Storm claim top of the table

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The Melbourne Storm have ended the winning streak of the South Sydney Rabbitohs as they claimed the top of the table with a 16-10 victory at ANZ Stadium in front a healthy crowd of 32,671.

The first half saw the Storm rack up a 12-0 score line. The first points came through Kevin Proctor as he crawled and reach out for the goal line running off a Ryan Hinchcliffe offload. The second try came through Mahe Fonua who flirted with the touch in goal line to coolly plant the ball down in the corner.

The Rabbitohs pressured the Storm, but mistakes cost them chances in the opening half.

The second half saw the Rabbitohs fight for the victory, scoring two tries. However, the Storm were able to hold strong defending until full time. 
 
Sam and George Burgess were strong for the Rabbitohs as their power saw the South Sydney side post their first points. Greg Inglis claimed the try as Adam Reynolds' cross field kick was collected and planted down. 10 minutes until the second half, the Storm held leaders 12-6. 
 
Gareth Widdip returned serve minutes later with some fancy footwork off a short pass from Billy Slater to score. Cameron Smith, however, from the touchline unsuccessful with the conversion. 
 
Inside the final 10 minutes the Rabbitohs remained hopeful as their went searching for the try line. With seven minutes to play, they found it through Andrew Everingham who dived over in the corner thanks to the boot of Adam Reynolds. 
 
All hope was dashed for the fans in the Burrow as Cooper Cronk slot a field goal to secure the victory, 17-10. The Storm claimed the victory, but it wasn't without punishment as Billy Slater was sin binned in the final three minutes for a professional foul on Nathan Merritt. Lucky for the Storm, it did not affect them as they held strong. 
 
With the victory the Storm are now outright leaders of the NRL after six rounds as they handed the Rabbitohs their first loss of 2013. Next week the Storm head back to AAMI Park to face the struggling Warriors. Meanwhile the Rabbitohs head across town to Brookvale when they do battle with the Manly Sea Eagles.

The second half saw the Rabbitohs fight for the victory, scoring two tries. However, the Storm were able to hold strong defending until full time. 

Sam and George Burgess were strong for the Rabbitohs as their power saw the South Sydney side post their first points. Greg Inglis claimed the try as Adam Reynolds' cross field kick was collected and planted down. 10 minutes until the second half, the Storm held leaders 12-6. 

Gareth Widdip returned serve minutes later with some fancy footwork off a short pass from Billy Slater to score. Cameron Smith, however, from the touchline unsuccessful with the conversion. 

Inside the final 10 minutes the Rabbitohs remained hopeful as their went searching for the try line. With seven minutes to play, they found it through Andrew Everingham who dived over in the corner thanks to the boot of Adam Reynolds. 

All hope was dashed for the fans in the Burrow as Cooper Cronk slot a field goal to secure the victory, 17-10. The Storm claimed the victory, but it wasn't without punishment as Billy Slater was sin binned in the final three minutes for a professional foul on Nathan Merritt. Lucky for the Storm, it did not affect them as they held strong. 

With the victory the Storm are now outright leaders of the NRL after six rounds as they handed the Rabbitohs their first loss of 2013. Next week the Storm head back to AAMI Park to face the struggling Warriors. Meanwhile the Rabbitohs head across town to Brookvale when they do battle with the Manly Sea Eagles. 


Match Details
South Sydney Rabbitohs 10 Melbourne Storm 17
Venue: Stadium Australia
Crowd: 32,671
Halftime Score: Storm 12-0

LeagueUnlimited.com Players of the Match:
3 points - Gareth Widdop
2 points - Adam Reynolds
1 point - Sisa Waqa

SOUTH SYDNEY RABBITOHS (10)
Tries: Greg Inglis, Andrew Everingham
Field Goals:
Conversions: Adam Reynolds (1/2)
Penalty Goals:

MELBOURNE STORM (17)
Tries: Kevin Proctor, Mahe Fonua, Gareth Widdop
Field Goals: Cooper Cronk (1/1)
Conversions: Cameron Smith (2/3)
Penalty Goals:

LeagueUnlimited.com Live Commentary

 

Welcome to LeagueUnlimited.com's coverage LIVE from ANZ Stadium as the top of the table do battle with the Rabbitohs hosting the Storm.

