The Melbourne Storm have beaten the South Sydney Rabbitohs by 64-6 at AAMI Park.
In a dominant performance, Melbourne scored eleven tries and could have had more in a match where Souths will be utterly embarrassed by their defence and attitude.
Cameron Smith lead the Melbourne effort with 22 points, with the additions of Suliasi Vunivalu and Josh Addo-Carr getting hat tricks for their efforts here this evening.
Within the first 10 minutes, the Storm were up by twelve, after Vunivalu and Cameron Munster scored easy and simple tries past the Souths defence.
The game went quiet for a while despite what many would have thought, as Souths hung in well for a decent period of the first half.
However, after Vunivalu scored once again the floodgates opened. Addo-Carr added to his account shortly afterwards, followed by Smith just before the break.
Vunivalu had his hat trick on the stroke of half time after given a penalty try and giving the Storm a 36-0 lead at half time.
The second half was just as brutal, with Billy Slater and Addo-Carr scoring within ten minutes of each other and extending Melbourne’s lead to 48 points.
Tim Glasby scored soon afterwards before Tyrell Fuimaono finally got Souths on the board from a kick. Tohu Harris and Addo-Carr would have the final say however, helping the Storm to a 64-6 point win.
Pomeroy007
Roar Rookie
Your obviously watching a different game lol ? The Rabbitohs were a total embarrassment to Sponsors, Members and Fans...
steveng
Roar Rookie
Well I go to most of the games (whenever I've got time) and always have been,. yes sure there allot of fans that are fickle but, that is the case with every team be they the Storm, Broncos etc etc, lets see how these top teams will fair when they are going bad (like Souths have) and how many fans will be there at that time. Souths have really done their fans a disservice since 2015!!!
The Fatman
Guest
Souths actually didn't play too badly. The Storm were All World
Renegade
Roar Guru
Yep, that's correct Patrick - going for a 3peat this year ? As my wife says, I watch too much rugby league!
Dalai
Guest
Although I think you're being a tad too generous to my poor ole Rabs Duncan, I like your line of thought and honestly believe fans should place more emphasis on the Storms Red Hot performance than our lack of competition on the night. Very very impressive from Melbourne. You would think only serious injury to quite a few of their Stars the only risk of them failing to go all the way ....
Dalai
Guest
Well said Joe and Stu. Ive been a Bunny Supporter for over 55 years and although you live to witness only great Footy from your Team, thats not always going to happen and if you're a true fan of the Game you have to enjoy and give 5 Star credit to tremendous performances wherever its due. The Storms performance on Saturday Night was one of the best Ive ever seen and although our side has been decimated by injuries right throughout this Season it would have made no difference to the result had we been fully rostered bearing in mind the score quite likely would have been a little less excessive... ! Ive now watched the game a few times over and the Storm are just a fantastic footy side and man they were just red hot. Mind you it wasn't all Doom and Gloom for the Rabs. I was very proud of our courageous defence during periods of the first half. Madge has been blooding a few of our young guns coming through this year and although some are a tad raw the experiences from this Year will pay greatly over the next few. Souths with our Junior Roster wasn't the only side to concede 50+ points this Round and all fans that I know were far more flabbergasted at that disgraceful capitulation than ours..... As JIMMMY says here Pay Attention Mr Roberts !!!
Patrick
Guest
Rene pretty sure you tipped cows 2015 and sharks 2016... you got the lottery numbers? Lol
Jim
Guest
Please, time for a new whinge. Granted Sutton was well off the pace but he has played a key role in their albeit few wins this year. The twins have been building some great form and have been on fire the last month or so. Things are changing at Souths but thank god we're not the tigers or titans. The focus on the last two years has been building a new roster of young players not sacking people and spending money to get rid of players.
Renegade
Roar Guru
Mate, Where are all those that marched? Never see them in the crowd of 6000 at recent games...
steveng
Roar Rookie
'Renegade', you have no idea, just a SA comment!!!
steveng
Roar Rookie
Very true TB, but lets have a look at the NRL in comparison to the AFL. What have the NRL done wrong? My predictions have come true, and unfortunately the NRL is dwindling every year!! The NRL can't continue on (like it is now) and be taken seriously as a game (in comparison to the AFL or even Soccer) if the crowds are as bad as they have been in 2017. Ch 9 wont fork out the money next time and the game of RL will become 'none existent' if the NRL will continue the way that they are now. SOO mid season is a suicidal act, Qld SOO with its continual dominate is ruining RL and its taking allot of the competition away from Sydney and NSW, which is the core of RL. The NRL should think very hard about this out of control 'rivalry' between NSW and Qld as it hasn't done RL any good and its most certainly destroyed the NRL comp, which is the core of RL!!!
Rellum
Roar Guru
The League did fold when Souths where kicked out....
Renegade
Roar Guru
"2017 Melbourne Storm" Tipped them before a ball was kicked, time to engrave it.
Renegade
Roar Guru
100%... don't need to rely on fickle bunnies fans.
The Barry
Roar Guru
I agree the game has some challenges but the rest is not quite true Stevie... Souths have had about half a dozen good seasons in the last 45 years and League has done ok. The old "leagues doing well when the bunnies are doing well" is demonstrably and objectively the biggest furphy in the game.
steveng
Roar Rookie
That's why the NRL is a dwindling game and the AFL is flourishing, whenever Souths are doing bad the NRL is doing bad!!! The AFL has had record crows, 6.5 million which is the biggest crowds that the AFL has ever had, while the NRL is becoming a joke in comparison, even here in NSW.
Duncan Smith
Guest
Souths weren't terrible, Melbourne just blew them away.
Duncan Smith
Guest
Dogs have got it for sure!
The Barry
Roar Guru
In other news the race for 11th spot is hotting up...
The Barry
Roar Guru
You must be devastated to see your team lose by over 50 points.