Fulltime at WIN Stadium: ST GEORGE ILLAWARRA 20 MELBOURNE 10
ST GEORGE Illawarra have done enough to beat a badly depleted Melbourne, becoming the first side to score 20 or more points agains the Storm this year.
Storm winger Suiliasi Vunivalu added to his imposing try tally with two but it wasn't enough to stop the Dragons, who sealed victory with a good individual touchdown from Mitch Rein, his first of the year.
Despite being without a host of stars including Origin kingpins Cameron Smith and Cooper Cronk, Melbourne came to withint four points when Vinivalu posted his first try early in the second half. Ex-Melbourne player Kurt Mann then extended St George Illawarra's lead by sneaking over in the corner.
COMMENT: The Dragons will be pleased with the victory but not much else tonight.
#NRLsgimel Vunivalu has now scored the same number of tries as Clive Churchill did in his whole 157 game career. @Middleton_David @FOXNRL
— Ben Dixon (@Changi5733) June 18, 2016
Welcome to the #NRL Brodie Croft!
— NRL (@NRL) June 18, 2016
31 Tackles, 15 kicks for 349m, 10 runs for 75m & a Try Assist!#NRLDragonsStorm pic.twitter.com/c8w2KL9G8w
79 min: Vunivalu try
Young Tonomaipea gets the ball out to Vunivalu who gets yet another try, perhaps also giving Melbourne their first line break tonight. Harris misses. St George Illawarra 20-10
NO TRY Melbourne. Asofa-Solomona is short of the line but does it end up on the line? Luke Patten doesn't look at the replay for long enough to find out. It's play on. St George Illawarra 20-6
69 min: Rein try, Widdop goal
Hooker Mitch Rein gets his first try of the season. He throws two dummies and ducks under the tackle of Jesee Bromiwich before diving over despite the attentions of two defenders. Widdop converts from close range. St George Illawarra 20-6
Make that 5 non-kick tries for season Dragons. Well done #NRLDragonsStorm
— Jay Dwight (@JayD1313) June 18, 2016
66 min: Mann try
And former Stormer Kurt Mann sneaks over in the south-eastern corner after some quick hands from the Dragons' left-side attack. Tim Lafai did exceptionally well to get his hands free in the tackle.It's a difficult conversion attempt for Widdop on the touchline and he can't get there. St George Illawarra 14-6
58 min: Vunivalu try
A huge kick to the north-eastern corner and Suiliasi Vunivalu has the try after being cleared of being off-side in the chase. His 12 tries is a record for any player in his first eight games. Brody Croft was the kicker and Vunivalu soared above two defenders Tohu Harris from the sideline is unsuccessful. St George Illawrra 10-6
NO TRY Melbourne. I must say I am concerned with the decision to clear Melbourne of an obstruction in the lead-up to that would-be four-pointer. Joel Thompson made no decision to make contact, he didn't have a choice. Nonetheless it's chalked off due to the grounding - it came down short. St George Illawarra 10-2
46 min: Widdop goal
Good defence from Melbourne with Marika Koroibete knocking down what would have been a tryscoring pass. But when Ben Hampton dived on it, he was in an offside position. That means another penalty goal to Gareth Widdop. St George Illawarra 10-2
Tonight’s crowd is 7,568 #NRLDragonsStorm #redv
— The Dragons (@NRL_Dragons) June 18, 2016
NO TRY: St George Illawarra. That was an extremely quick halftime for the NRL. Euan Aitken chases a kick into the in-goal but loses it. The kick was from Benji Marshall. St George Illawarra 8-2
Back on for the 2nd Half in Wollongong.#NRLDragonsStorm 8-2#NRL pic.twitter.com/Z5nt1CaXHI
— NRL (@NRL) June 18, 2016
Halftime at WIN Stadium: ST GEORGE ILLAWARRA 8 MELBOURNE 2
A chip-and-chase try to Gareth Widdop is the difference between St George Illawarra and a depleted Melbourne at WIN Stadium.
The ball glanced off the shoulder of defender Kevin Proctor in the 19th minute when the England pivot tried a little kick behind the defensive line and after regathering, Widdop scored and converted himself.
COMMENT: A dour contest in which Melbourne remain a chance despite being almost unrecognisable from the star-studded outfit we see most weeks.
Back to top
Parramatta Statement on Semi Radradra
"The Parramatta Eels can confirm that Semi Radradra has been granted permission to return to Fiji for a short family visit during the bye round.