NRL TEAM NEWS:

Rabbitohs - Dylan Farrell OUT; Beau Champion IN (wearing jersey 22)

Storm - Tohu Harris moves to the bench, Kevin Proctor starts for the Storm. Billy Slater will play despite rumours he would miss it with a foot injury.
Minutes away from kick off here at ANZ Stadium with people still pouring into the ground late. Teams in the sheds getting the final messages from the staff. Kick off shortly
1 min: We are UNDERWAY at ANZ Stadium as the Rabbitohs kick off through Bryson Goodwin. The Storm get the first use of the ball
1 min: Big first set from the Storm, almost going 100 metres off the kick off. The Rabbitohs working it out of their 10 metre line.
3 min: The Storm were going no where on the last tackle, but Billy Slater toed the ball ahead for himself. Greg Inglis was forced to play at the ball and concede a line drop out as a result. The Storm applying the pressure here
4 min: UNFORCED ERROR MELBOURNE STORM
Billy Slater makes an unforced error as he tried to jump for the chip kick from Cooper Cronk. Adam Reynolds luck not to have ruled to have touched that. Scrum for the Rabbitohs on their 10 metre line
6 min: Penalty awarded to the Rabbitohs as the Storm were ruled to have held down in the ruck too long. Rabbitohs attacking 30 metres out as a result.
7 min: Penalty to the Storm against Adam Reynolds. The Storm previously going well to defuse the kick from John Sutton. Gareth Widdop leapt from the field of play to take the ball. The Storm working it off their 20 metre line now
9 min: Penalty to the Rabbitohs against the Storm defence, offside the call. Adam Reynolds finds touch and the Rabbitohs attacking again 30 metres from the goal line
10 min: The Storm defence holding strong as the Rabbitohs failed to put pressure on, Adam Reynolds kick on the last taken easily by Cameron Smith. Working it off their 10 metre line.
12 min: Nathan Merritt forces the kick from Cooper Cronk dead, pressure on the Rabbitohs now as the Storm get a repeat set.
15 min: The Storm off their second line drop out unable to get points as a mistake is cleaned up by Issac Luke. Rabbitohs with the ball deep in their own half
16 min: Greg Inglis with all class as he picked up the ball just inside the 20 metre line as the Storm looked for a 40/20. Big plays from both sides.
17 min: Ryan Hinchcliffe opened up the Rabbitohs defence as he made the break. The Storm passing wide to Founa, but it's cleaned up and forced out by Andrew Everingham. The kick earns the Storm a line drop out once again.
19 min: Penalty to the Storm, as Jason Ryles passed the ball off the ground. Ryles almost going over the goal line, but penalised as he offloaded on the ground to Cameron Smith
21 min: The pressure all on the Rabbitohs as the Storm earn another line drop out as Greg Inglis was forced to take the ball dead.
23 min: TRY MELBOURNE STORM
Scored by Kevin Proctor. Conversion attempt by Cameron Smith successful.

Kevin Proctor claims first points for the Storm as Cooper Cronk put Ryan Hinchcliffe into a hole. Proctor off the pass from Hinchcliffe crawled and reach out for the goal line. Cameron Smith with the conversion slot the extras
Melbourne Storm 6-0
25 min: Siosaia Vave has come straight off the field for the Storm with a knee injury. Meanwhile the Rabbitohs are on the attack with a scrum feed on the Storm's 30 metre line as Jason Ryles lost the ball in a tackle
27 min: Jason Ryles had the ball stripped out and it's a penalty to the Storm.
28 min: Second penalty to the Storm as Billy Slater was tackled without the ball. The Storm attacking inside the Rabbitohs 30 metre line
30 min: Greg Inglis with a charging run through the goal line, but the next play the Rabbitohs earn a penalty as the Storm hold too long in the tackle. Rabbitohs attacking inside the Storm 10 metre line.
32 min: Sisa Waqa with a BEAUTIFUL take over his head and then managed to offload to Slater
33 min: Massive defence from the Rabbitohs, three of them force Mahe Fonua back in goal off the kick from Adam Reynolds. Wonderful play from the South Sydney side
35 min: Gareth Widdop originally took the intercept but dropped it. Big play from Widdop. Scrum Rabbitohs
36 min: Cooper Cronk knocked down the pass from the Rabbitohs, zero tackle was called. However, on the 1st tackle Adam Reynolds fired a grubber kick through the line, Mahe Fonua flying through beat Reynolds and knocked it dead. Line drop out for the Rabbitohs
39 min: VIDEO REFEREE for the Storm, we have a TRY. Looking at the touchline for Mahe Fonua
40 min: TRY MELBOURNE STORM
Scored by Mahe Fonua. Conversion attempt by Cameron Smith successful.

