Melbourne strike lightning when it counts
August 9th 2008 06:13
Taking one for the team - Jeremy Smith is just one ingredient in Melbourne's arsenal
It was a performance that would have made a hardened soul like Craig Bellamy cry.
The win had everything in terms of guts, glory, pain and suffering. Manly were eager to play hard but so were Melbourne.
In the end, it was the star status of the Storm that granted them the two competition points, not to mention, out right favouritism for this years premiership.
Billy Slater was superb, setting up a wonderful try for talisman Matt Geyer.
Then it was Cooper Cronk who chipped over the top for the QLD fullback to regather and send Israel Folau over in the corner.
Unfortunately for the Sea Eagles, they cannot compete with the Storm in terms of individual brilliance and ability. Manly are a side that play brilliantly as a team but, other than Brett Stewart, there is no one in their group to seize the moment and take control.
Melbourne on the other hand have that component fine-tuned to perfection. If it’s not Slater, Inglis takes over. If he fails, Folau takes charge. If things get really desperate, Cameron Smith will steer them to safety.
Earlier this season, the Storm beat Manly 26-4 at Olympic Park. The Sea Eagles on Friday night failed to defeat a side who had not won at Brookvale Oval for over six years.
But history in this game amounts for nothing. The Sea Eagles are lacking in terms of flair and instinct, and nothing will save them until they find personnel who can take risks and produce something special.
You only have to look at the team sheet to judge why Manly continually fall short against the Storm.
Their representative roster is nothing compared to that of Melbourne. The Sea Eagles have seven players that have tasted rep football while the Storm had an amazing 16 players leading up to Friday nights encounter.
There is only so much that grunt and power in the forwards can do against an opponent that is both defensively solid and offensively brilliant at the same time.
Although Manly were desperate to focus all their play through their formidable forward pack, the Storm simply withstood the pressure and came up with the plays necessary to strike the Sea Eagles down when least expected.
While many will congratulate the likes of Slater and Cronk, many of those who watched Friday’s night encounter should spare thanks to Melbourne’s forward pack.
The unsung heroes consisting of Jeff Lima, Jeremy Smith, Adam Blair and Sika Manu were all superb in gaining the metres necessary for their star backs to wreck havoc.
Lima in particular was splendid, notching up 17 hit-ups for 145 metres in a game where pain was the main obstacle.
Dallas Johnson typified his stance as the most rugged forward in the NRL with 8 hit-ups and 39 tackles next to his name. Brett White also played tremendously well.
As long as these forwards keep up their end of the bargain, Melbourne look to have now guaranteed themselves a place in late September.
Because if Manly could not stop them at home, who else could be up to the task?
The Sydney Roosters will have their chance next Friday night against the reigning premiers in Melbourne.
Unlike Manly, the Roosters have more match winners compared to the Sea Eagles.
Brad Fittler’s men did beat Melbourne earlier this year, not to mention they have won their past two matches between the sides.
Although erratic at times, if the Roosters show up with their best football, they are the side capable of dethroning the Storm from their premiership perch.
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