He is expected to return to Sydney in time to prepare for the club's next NRL game against Cronulla.
Semi Radradra is contracted to play for the Parramatta Eels until the end of the 2017 season, and has given no indication that the contract will not be honoured."
32 min: Widdop goal
Lots of errors in a game badly missing its Origin stars. Gareth Widdop's pass is knocked down with a certain try in the offing. From the scrum win, the Dragons get a penalty in kicking distance and the six takes it. St George Illawarra 8-2
Watching the #NRLDragonsStorm game trying to prove Eddie Jones correct. #shitgame
— Former Legend (@Former_legend) June 18, 2016
NO TRY St George Illawarra. Kalifa Faifai Loa attempts to touch down in the north-eastern corner but he can't stay in the field of play. Easy call from Luke "The General" Patten. St George Illawarra 6-2
19 min: Widdop try, goal
Eighteen-year-old Brody Croft is making his debut for Melbourne tonight. One of his penalty kicks for touch almost went out on the full and that touchfinder in general play did. His parents have come down from Brisbane for the game. On the next set of six, Gareth Widdop's chip kick bounces off the shoudler of a defender and back into his hands. He scores without a hand laid on him. The Englishman converts. St George Illawarra 6-2
Chip & Chase works a treat for @garethwiddop!#NRLDragonsStorm #NRL https://t.co/drqq1Dv7Rb
— NRL (@NRL) June 18, 2016
These sides still feeling each other out. We had a forward pass call earlier when Faifai Loa was away but he wouldn't have scored anyway. The Dragons have a penalty and are bringing the ball out of their own half right now. Melbourne 2-0
Back to topDragons error and the Storm work it out of their half now #NRLDragonsStorm #redv
— The Dragons (@NRL_Dragons) June 18, 2016
6 min: Harris goal
Jacob Host is penalised for a hand on the ball in front of the St George Illawarra posts and Melbourne captain Jesse Bromwich opts for two points. It's an easy one. Melbourne 2-0
And we're underway. Melbourne defending the northern end, Dragons with first use of the ball. St George Illawarra 0 Melbourne 0.
It's great to be back at Win Stadium for a #Redv game. Up the Steelers! #NRLDragonsStorm
— Nathan Thompson (@NT983) June 18, 2016
Teams on the field, not long til kick-off
The boys going through their pre-game warmup. #redv #NRLDragonsStorm pic.twitter.com/4MvpEaEE81
— The Dragons (@NRL_Dragons) June 18, 2016
Opinion: Semi Radradra
By STEVE MASCORD
LAST time Semi Radradra, apparently via his agent, threatened to walk out on rugby league, my message was "good riddance".
And it hasn't changed now that he has apparently done so, boarding a plane to Fiji with the intention of playing French rugby union. The only difference is that the first threat came as he tried to get picked by Australia despite only living there as a professional rugby league player.
Australia picked him. So he waited a few games and still skipped town, with an extra 20 grand in his kick.
It's doubtful there has ever been a more embarrassing selection for the green and gold and those who picked him should feel humiliated by this latest development.
Despite that try he scored on Friday night, I can honestly say as a rugby league fan I will not miss Radradra. A Fijian who cannot represent Fiji does not exciting me because I am one of the tiny minority of fans who see even club football through the prism of international competition.
It's unfortunate for Parramatta, whose club is falling apart before their eyes. But there is also a hint of karma there - they did cheat the salary cap, after all.
Plus I can see one overwhelming positive from all this - a lucky journo or two is going to get a trip to Fiji to track Semi down!
Teams - ST GEORGE ILLAWARRA v MELBOURNE
DRAGONS: Jason Nightingale; Kalifa Faifai Loa, Euan Aitken, Tim Lafai, Kurt Mann; Gareth Widdop, Benji Marshall; Mike Cooper, Joel Thompson, Jacob Post; Russell Packer, Mitch Rein, Leeson Ah Mau. Res: Jack Debelin, Will Matthews, Jake Marketo, Tariq Sims,
MELBOURNE: Young Tonumaipea; Suliasi Vunivalu, Cheyse Blair, Ryan Morgan, Marika Koroibete; Tohu Harris, Brodie Croft; Dale Finucane, Slade Griffin, Kevin Proctor, Jordan McLean, Kenny Brownich, Jesse Bromwich. Res: Felise Kaufusi, Nelson Asofa-Solomona, Christian Welch, Ben Hampton
Back to topSearch pagination
1 new post(s) available. View post(s) Dismiss