The Melbourne Storm have beaten the South Sydney Rabbitohs by 64-6 at AAMI Park.
» Click here to read the full match report
Final score
Melbourne Storm 64
South Sydney Rabbitohs 6
The minor premiers the Melbourne Storm continue their warm-up to the finals, when they face a tricky South Sydney Rabbitohs outfit with nothing to lose and ready to give back to their fans. Join The Roar for live scores and a blog of the match from Saturday afternoon at 5:30pm AEST.
The Melbourne Storm have been brilliant this season playing with style and flare but also with a sense of professionalism and control to their play.
Their key men in Cameron Smith, Billy Slater and Cooper Cronk have lead the Melbourne outfit to another first Palme finish, acting as role models and leaders off and on the pitch.
Slater’s return to NRL action has helped the Storm significantly, playing off Smith and showing the younger and hopefuls Melbourne youngsters how it’s done.
The Storm’s academy has also done well this season, as youngsters such as Cameron Munster, Jordan McLean and more have impressed and stood up when required.
Melbourne enter the match after five straight wins earned them the minor premiership for this season, showing their usual class and professionalism associated with a Storm side.
Last weeks win at Newcastle shows how they can adapt and play well in different games, even against teams with nothing to play for.
On the flip side, the Rabbitohs will enter this match wanting to give their fans something to cheer about after an awful 2017 NRL season.
Despite three wins in a row, Souths have struggled significantly this season and with no finals football, they need to win here to give themselves and their fans hope for next season.
However, if Souths are to do well in this game, they need some players to stand up. During their title-winning season a few years ago, the likes of Sam Burgess and Adam Reynolds were superb and they need to start performing to that standard in preparation for next season.
Additionally, Souths are club who expect success, and some late season form will give their fans and themselves hope for next year.
Prediction
It should be a great game but the Storm should get across the line and continue their preparation for the finals.
Melbourne by 14
steveng
Roar Rookie
A disgraceful score for the Rabbitohs!!! If they thought that they were an up and coming side and will do better next year, than they are kidding themselves.
Angus
Guest
Geoff...give yourself a massive uppercut you Storm HATER...consider your ridiculous comment before you look at yourself in the mirror prior to applying a knuckle sandwich to your glass jaw!!!
Angus
Guest
Boohoo Taree Raider...cry some tears why don't ya...Storm Juggernaut keeps doing what they do best...destroying the opposition!!!!
Joe
Roar Rookie
I wouldn't mind if they played a full reserve grade team next week and gave the starting 13 the week off. I don't think they can keep this standard of game going through the finals. Nothing to play for next week as I think the team this week is the best team possible.
Taree Raider
Guest
I thought the Rabbits tried all night. Mebourne were just too good. I just can't wait till next week when the Storm try their bully boy tactics against the Raiders. Billy, Sia Soliola will be back, he might just tackle you when you aren't slipping over & you still have the ball. What I like about having a semi final series is that anything can happen. There is a chance that the Storm won't win or even make the grand final. Even though they have been far and away the best team all year, including the fact that they loose their stars for origin. There were a couple of times during the game where SMITH was buggered, he didn't get to dummy half until tackle 4 & they were running at about 70% possession. Let's see how it turns out when they have bigger (hopefully) more determined opposition next week. I wouldn't be surprised if three or four of the Storm players are rested.
Duncan Smith
Guest
Those two wingers are freaks. Great to watch.
Samuel Ashton
Roar Guru
» Click here to read the full match report FULL TIME: STORM 64-6 RABBITOHS SIMPLY BRUTAL Post match analysis to come shortly
Samuel Ashton
Roar Guru
78TH MIN: TRY MELBOURNE SCORE UPDATE: 64-6 Storm Vunivalu runs the length of the field before grubbing ahead for Addo-Carr to score. Simply Brilliant
Samuel Ashton
Roar Guru
76TH MIN: SCORE UPDATE: 58-6 Storm Game edging to a close here, wonderful game by Melbourne
Samuel Ashton
Roar Guru
73RD MIN: SCORE UPDATE: 58-6 Storm Souths continue attacking but Storm shut it down well. Wonderful performance by Melbourne
Samuel Ashton
Roar Guru
70TH MIN: TRY MELBOURNE SCORE UPDATE: 58-6 Storm Thou Harris scored a simple TRY as he crashes over and past the Souths defence Storm don't have 60 yet as Glasby misses the conversion
Bill larkin
Guest
Burgess has always been a thug, and always will be. On report? What a joke. Head slam followed by an elbow. Great captaincy.
Samuel Ashton
Roar Guru
70TH MIN: SCORE UPDATE: 54-6 Storm Sam Burgess on Report and Storm earn themselves a penalty
Samuel Ashton
Roar Guru
69TH MIN: SCORE UPDATE: 54-6 Storm This game has had everything, as a hit on Kaufusi has started a small fight
Jimmmy
Guest
Billy Slater is an absolute freak of nature. What a player he is.
Samuel Ashton
Roar Guru
67TH MIN: SCORE UPDATE: 54-6 Storm Rabbits starting to show some fight, as they toughen up in defence admist a Storm attack
Samuel Ashton
Roar Guru
63RD MIN: TRY SOUTHS SCORE UPDATE: 54-6 Fuimaono scores a simple TRY of a kick, being Slater on the far side. Better from South Sydney
Scott Pryde
Expert
You mean to say 54-0 isn't ugly?
Samuel Ashton
Roar Guru
62ND MIN: SCORE UPDATE: 54-0 Storm Souths survive an attack from Melbourne and now look to attack themselves
Joe
Roar Rookie
The bunnies with a terrible injury run this game. It could get really ugly.