Melbourne Storm v Eastern Suburbs Roosters. AAMI Stadium. June 14, 2010.
It looks freezing in Melbourne so the Roosters should acclimatise well to this weather with all the snow we've had in Bondi lately!!!!
Jokes aside, the Roosters might struggle tonight - I only say that because I am desperate for my weekend multi to come up. My bet looks like this:
Warriors to beat Newcastle @ 2.45. Check.
Slovenia to beat Algeria by 1 goal @ 3.45. Check.
Melbourne +4.5 over the Roosters @ 1.90.
Fingers crossed for a $150 collect.
1st minute - This blog is a fan of Jake Friend. He represents the shining beacon of hope to all wayward souls that is Rugby League. Anyone can be forgiven and reborn under the warm bosom of the Greatest Game of All. Even Andrew Johns will be forgiven.
2nd minute - Storm halfback Luke Kelly's first kick aint so good. This kid is under a bit of pressure tonight.
4th minute - Kelly's opposite number tonight, Todd Carney, looks lively. As do the Roosters early.
5th minute - Storm butcher a try. My multi could have been up 8.5 - 0. Melbourne with a bit of momentum now. Two straight sets attacking the line... but they turn it over.
9th minute - Roosters have had zero field position in the early going. When they do, they will no doubt be aiming their attack at inexperienced combinations in the Storm defensive line.
13th minute - Luke Kelly's second kick is a beauty. 40/20. Nice work from the youngster but Melbourne fails to capitalise after throwing the ball around for 3 tackles to no effect.
15th minute - The Mad Pup knocks on to give the Roosters their first chance to attack in the oppositions 20.
18th minute - Luke Kelly shows his youth. Mose Masoe - a giant of a man playing in the front row tonight - runs right at him and scores easily. Roosters 6-0. My multi, at this point, is still OK.
20th minute - actually my multi looks better than OK. The Roosters cough it up on the first set after their try, a horrible error for coaches to see. Storm give it right back through Aidan Tolman error.
23rd minute - Roosters showing willingness to throw it around already. Tremendous work here as they attack up the left edge and Phil Graham finds space, they look dangerous. Melbourne will have to work hard tonight, harder than usual to secure a win. They might be able to defend well but at this stage do not have enough enterprise to score points. My multi now looks a bit shaky.
26th minute - Fantastic try to Phil Graham. Frank Paul offload started it and the backs finished it. They spread it well to find the overlap from inside their own half. Roosters looking the better side so far. They lead 12-0.
Thought - Doesn’t the rep calender really destroy games like this? I am enjoying watching this one but one cannot help but wonder what might have been. The Roosters have turned up. If only they turned up against a full strength Storm outfit. The more big games played, the more people will come to see your product. The NRL need to find a better way to schedule their season. I have an idea just like everyone else. More to come on this in the coming weeks.
29th minute - The Roosters follow up set of six is a beauty. It looked almost Tigers-like at their best. They go 100m in six tackles as Braith Anasta puts in a perfect kick for Shaun Kenny Dowall to score. Video ref says not try. SKD pushing Storm player illegally to get to the ball.
Must be said at this stage the Roosters are all over them. Minichiello looking good at fullback.
33rd minute - The Bondi boys are really keeping it alive and playing a very entertaining brand. Joseph Leilua throws a beautiful inside ball to get the Roosters within striking distance and this is followed up by rubbish penalty to put the Storm under even more pressure. Going down 18-0 just before halftime would be disastrous for this young side. They hold out though; still 12-0 Roosters.
Thought - Have not seen much of Todd Carney at this point. Jake Friend and Braith Anasta a lot of the kicking. Anasta controlling most of the attack on both sides of the ruck. The Roosters doing well without too much responsibility placed on Carney. A good sign considering how badly they have looked in attack without Mitchell Pearce this year.
36th minute - Sam Perrett makes an easy line break from a simple hit up and finds a streaking Kane Linnett on debut who goes in under the posts. Roosters 18-0.
Kane Linnett? I'm guessing he is either a Souths junior or a Queenslander…
(Upon checking the next day I find that Kane is a Dragons junior from Port Kembla – I am wrong again - I also find that his footy hero is Justin Hodges. I just vomited in my mouth a little bit)
39th minute - Roosters cough it up again after scoring. It does not seem to matter tonight though. My multi has one foot on the grave and the other foot has tinea.
40th minute - Storm a chance before halftime. Hinchcliffe goes over from dummy half but the video ref says no try. My multi is on life support.
Halftime - Roosters 18-0.
During intermission - I go on a Macca's run. As with every Macca's, it’s not far from your house. In the car I'm listening to Triple Ms Monday Night league commentary. They are interviewing Brian Smith during halftime!!! Awesome. A very American approach to media access, but I like it.
Heaps of people in the drive thru line at Maccas so I might miss the start of the second half.
48th minute - Indeed. I'm back on the couch to see the Roosters attacking the Melbourne line once again but still 18-0. McChicken meal with a JB.
51st minute - Sustained pressure could be too much for the young Storm squad. The Roosters look great in attack, every ruck looks organised and every run has intent. Repeat set coming up - and another after a penalty.
51st minute - The pressure is too much again for the Storm. Todd Carney floats across field and finds Mitch Aubusson who pops a one handed ball inside to Minichiello who scores. Great pass. Roosters 24-0,
54th minute - The Roosters ensuing set goes 100 metres again and they get a repeat set. This is a butt kicking. My multi is dead as dead as dead.
56th minute - Blowout City. Horrible night for the Storm. Great kick by Anasta who has been fantastic tonight. Finds Graham perfectly on left side who scores. Roosters 28-0.
59th minute - Every Roosters set of six seems like its going 100 metres. On this occasion the visitors get a little too excited, forward pass.
Thought - further on the disintegration of my multi - I did have another one going this weekend that involved a rugby league leg and just to show you how bad my tipping is... see below;
Manly +7.5 against the Titans - they lost by 14.
Manly u/20s -6.5 against the Titans (manly coming 2nd on the ladder and the Titans coming 2nd last), Manly lost by 12.
South Korea to beat Greece - they did.
My Manly tip sucked on two levels!!!
64th minute - Storm fire up a bit after Anasta head slamming penalty. It almost looked comical, watching Anasta try to get the attacker on his back. One of the problems with wrestling techniques today, they lead to many slow play-the-balls and silly penalties. On this occasion the storm get the penalty but fail to capitalise again,. Just can’t do it without the troops.
69th minute - Melbourne finally on the scoreboard after Minichiello knock on and penalties give them repeat sets. Dummy half scoot from Rory Kostjazyn. I dont even know if I spelt this correctly and I dont care. A horrible name to type. Roosters 28-6. (Or 28 - 10.5 with my multi line included. A diabolical end to a good betting weekend)
74th minute - Super performance from Braith tonight. He has been in everything and picked out weaknesses in the Storm defence on nearly every attacking raid. Has put them in two minds every time. On this occasion, he finds Frank Paul with a lovely ball to straighten the attack and his big back rower crosses untouched. Roosters 32-6.
77th minute - For and against might play a part come semi final time. The Roosters seem very aware of this and they put on another try. Sam Perrett crosses in the corner against a helpless Melbourne defence after good lead up work from Carney. Roosters 38-6.
Fulltime - Roosters 38-6.
Next week MNF heads up the F3 as Newcastle host the Eels. There will be no Minute by Minute blog next week - but go to http://www.leagueunlimited.com/ for live broadcasts.
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