Anzac Day clash a one-sided affair for Storm

The Storm will be missing Finucane, J Bromich, Glasby and Curtis Scott so they'll be limping next week. The only good news is they get Vunivalu back. Against that Dragon pack its not looking too good and the reserves will really have to step it up a gear. Both teams get a 12 day break so not going to be any fatigue like the Warriors mob. I still think its going to be a hard fought close game that will be decided late.

Yes, enjoy watching him run the footy! That first try last night was special, hit on the legs three times but maintained his balance and his speed all the way to the corner! NSW is mad if he doesn't play origin this year - hope he doesn't - keep him fit for storm and it would be better for the maroons!

I agree with you, except: It's did not done (I hear footy players do this all the time and it drives me crazy); and It's too early to say if storm is not "all powerful", Sunday week could be very telling. Can't wait for the match!

As a Dragons supporter I probably would have preferred to play the Storm a few weeks back when they were limping... That aside, it's set up to be a great match. The Dragons had their loss to the Warriors but, as you say, it wasn't a poor performance and have otherwise accounted for anyone in front of them. The Storm are the premiers and look like they've found some form. The Warriors are at a crossroads though - that wasn't just a good Storm performance, it was also a poor game by the NZ side. There was a 5 day turnaround with international travel involved so don't want to read too much into it but they've bookended Kearney's 'best game of any team he's coached' with 2 pretty terrible outings against the Broncs and Storm. Losing a couple of games doesn't necessarily mean the wheels are coming off but they'll be concerned at how uncompetitive they were in those games.

In the Storm game last night as ref Suttton tried hard to get the Warriors back in game, Fusitua “scored” a try in the 60th minute which showed up as dropped ball by the video ref but the video ref allowed it. Instead of forensically analyzing it as they would do if the Warriors were just in front, the Fox commentators didn’t acknowledge any possibility of a dropped ball but the crowd were stunned at the decision and booed heartily (considering they still had a 40 point lead). Masters wrote an article about Fox commentators facilitating the “entertainment value” of the game by not highlighting interesting ref decisions as teams charge back into contention although in this case it was a little moot.

Yep, waiting for some excellent service from a one-eyed forward tonight against Souths. Sigh.

It astounds me Joe how poor the service often is from the number nine. You see a half break , a quick play the ball then everything grinds to a halt with a poor pass from DH. It rarely happens with Smith . It is just so frustrating.

I know what you meant Nat.

Bloody hell! I meant friend and wrote Granville twice.

Agree on all points Jimmmy but of course I would since I"m a Storm fan! : ) Seriously though the difference a great pass from dummy half does to an attack for a team is chalk and cheese. Don't want to keep on about the Dogs but Lichaa in that game against the Roosters was really slow to release and gave his halves no time at all. Another good passing nine is Slade Griffin at the Knights and its no wonder Brown has gone with him instead of Levi who is likely to be the next Kiwi hooker. Slades passing both left and right gives his halves especially Pearce so much time to make the right plays and also gives his forwards momentum as he puts it right in front of them to run on to. Makes a big difference to the attack rumbling forward.

Spot on about Smith's passing ! In fact Smith probably rates majorly in all your 3 points, jimmy . But his passing accuracy is such a skill that is often overlooked in our game. He provides room for his support players and rarely jolts the attack that keeps the Storm powering forward like a well oiled machine. Most 9's can't consistently deliver the ball with speed and accuracy to match the style of play we want to play today. I rate the Shark's Jayden Brayley as the only other 9 that compares anywhere near Smith for passing speed & accuracy passing both sides , from the 9 position.

Apart from that one grand final...but you're right, they do not concede high scores at all often

There are way too many 9's who take a few steps before passing. Even Friend who is not a running #9 takes steps before passing.

Well put together Jimmmy. Granville seems to getting a bit of the 'Farrah's" a bit him insofar as always taking a few steps before he passes without actually drawing the markers in. Cronk said earlier in the season that Smith afforded him space because no one moved until Smith released the ball. At the Chooks, Granville is not that threat, he is always going to pass and the next player is getting belted.

Smith, Slater and Cronk did it to NSW in Game 2 and 3 last year. They moved the ball wider of the ruck quickly and didn't let the larger NSW forwards in the game. The softer surface that some (Dumb NSW commentators)claimed stopped the NSW quicker, stronger more agile big men was only a small part of Smith's game plan. How many NSW fans whinged about Hayne going himself and not passing to Morris? When JT(old and busted), O'niel and Boyd were replaced by faster ball playing skilled footballers in Munster, Morgan and Hunt they cut NSW to pieces with skill. You do understand we giggled north of the boarder at Gallen leading the Blues. All he talked about was winning the wrestle. Woods and Klemmer tried their heart out but played like Gallen against the Roosters IMO.

Interesting comments Brendan "the storm tend to slowly start the season" which in fact is not correct. The Storm have for many years been leading or near the top for the start of most of the past 5 seasons. They lose players to Origin then regroup and refocus finishing the year strongly. They did it last year, the year before that when they pumped the Sharks before the finals. What's even more impressive is the caliber of players missing; Cronk, Harris, Mclean, injuries to Finucane, Bromwich, Blair, Vunuvalui, but they still step up and fill the gap. When is the last time they lost a game by more than 15 points? When have they ever let in 40 or 50?? I think you'll find it hasn't happened under Bellamy. No team in the NRL is better at exploiting weaknesses than the Storm. The Warriors won't fall off a cliff this year, I think they'll bounce back and sometimes a loss like this puts things into prospective.

Three points from that game . 1The Storm are the classiest side in the comp by a long way.. They have no trouble scoring in the 20 m zone, and they have no trouble scoring long range tries. The Billy Slater short side move where he has his hands in his pockets , whistling at the sky until Smith hits him with the ball has been done before but it is priceless.They have a hundred of these. 2 The Storm are the most professional side in the NRL by a long way. I kept some stats ( which I have done before as well). Forty Storm tackles , Warriors player on his back 34 times . Forty Warriors tackles, Storm player on his back 12. 90% v %. Do the same count in any game it’s always the same. WHY can’t other teams match the Storm in this . It’s bordering on negligent . No one will catch the Storm till this stat evens up. 3 Smith is a machine, His service from DH is sublime. Check out the width and accuracy of his passes on BOTH sides. Sadly , there is not another nine in the NRL who comes even close to him. I love Jake Granville to death but he can’t pass , never has been able to. I can name six other mines who can’t as well, The skills of key position players is going backwards. Injuries not withstanding the Storm again and probably next year if both Smith and Slater back up.

The "problem" with JAC is that he always looking for the ball, to get involved.

The issue isn't how well the Storm played but how well the Warriors bounce back from this loss. They have the Tigers then the Roosters so it will be interesting to see not only whether they can win those games but how well they play. If they're going to be in the finals this year, they must win at least one of these and not get belted in the other if they lose.

I still think Dragons are the no 1 team this season. Apart from their ladder position they've been the most consistent along with the Tigers. Even their loss to the Warriors the Warrior played one of their best games in a long time and according to Kearney the best game of any team he's coached so nothing to be ashamed of there. Tigers beat the Storm twice and their two losses this year were golden point penalty to the Broncos and last minute try to the Knights last week.