boys no one had us in the top 8 and mark my word we will be there the only way is back up come on boys u can do it . Go the mighty eagles!!!!!!!!
Ken
Guest
Aren't manly being investigated for salary cap rorting at the moment and refusing to let the NRL go thru their laptop hard drives . Now of that rorting was proven and it was proven to have been long term, would we tthan be able to strip manly of their 2007 premiership ? , wonder if your tune would change than .
Ken
Guest
Bro I'm a storm supporter just so you know but the penalty was for Munster dropping history elbow on the manly tacklers face , now to Nebraska fair that tackler was holding him down An trying to slow the ball but that was what the penalty was for , not the strip .
Nambawan
Guest
I cannot understand why Barrett continually selects Matty Wright and Lewis Brown as neither are of NRL standard - they both lack pace and power. Neither would get a run in any other NRL side. Also doubt that Cullen is a credible choice as back up dummy half. That said several other players under performed today and overall the team's discipline is woeful.
Brian S
Guest
I'm still trying to work out how the refs said Munster 1 on 1 strip was foul play?!
Duncan Smith
Guest
You need to chill, mate. Did you see the respect all your players had for Cam Smith at fullltime? Storm had their title stripped, at least let them celebrate their grand final win. You got one back the next year. And we nearly matched that scoreline today.
Joel Erickson
Roar Guru
Any season where you don't win a premiership is a failure, considering that is the only goal in rugby league. And to combine that with back to back 30 point losses is atrocious. On par with the Knights and Tigers at the moment, and I'd probably back either of those clubs if they had us next weekend.
eagleJack
Roar Guru
I'm not ok with floggings at all. But I have been impressed with the way Barrett has brought this group together. If you are a Manly fan and you are disappointed with their 2017 season to date, then you are on your own. That's my point.
The eye
Guest
Bookies will cease all betting on Cameron to win the Dally M. after that
Joel Erickson
Roar Guru
I think being ok with floggings because a team is young is a terrible attitude to have. At the end of the day, they're paid a lot of money to compete at 100% every week, regardless of their age. Manly haven't done that for the last two weeks and they deserve any criticism that comes their way, both from their own fans and others.
John Coomer
Roar Guru
Thanks for joining me on the coverage, hope you enjoyed it. Feel free to leave your comments on the game.
John Coomer
Roar Guru
Match report Melbourne 40 Manly 6 Cameron Smith has celebrated his 350th NRL game with four try assists in a man-of-the-match performance to lead the Storm to a thumping 40-6 over Manly at AAMI Park. Melbourne capitalised on a glut of possession and recovered from some sloppy early handling to head into the sheds leading 12-6. Smith set up their first try in the 16th minute after he ran from dummy half and threw a flick pass back inside to Jahrome Hughes to score near the posts. Manly hit back with a try in the 29th minute when fullback Tom Trbojevic threw a great cut-out ball to winger Matthew Wright for him to score out wide. The Storm then scored a crucial try a minute before half-time after great play from winger Suliasi Vunivalu. First, he regathered a Cooper Cronk cross-field kick and then on the next play he used his strength to barge his way over from dummy-half. Sea Eagles’ interchange forward Addin Fonua-Blake was placed on report for a high shot on Cooper Cronk in the first 40 minutes. A switch of play eight minutes into the second half between Cooper Cronk and Smith allowed the Storm skipper to put charging backrower Joe Stimson over to give Melbourne some breathing space. Then in the 56th minute, Melbourne skipped further away after interchange forward Kenny Bromwich grounded a Cronk grubber to take the Storm out to 24-6. Smith then set up tries in the 70th and 73rd minutes. First, he took advantage of there being no marker to dart from dummy half and put centre Will Chambers over under the posts. Then he put an inside grubber kick through early in the tackle count that caught the Manly defence asleep. Cronk pounced on the ball to score. Josh Addo-Carr then used his pace to put the icing on the cake for the Storm with a try on full-time. The win consolidates the Storm’s position at the top of the ladder. Manly drop to 7th spot, and for the second week in a row their for and against has taken a hammering.
Joe
Roar Rookie
Wasn't expecting that scoreline even for Cams 350. Jarome Hughes is going to be the Storms next fullback after Slater if he keeps up these performances.
eagleJack
Roar Guru
I don't know where the club is saying we are, but from my own observations and I've said it for months, this is a young group that are surprising many. Anything achieved in 2017 is a bonus. They will be together for years to come. They aren't out buying top talent. They are sticking strong with a group where the majority are under 24. It feels like 2005/2006 to me. They are a little immature and so floggings will happen. To be honest I thought there would be more in 2017. But when they are on, they can mix it with any club. The consistency will come.
Joel Erickson
Roar Guru
If we are where they club tries to say we are, anything more than a 12 point loss is grossly unacceptable, regardless of the opponent. 30 followed by 34 is when the players start personally refunding the traveling fans
John Coomer
Roar Guru
Full time Addo-Carr somehow stayed in the field of play and then beat Tom Trbjoevic for pace to score. Smith misses the conversion but it's a thumping victory for the Storm! Melbourne 40 Manly 6