Below is the report just to hand from your Silvertails man on the scene (well not so much on the actual scene, but I can imagine what would have happened) 
Smith centre stage in rules controversy as Bunnies fall to Storm machine
Melbourne Storm have emerged victors after methodically wearing down the resistance of the South Sydney Rabbitohs at AAMI park this evening, but the biggest news out of the game was a controversy over the NRL’s new captain’s challenge.
Storm triumphed 21-10 with tries to Dale Finucane, Suniasi Vunuvalu, and Justin Olam, while Alex Johnson and Cam Murray crossed for the visitors.
The scoring began in the 8th minute when Finucane strolled through from short range after a period of sustained Storm pressure. Smith converted.
Souths rallied but gave up the next points when Smith slotted a penalty goal from a handy location after Liam Knight was penalised for a foolish attempted one-on-one strip with 4 in the tackle.
The rest of the first half was an arm wrestle as the teams struggled to build pressure but were stymied by several uncharacteristic handling errors, from both sides. Storm had the best chance after Asofa-Solomona, who was very strong off the bench, dropped the ball with the line open in the 35th minute. Reynolds landed a late penalty to reduce Storm’s lead to 8-2 at the break.
The second half began with more grinding play from both sides until the 50th minute when the match came to life with a brilliant try to Souths. Latrell Mitchell, who had played the first half at fullback before moving to left centre for the second, palmed off Kaufusi with a sledgehammer fend before providing a sublime inside pass to set up replacement fullback Alex Johnson, who sprinted 40 metres in a thrilling run to score out wide. Reynolds failed to convert.
From the restart Souths made good ground and looked to be gaining the ascendency. Murray made a long break and again found Johnson backing up, but the sweeping move was stopped short when Storm winger Josh Addo-Carr was able to run down Dane Gagai barely a metre from the try-line.
Cody Walker then gained a repeat set with a neat grubber and Storm looked in grave danger of conceding another try. However Storm skipper Cam Smith bought some time for his tiring troops with an unsuccessful captain’s challenge, claiming the ball had been touched by Souths just before it went dead.
From the ensuing restart Asofa-Solomona tried to steal possession from Souths Ethan Lowe in a tackle, but was ruled to have knocked on when the ball came loose. However skipper Smith again challenged the decision and referee Grant Atkins reversed the decision after the bunker ruled the ball had not travelled forward. Meanwhile Souths captain Adam Reynolds attempted to remonstrate with Atkins about the Storm having no challenges left. However Atkins told him he couldn’t challenge that decision because Souths also had no captains challenges left, and eventually penalised Reynolds for dissent.
Smith gained good ground from the penalty and from the tap restart on half way a sweeping move ended in spectacular fashion with Storm winger Suniasi Vunuvalu leaping dangerously at his opposite Campbell Graham, who was bowled over and Vunivalu crossed for a try in the corner. Graham had to be replaced after the collision and was taken to hospital suffering a crushed larynx. As he lined up the conversion Cam Smith was heard on SportsEars joking with referee Atkins that Campbell was left speechless by the collision.
Smith landed the difficult kick for a 16-6 lead, and from that point Souths revival was all but over.
Storm centre Justin Olam, who was strong throughout, scored a regulation try after sustained pressure in the 68th minute, and Cam Munster added a nifty field goal in the 74th minute. Cam Murray scored a consolation try for Souths in the 78th minute after a clever play in which he first stripped the ball from Storm’s Brandon Smith, then beat two tackles, dived under a third, then jumped over three more Storm players for a typical score under the posts. Reynolds missed the conversion.
Dale Finucane was outstanding and the Storm forwards certainly finished the match on top. Mitchell only made 4 runs although he did set up Johnson’s try. Cam Smith directed play with his customary aplomb, as well as directing referee Atkins at the most critical point. Cam Munster made one great run beating 4 players with sidestepping and also kicked a field goal, but overall it was a grinding affair saved by a few moments of brilliance (and madness, in Vunivalu’s case).
Storm 21 (Finucane, Vunivalu, Olam tries, Smith 4 goals, Munster field goal) d Souths 10 (Johnson, Murray tries, Reynolds goal).
