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Cameron Smith gently whispers the Storm to victory against the Roosters

28th June, 2019
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28th June, 2019
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The difference in class between the Sydney Roosters and Melbourne Storm is paper thin. Recent results confirm that assertion, with just a point often separating the clubs.

If anyone attending Adelaide Oval on Friday night expected a blow-out score line to buck that trend they were to be sadly mistaken, as the two most professional and efficient units in the NRL once again turned on the defensive fireworks.

When two quality teams come to play, points are at a premium and the first half saw both sides look to completions and astute kicking in an attempt to achieve dominance.

An early penalty goal to the Roosters was countered by a slick move down the left flank by Melbourne that saw all the big guns involved. Ryan Papenhuyzen finished the move and it gave the Storm a 6-2 lead after 19 minutes.

The Roosters responded in the 25th minute when Daniel Tupou scored out wide after brilliant work from Brett Morris and the Latrell Mitchell conversion put the Roosters back in front. Then the tricolours doubled down and a Joseph Manu try extended the lead to 12-6 in the 33rd minute, before a late piece of brilliance from Brodie Croft sent the teams to the sheds at 12-12.

The 6-1 first half penalty count in favour of the Roosters would no doubt have had Craig Bellamy in a rage in the coach’s box and frankly, did seem a little out of whack considering the flow of play in the first half.

Logic suggested that if the referees were to ‘level things up’ after the break, the Storm might just run over the top of the Roosters in the second half.

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How wrong that logic proved to be and an arm wrestle ensued in the scoreless first 24 minutes of the second stanza.

That deadlock was broken in the 64th minute when Cameron Smith did what Cameron Smith does so well. He caught a sloppy defender in error and the subsequent penalty conversion sent the Storm into the lead by 14-12.

From that point on the game was as gripping and grinding as rugby league can be. It was thrust and parry, push and prod and the scoreboard attendant sat motionless for the final 16 minutes.
There were no tries in the second half, just the lone penalty conversion won by the referee whisperer himself. In the end, the never ending tension between the Storm and the Roosters remains unresolved.

Joe Stimson of the Storm is tackled during the 2018 NRL Grand Final.

(Photo by Mark Metcalfe/Getty Images)

This time around it was the Storm who prevailed. A match-up on grand final day may well produce the same result, or perhaps the Roosters can again find a way a way past the Storm when it really matters.

In the early Friday night game, a horrific and fatal traffic accident in the Wollongong area restricted the crowd at WIN Stadium as the Dragons took on the Cowboys in what loomed as a ‘last chance saloon’ sort of encounter.

Both sides were sent onto the park to play accordingly, with little adventure or risk taken in the opening 40 minutes. It was entertaining if not a little risk adverse and the Cowboys took the early advantage with tries to Tom Opacic and new signing Scott Drinkwater helping to establish a 10-0 lead just minutes before the break.

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A converted try to Mikaele Ravalawa just three minutes before half-time gave the Dragons hope and the second half began unfortunately for the Cowboys with Michael Morgan leaving the field for a HIA. His head knock threatened to derail the Cowboys’ efforts on the night.

Matt Dufty struck like a thief in the night in the 57th minute with a try and the conversion saw the Dragons in front for the first time, with Morgan’s plight still a mystery. At 12-10 things looked tight and considering where the teams sat on the ladder and with so much at stake, it was no surprise.

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The arm wrestle was finally decided by a Euan Aitken converted try with just over ten minutes remaining on the clock. Without Morgan, who never returned, the Cowboys lost their structure and the Dragons managed the game well and iced a 22-14 victory despite a late try to the visitors.

It was the Dragons’ second win from their last eight and a much needed boost to their chances of participating in September action. As for the Cowboys, well they are done. Stick a fork in them and start thinking about 2020.

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