Summary
Melbourne take their record to 3-1 for the season with a win that condemns the Rabbitohs to their third straight defeat. The margin, 14 points, satisfied most pre-match prognostications and looks comfortable enough. But Souths were in the contest for much of the match and at several stages threatened to go on and win it. But a litany of errors, particularly in the second half, hurt the visitors badly. Conversely, the Storm were cleaner with the ball and boasted the man, Cameron Munster, whose silky skills were the difference between the sides.
Souths are still seeking their first win in Melbourne but, more pertinently, a victory against anyone that can stop their 2020 campaign spiralling out of control. Melbourne weren’t exceptional but they continue to win. Talk of their demise has been greatly exaggerated. Thanks for your company. See you again soon.
Updated
FT: Melbourne Storm 22-8 South Sydney
A case of what might have been for the Rabbitohs, who were on top for decent parts of this game but were let badly down by errors. That late Olam try iced the game for Melbourne and gave the scoreline somewhat of a lopsided look, but as competitive as Souths were, an honourable defeat will do their finals chances no good at all.
TRY! Melbourne Storm 22-8 South Sydney
77 mins: Beaten and now demoralised, Souths’ workrate drops off and they afford Olam far too much space down the right and the result is a try for Melbourne that has put this game to bed. Munster and Addo-Carr instrumental. Game over.
Updated
76 mins: Yet another error from Souths - this time Gagai’s the culprit - awards Melbourne the ball 30 metres out from the Souths line. Hughes charges over but can’t get the ball down, and now Souths have the chance to make amends and get something out of this game. But time is running out.
73 mins: Souths again have the Storm on the rack down the right side, but Addo-Carr saves the day with an intercept block. From the resultant set Johnston finds himself with acres of space down the left and crosses over, but there’s obvious obstruction in there and it’s no try. Rabbitohs on top. Can the Storm hold on?
70 mins: Souths are pushing hard. Gagai lunges desperately on the right and crosses the line, but instead of touching down on lawn it’s the stubborn figure of Cam Smith beneath him. Superb defending from the Storm skipper.
TRY! Melbourne Storm 16-8 South Sydney
67 mins: Aaaaaagh! Another error from Souths - their eighth for the half - gives Melbourne a scrum in the middle of the park and now they’re on the attack. And it’s Josh Addo-Carr, injured and all, who finds himself on the end of Munster’s beautifully weighted kick to score a try, and hammer a dagger into the hearts of the Rabbitohs. Munster has been the man tonight. And a great conversion from Cam Smith wide on the left hands the Storm an eight-point lead.
Oh my, Cameron Munster 🤩#NRLStormSouths#TelstraPremiership pic.twitter.com/OLQId5gWNg
— NRL (@NRL) June 5, 2020
63 mins: Souths cough up the ball but the Captain’s Challenge is successful; there was a Storm hand in there somewhere. Scrum time, 15m out. Big set coming up. But - lordy, lordy - it’s rinse and repeat as Vunivalu intercepts a pass to mark another error and another turnover.
60 mins: A Storm infringement hands the Bunnies a fresh set, but another handling error from Knight robs Souths of momentum and hands the ball back to Melbourne. The Storm then fluff their own lines, with Bromwich tossing out an odd pass that finds nothing but green grass. It’s been a good game, but littered with errors all the same.
57 mins: Penalty for the Storm with Tatola tackling Papenhuyzen without the ball. Cam Smith puts his hand up and from 30 metres out he splits the uprights for a penalty goal. Melbourne regain the lead. Melbourne Storm 10-8 South Sydney
55 mins: Gagai looks all set to score wide on the right but some desperate defending from the Storm stop him inches short.
52 mins: Souths continue to toss it around and build pressure. Cam Smith can do no more than cradle Graham’s kick in goal and it’s again a fresh set of six for the visitors. They’re coming, the Bunnies.
It's even after 52 mins! #NRLStormSouths 8-8. pic.twitter.com/WBEGelcIBx
— NRL (@NRL) June 5, 2020
49 mins: Nice kick from Reynolds between the posts and Vunivalu has no chance to take the ball back in. A fresh set for the Bunnies, who are slowly taking back the initiative. And now a penalty for the Bunnies, which Reynolds converts from just over 20 metres out. Scores are all square. Melbourne Storm 8-8 South Sydney
46 mins: Hughes waltzes over the line in what looks a certain try for the Storm but the ref sends it upstairs and some petty obstruction is spotted. No try. No fair, either.
44 mins: The momentum is all with Melbourne and Welch almost barges his enormous frame over the line, only to be sgtopped in his tracks. Addo-Carr then looks set to latch onto a dangerous dribble kick but Mitchell boots the ball out. Souths live to fight another day. Bright start to this second half!
