World Club Challenge
Was thinking the same thing Mattpoet. I would say we are better with Munster at 6 and Hughes at fullback.Mattpoet wrote:Question is are we better with him at fb with Jacks at five eighth or with him at five eighth and Hughes at fb?
I like the idea of Munster at fullback and Hughes at 5/8. There’s plenty of options for us tho. Hughes, Jacks, Drinkwater, we could buy a new 5/8 with some of Slaters money. Plenty of optionsMattpoet wrote:Question is are we better with him at fb with Jacks at five eighth or with him at five eighth and Hughes at fb?
Munster is a sensational fullback. He'd no doubt be playing rep footy there if not for Slater. He's still learning his trait as a 5/8th and will only continue to get better.
Legit already over the Croft/Cronk rubbish I've seen today. Need to let Brodie be Brodie.
Legit already over the Croft/Cronk rubbish I've seen today. Need to let Brodie be Brodie.
https://www.nrl.com/news/2018/02/18/rhi ... rne-storm/
Rhinos' advice on how to beat the Melbourne Storm
Back yourself: that is Leeds Rhinos coach Brian McDermott's message to the rest of the NRL after his side went down to Melbourne 38-4 in the World Club Challenge.
The Rhinos tried an expansive game plan that yielded plenty of offloads but too many errors curtailed their progress.
"I don't think five drives and a kick is the way to beat Melbourne," McDermott said.
"If I was coaching in the NRL, I would never tell my players to roll your sleeves up and get them in the grind, because they're the experts at it."
The Rhinos didn't shy away from using the football despite making 24 errors in the first-half alone.
"Because their defence is so well drilled, they're so energetic with it and they look so fit with it, I think you've got to try something," he said.
"You've got to back yourself. It's not a gamble at all. I don't think talking about completion rates is the be all and end all.
"Clearly, completion rates does have a bearing. But it is a really fine balance, and you've got to get the balance right, where yes you might make one or two errors trying something else with the ball and challenge them, but doing it enough to make some line breaks. You've got to make some line breaks against Melbourne."
In the end, fatigue and errors cost the defending Super League champions in the back end of the game, as the Storm showed their class.
McDermott admitted the lift in intensity between the Super League and the NRL was too much for his side who missed four of their key forwards to injury.
"Give my team 10 weeks and 10 games like that. By week nine and week 10, I reckon we'd be up at that level," he said.
Rhinos' advice on how to beat the Melbourne Storm
Back yourself: that is Leeds Rhinos coach Brian McDermott's message to the rest of the NRL after his side went down to Melbourne 38-4 in the World Club Challenge.
The Rhinos tried an expansive game plan that yielded plenty of offloads but too many errors curtailed their progress.
"I don't think five drives and a kick is the way to beat Melbourne," McDermott said.
"If I was coaching in the NRL, I would never tell my players to roll your sleeves up and get them in the grind, because they're the experts at it."
The Rhinos didn't shy away from using the football despite making 24 errors in the first-half alone.
"Because their defence is so well drilled, they're so energetic with it and they look so fit with it, I think you've got to try something," he said.
"You've got to back yourself. It's not a gamble at all. I don't think talking about completion rates is the be all and end all.
"Clearly, completion rates does have a bearing. But it is a really fine balance, and you've got to get the balance right, where yes you might make one or two errors trying something else with the ball and challenge them, but doing it enough to make some line breaks. You've got to make some line breaks against Melbourne."
In the end, fatigue and errors cost the defending Super League champions in the back end of the game, as the Storm showed their class.
McDermott admitted the lift in intensity between the Super League and the NRL was too much for his side who missed four of their key forwards to injury.
"Give my team 10 weeks and 10 games like that. By week nine and week 10, I reckon we'd be up at that level," he said.
https://www.yorkshirepost.co.uk/sport/r ... -1-9021494
EVERYONE knew it was akin to Mission Impossible but, still, that did not mask Leeds Rhinos’ pain after a sobering 38-4 World Club Challenge loss to Melbourne Storm in Australia. That was the same scoreline by which they fell to North Queensland Cowboys two years ago but that was at Headingley and this was suffered more than 10,000 miles away so. Victorious Melbourne storm celebrate and lift the trophy.
In some ways, then, you could argue it is not as bad as it all seems for the West Yorkshire club. It isn’t really. They just came up against one of the greatest club teams in the history of the sport.
There’s a reason Craig Bellamy has been in charge at AAMI Park for 15 years – he gets his Melbourne side playing as brilliantly as this.
The side have met four times now with Leeds triumphing just once. McDermott is clearly a fan of Bellamy but he, rather boldly, insisted: “I’d like to say, give my team 10 games like that, and by week eight, nine and 10 I reckon we’d be up to that level. A disappointed Leeds after conceding a try “We will learn some massive lessons from that, but it will be another couple of games before we are in a game that’s as intense as that and played at that level.
