This was published 1 year ago
A frustrated Trent Robinson is questioning why Melbourne were awarded a controversial try in the Sydney Roosters’ loss to the Storm.
Back-rower Eli Katoa barged his way over the Roosters’ line midway through the first half at Allianz Stadium on Thursday.
But as he fended off Michael Jennings and Luke Keary to ground the ball, replays appeared to show Jennings had been driven off the tackle by Storm prop Nelson Asofa-Solomona.
Taking opposition players out of a tackle is illegal.
WHAT TO DO WITH MANU: Joey Manu did his best to get involved in the game when plonked back into the centres. Questions will be asked how the Roosters get more out of him in attack before he heads off to Japanese rugby. He won’t be moving to fullback because of James Tedesco. If he moves to five-eighth, what happens to Sam Walker? He scored a try, whacked Shawn Blore in the first half, but looked a little frustrated as he failed to have the same impact as six days earlier.
CHOOKS TROUBLE: James Tedesco was placed on report for tripping Ryan Papenhuyzen, big Jared Waerea-Hargreaves put a high shot on Christian Welch, then was lucky to avoid being placed on report for a dangerous tackle on Nelson Asofa-Solomona late in the game. Even Ash Klein told Waerea-Hargreaves “that was dangerous”. Joey Manu avoided being placed on report, but appeared to collect Harry Grant in the head.
MELBOURNE ARE THE REAL DEAL: The Storm can win the comp. They have excellent backs, hard-working backrowers in Eli Katoa and Shawn Blore, an excellent halves pairing, and a workhorse dummy-half skipper in Harry Grant. They also have their share of wins in the bank early. And big Nelson Asofa-Solomona will strip fitter in the next month. Uncle Craig has still got it.
ROOSTERS COACH TRENT ROBINSON ON STORM’S SECOND TRY: “He [Nelson Asofa-Solomona] runs in from a difference, lends weight, touches his player [Eli Katoa], and ‘Jenko’ [Michael Jennings], and goes over to score. Did he lend weight to the play? Yes he did. It’s not that hard. It was really clear.”
STORM COACH CRAIG BELLAMY: “I thought we were lucky to get away with the game, even though we created a lot of opportunities. We just seemed to be really impatient. We weren’t looking for an easy kill, but it looked like we were taking the easy options too much. As the game went on, I didn’t think that at all, and thought our defence was really good the while time.”
A few late penalties have allowed the Storm to march down field and win the game.
They have won 18-12.
Xavier Coates’ finish was excellent.
These two clubs will be meeting again in September at some stage.
Mark my words, the Storm can win the whole thing.
The Roosters were awarded the scrum from the kick-off, even though Lindsay Collins knocked on.
Because the Storm blew their captain’s challenge at the start of the game, they had to absorb a set deep in their own half.
There are two minutes remaining. Can the Storm hang on?
Xavier Coates has shown some brute strength to reach out and slam the ball down.
The play was frantic, the ball came down into the hands on Harry Grant, he put through a little grubber to an unmarked Coates, who then did the rest.
What a fantastic finish.
The Storm lead 18-12 with five minutes remaining.
James Tedesco has been penalised and placed on report for tripping Ryan Papenhuyzen.
King Ted was wrong-footed when chasing his opposite.
Andrew Johns asked on the commentary: “Why isn’t that the sin-bin?’. Fair point.
We have a game on our hands.
Joey Manu has just gone over with 12 minutes remaining.
And Joey Suaalii nails the conversion from the sideline.
Storm players claimed Michael Jennings knocked the ball on in the same set on the other side of the field.
Cam Munster has been sent to the bin for a professional foul.
Jahrome Hughes put through a grubber and Luke Keary shielded the ball over the deadball line.
James Tedesco went to take the quick tap on the 20m line, Munster grabbed the fullback as Storm players yelled ‘challenge’, and Ash Klein had no other choice but to march him.
The Roosters just blew a try at the other end with Joey Manu’s final ball to Victor Radley called forward.
Ten minutes have passed and there is still no change to the score.
The game is being played in the middle third of the field.
There have been no real chances.
Both teams have not been brilliant with their ball handling tonight.
How good are school holidays?
After leaving the house after spending all day with the kids (or was it yelling?), four young fans thought they’d start playing footy at the back of the media room.
I had to give them the red card.
That’s still waaaaaaayyyy fewer penalties than what Ash Klein has blown after 45 minutes of play.