Here’s that piece of work from Pap.
HOW ON EARTH DID HE KEEP THIS IN!!!
— NRL on Nine (@NRLonNine) June 5, 2020
Extraordinary from Ryan Papenhuyzen. 🙌
Send us your try celebrations via Instagram.#9WWOS #NRL #NRLStormSouths pic.twitter.com/y0RLAvPpq8
41 mins: And now we are back. An early penalty for Souths but a ripper of a save from Papenhuyzen to leap fully three metres out of the field of play and knock the ball back into the field of play. Quite remarkable. Sign him up for the Big Bash.
Players are returning for the second half, including Josh Addo-Carr. Tough bugger that he is.
HT: Melbourne Storm 8-6 South Sydney
An absorbing first half. Both teams have looked likely, and all set to dominate, at various stages but in the end it was 40 minutes of tug-o-war. Souths withstood an early period of dominance from the Storm to assert, only for Cameron Munster to showcase his brilliance and set up a try that put the hosts back in front. After two blowouts so far this round, this is an old-fashioned arm wrestle that could go either way.
Eyes and ears on the medical room, with Josh Addo-Carr struggling through the first stanza.
Josh Addo-Carr is battling what appears to be a rib injury in the first half
— Fox League (@FOXNRL) June 5, 2020
Casualty Ward: https://t.co/izbSqnSvDN#NRLStormSouths pic.twitter.com/MePvLthzXF
38 mins: An unforced play-the-ball error from Souths gives the Storm a sniff at a time they shouldn’t have one. And the hosts charge forward deep in the first half. Munster looks menacing but Knight saves the day to extinguish the threat.
TRY! Melbourne Storm 8-6 South Sydney
33 mins: Munster runs rings rings around the Rabbitohs from dummy half in the middle of the park and the rest is history as Vunivalu latches onto a dribble kick down the right side to score a try against the run of play. Cam Smith fluffs a tough conversion attempt but kudos to Munster for his vision and inventiveness to set up the try. Star.
Cameron Munster sets up a stunner from absolutely nothing!
— NRL on Nine (@NRLonNine) June 5, 2020
Send us your try celebrations via Instagram.#9WWOS #NRL #NRLStormSouths pic.twitter.com/Ard10QHTN3
31 mins: A Souths handling error hands the ball back to Storm but the Bunnies are defending very well - there was a big hit from Amone in there - and the Storm’s set expires without a whimper.
30 mins: Melbourne get a penalty deep in their own half after JAC holds a high ball safely enough, but he’s wincing and clearly struggling. The Bunnies have targeted him and by the look of it he’ll struggle to finish the game.
28 mins: The Bunnies are coming again, and coming hard. They’re held up with Bromwich getting a hand on a Bunnies pass and we have a reset tackle count. But they blow it deluxe with Nicholls fumbling the ball when he should have been thrusting towards the try line. Big let-off for the hosts.
25 mins: Oh dear. Mitchell is right in the thick of it but botches an attempted pass that might well have led to another Souths try. Good signs from the visitors, though. They’ve absorbed the early, ahem, storm and look likely at the minute.
Here’s that try. Latrell Mitchell ... we’re not worthy, we’re not worthy.
Oh wow! What a pass by Latrell Mitchell! The finish isn't too bad either!#NRLStormSouths pic.twitter.com/3dsJXHMgHt
— The Tryline (@TrylineUK) June 5, 2020
21 mins: The Storm get a fresh set of six 30m out from the promised land. And they press hard, but Olam’s pass hard left can’t find Addo-Carr and it’s back to the Bunnies.
TRY! Melbourne Storm 4-6 South Sydney
16 mins: Again Souths do some good work on the right side but after a really good set Vunivalu just keeps the ball in the field of play to confirm the turnover. But it’s Souths again on the attack. Su’A almost gets it over on the third tackle but no matter, Mitchell shows his unarguable class to throw wide and deep for Johnston on the left side, the winger showing great athleticism to touch down just in front of the corner post. And a ripping conversion from Reynolds means the Bunnies are in front.
12 mins: The Bunnies do some good work to make ground on the right side, and after a switch, and then a switch back, Graham looks like he’s set to score. But Munster monsters the bigger man in a try-saving tackle. Brilliant. In league parlance, Munster goes good.
TRY! Melbourne Storm 4-0 South Sydney
7 mins: Souths had just enjoyed a good set but it looks like they were enjoying it a bit too much. Back with the ball in their hands, the Storm found space on the short side to release Vunivalu who then releases that man Papenhuyzen in acres of space to score an easy try. Crook old conversion attempt from Cam Smith, though. Still, first blood to Melbourne. It was coming.