Cooper Cronk provided the pin-point kick to the corner for Mahe Fonua to flirt with the touchline and as cool as you like post the Storm's second try. Video referee happily awarded the try as Fonua managed to stay inside the field of play. Cameron Smith from the touchline is successful
Melbourne Storm 12-0
40 min: HALF TIME at ANZ Stadium sees the Melbourne Storm leading the Rabbitohs 12-0
41 min: Second half is UNDERWAY at ANZ Stadium as the Storm kick off
44 min: Wonderful defence from George Burgess, Gareth Widdop dived for the line off a short pass from Cooper Cronk. Rabbitohs goal line holding for now
46 min: Penalty to the Rabbitohs for a slow play release from the Storm. Rabbitohs attacking on halfway
49 min: TRY SOUTH SYDNEY RABBITOHS
Scored by Greg Inglis. Conversion attempt by Adam Reynolds successful.

On the back a big runs from both Sam and George Burgess. Greg Inglis off the boot from Adam Reynolds leapt up high and crashed down for the Rabbitohs first points. Reynolds with the conversion added the extras.
Melbourne Storm 12-6
50 min: Penalty to the Rabbitohs off the kick off as the Storm ruled to have stripped out the ball in the ruck. Rabbitohs once again attacking on halfway
51 min: The boos ring around ANZ as Billy Slater looked to have knocked on. Storm lucky there, they have it inside their 10 metre line.
53 min: Sisa Waqa pushing up in defence forces a poor pass from Greg Inglis over the head of Merritt. Storm with it 40 metres away from the Rabbioths goal line
55 min: TRY MELBOURNE STORM
Scored by Gareth Widdop. Conversion attempt by Cameron Smith is unsuccessful.

Gareth Widdop with some beautiful footwork off a short pass from Billy Slater darted away from Adam Reynolds and Beau Champion to reach out and score. Cameron Smith with the conversion from out wide hits the uprights and it's no goal.
Melbourne Storm 16-6
58 min: Penalty to the Rabbitohs against Sau for a strip. Billy Slater gave up possession on the previous play as he offloaded and the Rabbitohs came up with it. The South Sydney side attack 30 metres from the Storm goal line
60 min: UNFORCED ERROR SOUTH SYDNEY RABBITOHS
Issac Luke makes an unforced error as the pass from John Sutton was poor. Storm hold on as they get a scrum feed on their 10 metre line.
62 min: Mahe Fonua didn't have to play at the kick. He juggled the ball in goal, line drop out for Rabbitohs.
63 min: Sam Burgess charging into the line, a massive run but it ends with a mistake as he dropped it. Scrum Storm deep in their own half
65 min: Penalty awarded to the Storm as Adam Reynolds dragged Widdop over the line after the held call
68 min: Long kick from Billy Slater sees the ball roll just a metre before the corner post. Scrum for the Rabbitohs on their 10 metre line.
71 min: Penalty awarded to the Rabbitohs as Adam Reynolds unable to play it quickly. Rabbitohs attacking 20 metres out
73 min: TRY SOUTH SYDNEY RABBITOHS
Scored by Andrew Everingham. Conversion attempt by Adam Reynolds is unsuccessful.

Adam Reynolds provided Andrew Everingham a beautiful cut out pass to the wing and Everingham flew and dived over the in the corner. The Rabbitohs are coming, Adam Reynolds from the touchline is unable to convert.
Melbourne Storm 16-10
75 min: Greg Inglis coming up with space and running strong, he looked for support as he offloaded. However, the ball bounced away from everyone and ended up over the touchline. Scrum feed for the Storm on halfway
76 min: SUCCESSFUL FIELD GOAL MELBOURNE STORM
Field goal attempt by Cooper Cronk successful as he struck it beautifully and had a mile of time to make it a seven point lead
Melbourne Storm 17-10
78 min: SIN BIN
Billy Slater is sent to the sin bin after putting Nathan Merritt off the ball as he kicked ahead. Penalty to the Rabbitohs only 10 metres out
79 min: UNFORCED ERROR SOUTH SYDNEY RABBITOHS
Jeff Lima makes an unforced error as he dropped the short pass from Lima. Storm will hold now here
80 min: FULL TIME at ANZ Stadium sees the Storm hold on and run away victors over the Rabbitohs, 17-10. Match report shortly
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