Dally M points
3 Dale Finucane, 2 Cam Smith, 1 Cam Murray
Smith centre stage in rules controversy as Bunnies fall to Storm machine
Melbourne Storm have emerged victors after methodically wearing down the resistance of the South Sydney Rabbitohs at AAMI park this evening, but the biggest news out of the game was a controversy over the NRL’s new captain’s challenge.
Storm triumphed 21-10 with tries to Dale Finucane, Suniasi Vunuvalu, and Justin Olam, while Alex Johnson and Cam Murray crossed for the visitors.
The scoring began in the 8th minute when Finucane strolled through from short range after a period of sustained Storm pressure. Smith converted.
Souths rallied but gave up the next points when Smith slotted a penalty goal from a handy location after Liam Knight was penalised for a foolish attempted one-on-one strip with 4 in the tackle.
The rest of the first half was an arm wrestle as the teams struggled to build pressure but were stymied by several uncharacteristic handling errors, from both sides. Storm had the best chance after Asofa-Solomona, who was very strong off the bench, dropped the ball with the line open in the 35th minute. Reynolds landed a late penalty to reduce Storm’s lead to 8-2 at the break.
The second half began with more grinding play from both sides until the 50th minute when the match came to life with a brilliant try to Souths. Latrell Mitchell, who had played the first half at fullback before moving to left centre for the second, palmed off Kaufusi with a sledgehammer fend before providing a sublime inside pass to set up replacement fullback Alex Johnson, who sprinted 40 metres in a thrilling run to score out wide. Reynolds failed to convert.
From the restart Souths made good ground and looked to be gaining the ascendency. Murray made a long break and again found Johnson backing up, but the sweeping move was stopped short when Storm winger Josh Addo-Carr was able to run down Dane Gagai barely a metre from the try-line.
Cody Walker then gained a repeat set with a neat grubber and Storm looked in grave danger of conceding another try. However Storm skipper Cam Smith bought some time for his tiring troops with an unsuccessful captain’s challenge, claiming the ball had been touched by Souths just before it went dead.
From the ensuing restart Asofa-Solomona tried to steal possession from Souths Ethan Lowe in a tackle, but was ruled to have knocked on when the ball came loose. However skipper Smith again challenged the decision and referee Grant Atkins reversed the decision after the bunker ruled the ball had not travelled forward. Meanwhile Souths captain Adam Reynolds attempted to remonstrate with Atkins about the Storm having no challenges left. However Atkins told him he couldn’t challenge that decision because Souths also had no captains challenges left, and eventually penalised Reynolds for dissent.
Smith gained good ground from the penalty and from the tap restart on half way a sweeping move ended in spectacular fashion with Storm winger Suniasi Vunuvalu leaping dangerously at his opposite Campbell Graham, who was bowled over and Vunivalu crossed for a try in the corner. Graham had to be replaced after the collision and was taken to hospital suffering a crushed larynx. As he lined up the conversion Cam Smith was heard on SportsEars joking with referee Atkins that Campbell was left speechless by the collision.
Smith landed the difficult kick for a 16-6 lead, and from that point Souths revival was all but over.
Storm centre Justin Olam, who was strong throughout, scored a regulation try after sustained pressure in the 68th minute, and Cam Munster added a nifty field goal in the 74th minute. Cam Murray scored a consolation try for Souths in the 78th minute after a clever play in which he first stripped the ball from Storm’s Brandon Smith, then beat two tackles, dived under a third, then jumped over three more Storm players for a typical score under the posts. Reynolds missed the conversion.
Dale Finucane was outstanding and the Storm forwards certainly finished the match on top. Mitchell only made 4 runs although he did set up Johnson’s try. Cam Smith directed play with his customary aplomb, as well as directing referee Atkins at the most critical point. Cam Munster made one great run beating 4 players with sidestepping and also kicked a field goal, but overall it was a grinding affair saved by a few moments of brilliance (and madness, in Vunivalu’s case).
Storm 21 (Finucane, Vunivalu, Olam tries, Smith 4 goals, Munster field goal) d Souths 10 (Johnson, Murray tries, Reynolds goal).
Dally M points
3 Dale Finucane, 2 Cam Smith, 1 Cam Murray
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