A 75 metre special from @Storm! 🙌
— NRL on Nine (@NRLonNine) June 5, 2020
Send us your try celebrations via Instagram.#9WWOS #NRL #NRLStormSouths pic.twitter.com/FS0HqCblIv
Updated
6 mins: Burgess goes for a cheeky slap out of Cam Smith’s hands but succeeds only in knocking on. And some good play from Munster leads to Bromwich and Lee showing up in the final 10. But again the Rabbitohs defuse the threat and it’s as you were.
3 mins: The Storm forwards are starting to make their presence felt - Bromwich and Finucane both enjoying a strong run. But the Bunnies are sure-handed under the lofted ball and it’s still largely a game oif cats and mice at AAMI Park.
1 min: And now we are away. Good pressure early from the Bunnies as the Storm struggle to get out of their own half. Good, deep kick to end the set, though.
Not long now, minutes away from the start of the match. Looking forward to the battle of the fullbacks - Ryan Papenhuyzen v Latrell Mitchell. Also looking forward to monitoring the frequency of commentators dropping the former’s name into the call. Think they just love saying ‘Papenhuyzen’.
Naughty Bulldogs, very naughty.
Penrith have just knocked off the Warriors to the tune of 26-0. The Panthers remain undefeated and are certainly flying under the radar. Who’s talking about them? Besides everyone at the foot of the mountains and yours truly, not a soul.
So that’s two plenty-to-zip floggings we’ve had so far this round. Not another tonight. Surely not?
Fresh legs! Billy Burns charging through with the step 🏃🏾♂️💨#NRLPanthersWarriors 26-0 after 65mins.#TelstraPremiership pic.twitter.com/LamPF4rtwB
— NRL (@NRL) June 5, 2020
Nevermind the privileged, oblivious few who think live sport is best experienced in a corporate box - though, in the name of disclosure, I must admit it is rather spesh - this is where it’s at.
In the stands, smile literally painted on, wouldn’t be anywhere else if you paid them. This is the common fan, the one who actually relaxes the purse strings to follow their team. Respect.
Crowds pumping. @SuzukiAus Fan in the Stand. pic.twitter.com/9YKnKsKolU
— Melbourne Storm (@storm) June 5, 2020
Updated
Teams
#NRLStormSouths LATE MAIL is in.
— LeagueUnlimited NRL & Rugby League News (@LeagueUnlimited) June 5, 2020
⚡ @storm
Seve, Jacks out
Lee centre
Lewis bench
Welch benched, Smith starts FRF
🐰 @SSFCRABBITOHS
Mago out
Kolomatangi bench
Knight benched, Murray lock, Lowe starts 2RF
Details 📋 https://t.co/hevLm2WQhW#NRL pic.twitter.com/ga273q8lXB
My takeouts:
- Not a great deal to take out; neither side will have any excuses
- Cameron Munster to star and lead the Storm to an eight-point win
Updated
Good news! Fans will soon be allowed back into NRL stadiums in NSW. Everyone rejoice. All and sundry get your flags and colours ready. And by all and sundry I mean the suits, toffs and plus-ones out there who can somehow blag their way into a corporate box. Well it is something, I guess.
Preamble
Good evening. I find it difficult to know what Wayne Bennett’s on about at the best of times. It’s not just the laconic drawl or the sense of humour so dry it could soak up the Georges River. It’s because I never know if he’s being serious or just playing funny buggers. Love the supercoach and all he does but he’s a cagey customer - and, to be fair, at his age he’s allowed to be. The subplot to tonight’s game is a case in point. Yes, premiership points are on the line. Yes, both teams are outside the eight hence both could do with a win. So there’s plenty in it as it is. But no, the Souths coach has to stir the pot and muddy the waters with a dig in the ribs about the Melbourne being past their prime. And it’s here where he gets in your head, whether you’re Craig Bellamy, a Storm player, a knackered blogger or old Norm nestled in the armchair about to watch the game. It’s not an outlandish opinion to put forth but therein lies the beauty, and with it Bennett’s genius. “They might well be past it,” you think. “But nothing lasts forever.” It’s such a given - Sick Boy’s theory of life - that it’s rarely spoken about. But when it is, and by a figure such as Bennett, it invades your headspace and makes you think about things when you should be thinking about, um, other things.
Oh, hang on, I get it. It’s called mind games. I get Wayne Bennett after all.
Then again, the whole thing could just be a gigantic media beat-up.
Either way, looking forward to this one. If you’d like to get involved - and I encourage you to do so - send me an email or a tweet @scott_heinrich.