“Errors killed us. You can’t make that many but we had to try something different to beat this Melbourne side and then it’s about getting the balance right. “Their defence was outstanding, though, and the longer the game went on, the better they got in D (defence). “No matter what we tried – and we did come up with some challenging plays – they just smothered it.
I have got a healthy respect for their defence; it was awesome.” It is fitting that in a park that, among other things, contains a stadium named after tennis great Rod Laver, a statue for runner John Landy’s remarkable act of sportsmanship in 1956 and, of course, the world-famous MCG, that this great Melbourne Storm side resides, too.
McDermott, a four-time Grand Final winning coach, looked as perplexed as anyone when it came to working out just how to beat them.
For now, he will begin the journey back to England today just hoping the injuries that afflicted his side yesterday are not too severe. He lost loose forward Stevie Ward – who left the ground in a protective boot – and full-back Jack Walker inside the first half. Both will certainly miss the Super League game at Widnes Vikings next Sunday while McDermott said Walker will need surgery on a knee problem.
On Ward, he said; “It looks like he’s torn a calf. “I don’t know to what extent, but he has torn something.”
English sides have now won just two of the last 10 World Club Challenge contests as Australian clubs continue their recent domination. Although much has been made about the travelling involved for Rhinos, McDermott said he would do it all again. “For sure. It has been great,” he insisted. “It was never a bind for us. I think for the Aussies and Kiwis coming over to England in January it is a massive shock because of the weather. “For us it is decent and we’ve enjoyed it. “Logistically, we played on Thursday night, got on a plane on Friday and arrived here on Saturday night to start building up for Melbourne. “It is a challenge and then we get back and we fall back into Super League. “It is not easily done, but we don’t have any qualms coming out here.”
Trendchaser Leeds captain Kallum Watkins remained proud of his team’s efforts and, like his coach, paid tribute to Melbourne’s defence. “It was really tough but exciting out there,” Watkins said. “We wanted to back ourselves and play a little bit, move them about and give ourselves an opportunity. “But I think we shot ourselves in the foot, especially in the first half when we gave them too many opportunities and they punished us. “We knew that if we gave them opportunities to apply pressure they would be clinical and they showed what a formidable side they are. For us there is plenty to learn from. I’m immensely proud of the effort – we never gave up. Things didn’t come off for us but you’ve got to give them a lot of credit for their defence.”
EVERYONE knew it was akin to Mission Impossible but, still, that did not mask Leeds Rhinos’ pain after a sobering 38-4 World Club Challenge loss to Melbourne Storm in Australia. That was the same scoreline by which they fell to North Queensland Cowboys two years ago but that was at Headingley and this was suffered more than 10,000 miles away so. Victorious Melbourne storm celebrate and lift the trophy.
In some ways, then, you could argue it is not as bad as it all seems for the West Yorkshire club. It isn’t really. They just came up against one of the greatest club teams in the history of the sport.
There’s a reason Craig Bellamy has been in charge at AAMI Park for 15 years – he gets his Melbourne side playing as brilliantly as this.
The side have met four times now with Leeds triumphing just once. McDermott is clearly a fan of Bellamy but he, rather boldly, insisted: “I’d like to say, give my team 10 games like that, and by week eight, nine and 10 I reckon we’d be up to that level. A disappointed Leeds after conceding a try “We will learn some massive lessons from that, but it will be another couple of games before we are in a game that’s as intense as that and played at that level.
“Errors killed us. You can’t make that many but we had to try something different to beat this Melbourne side and then it’s about getting the balance right. “Their defence was outstanding, though, and the longer the game went on, the better they got in D (defence). “No matter what we tried – and we did come up with some challenging plays – they just smothered it.
I have got a healthy respect for their defence; it was awesome.” It is fitting that in a park that, among other things, contains a stadium named after tennis great Rod Laver, a statue for runner John Landy’s remarkable act of sportsmanship in 1956 and, of course, the world-famous MCG, that this great Melbourne Storm side resides, too.
McDermott, a four-time Grand Final winning coach, looked as perplexed as anyone when it came to working out just how to beat them.
For now, he will begin the journey back to England today just hoping the injuries that afflicted his side yesterday are not too severe. He lost loose forward Stevie Ward – who left the ground in a protective boot – and full-back Jack Walker inside the first half. Both will certainly miss the Super League game at Widnes Vikings next Sunday while McDermott said Walker will need surgery on a knee problem.
On Ward, he said; “It looks like he’s torn a calf. “I don’t know to what extent, but he has torn something.”
English sides have now won just two of the last 10 World Club Challenge contests as Australian clubs continue their recent domination. Although much has been made about the travelling involved for Rhinos, McDermott said he would do it all again. “For sure. It has been great,” he insisted. “It was never a bind for us. I think for the Aussies and Kiwis coming over to England in January it is a massive shock because of the weather. “For us it is decent and we’ve enjoyed it. “Logistically, we played on Thursday night, got on a plane on Friday and arrived here on Saturday night to start building up for Melbourne. “It is a challenge and then we get back and we fall back into Super League. “It is not easily done, but we don’t have any qualms coming out here.”
