The Serve

MEL 26 SOU 10: Melbourne hold out tough Souths

The Storm returned to the top of the NRL ladder, beating Souths 26-10 in a scoreline that flattered the home side.

The game was locked up at 6-all at half time, thanks to Souths committed defense. Steve Turner opening the scoring via a slightly dubious video referee decision. A try cancelled out by Dean Widders. The Storm were unusually insipid in attack, before rolling into motion shortly after the break, with Matt King on the end of the stylish backline movement. Matt Geyer’s burrowing effort ending the contest with seventeen minutes remaining.

Shannon Hegerty scored a deserved try for South Sydney, as the game ended with a spectacular try to Greg Inglis, juggling a Cooper Cronk chip kick in the Souths in goal, before recovering the ball and grounding it simultaneously, centimetres inside the dead ball line.

The Storm were full of praise for Souths efforts. “We knew it was going to be a tough game. South’s were here since Wednesday” said coach Craig Bellamy.

The Rabbitohs have now lost five games in a row to slip further away from the eight, however coach Jason Taylor could see positives. “Really promising. I feel like we’ve got something strong to build on after that”.

Melbourne’s extraordinary run at Olympic Park is 23-1 from their last 24 games. Tonight won’t go down as one of their best wins. Storm hooker Cameron Smith offered this glowing reference to the Rabbitohs: “Apart from Manly, that’s the best defensive team we’ve come up against”

Melbourne 26 (Tries: Turner 13, King 43, Geyer 63, Inglis 79. Goals: Smith 5/5)

Souths 10 (Tries: Widders 23, Hegerty 70. Goals: Merritt 1/2)