Trendchaser Leeds captain Kallum Watkins remained proud of his team’s efforts and, like his coach, paid tribute to Melbourne’s defence. “It was really tough but exciting out there,” Watkins said. “We wanted to back ourselves and play a little bit, move them about and give ourselves an opportunity. “But I think we shot ourselves in the foot, especially in the first half when we gave them too many opportunities and they punished us. “We knew that if we gave them opportunities to apply pressure they would be clinical and they showed what a formidable side they are. For us there is plenty to learn from. I’m immensely proud of the effort – we never gave up. Things didn’t come off for us but you’ve got to give them a lot of credit for their defence.”
https://www.yorkshirepost.co.uk/sport/r ... -1-9021498
HOW is it that they can keep on doing this? Not Melbourne Storm storming to more titles nor the NRL dominating the World Club Challenge yet again..
That is all par for the course. No, it is that seemingly innate ability of Australian sides to find yet another gifted footballer just when you foolishly think they may perhaps, at last, be teetering towards vulnerability. It has happened plenty in recent years. For the national side, how would they cope with the retirement of Andrew Johns? Then, similarly, Darren Lockyer? They are already pondering the eventual ramifications of Johnathan Thurston’s career ending.
What they do, however, is simply wheel another cab off the rank to fill any glaring chasm. Yesterday, in the case of Melbourne, it was Brodie Croft playing the part to perfection in this intriguing if eventually underwhelming World Club Challenge in the Victorian capital. Leeds fans in good voice. The NRL premiers were supposed to be a little under-cooked, their new season still yet to start, and, following Cooper Cronk’s departure to Sydney Roosters, the No 7 role could certainly be a little problematic.
Revered Cronk, of course, had spent his entire 12 year first-grade career making things tick for Melbourne, part of that golden triumvirate with fellow Queenslanders Cameron Smith and Billy Slater. It would take time to adjust to life without him. No, it wouldn’t. Instead, Croft, the 20-year-old rookie, stepped up and quietly set about destroying Leeds Rhinos, the Super League champions. There were no nerves, no tension, he looked like the State of Origin veteran he’s replaced as he dictated from the middle, working off the back of Smith and a dominant pack and making so many telling contributions.
He ran like Cronk at times, kicked like him, even his name sounds like his. It was uncanny. Leeds’s hopes of lifting a record-equalling fourth World Club title were all but over by half-time, the youngster having played a part in all three of Storm’s tries as they manoeuvred into an 18-4 lead. Against most teams such an interval deficit would not unduly concern the West Yorkshire club. Melbourne aren’t most teams, though, as they proved yet again with another brutally efficient performance. Rhinos, in fact, had taken an early lead with a well-worked try for Ryan Hall, the England winger who marked his 350th career appearance with a score after Stevie Ward had made a bold blindside raid on the last tackle. It was that sort of unsuspecting invention that Leeds coach Brian McDermott had hinted at as being necessary to break down the formidable purple machine.
Unfortunately, for the next 71 minutes, they would not manage it again and, in truth, rarely even got close.
Granted, they were not helped by injuries, decimated in fact; loose forward Ward and the confident teenage full-back Jack Walker both departing in the first period, McDermott already shorn of four props left at home and England back-row Brett Ferres. Melbourne – who vanquished North Queensland Cowboys 34-6 in last year’s Grand Final – almost looked affronted that Leeds had dared to cross their line. Croft quickly chimed into action, his deft hands sending Jesse Bromwich crashing over, before he dropped his own shoulder to dart in himself, leaving Carl Ablett grounded. Next, his delicious inside ball near halfway unleashed Slater and, though, he was eventually closed down, the ball was worked to the prolific Suliasi Vunivalau who cut back infield and embarrassed three defenders with the way he slalomed to the line. It came just seconds before the break and you could see Leeds visibly sink. Croft had been so central to it all and Hall conceded: “He is a good player.
“They lost Billy Slater, too, so they had a bit of a swap around as well as us. “But you didn’t really see much of that; it was seamless for them as they have a very good system here at Melbourne with players coming through. “You saw that tonight with how that rotation worked. And it’s rare they get beat here. “We came in with the idea of throwing the ball about which was good for about 20 minutes. And then we let it get the better of us a little bit. We dropped a few balls, were just giving them field position and before you know it the scoreline had gone. We just wanted to put the cat amongst the pigeons; if all we did was play one-up stuff, they love defending that.
“They defended that all of last year and only lost a couple of games so that’s why we tried to do something a little bit different. “But ultimately it didn’t go very well.” Amid all this it was forgotten that Slater never returned for the second period, worryingly, having left clutching a shoulder, the injury that had forced the stellar full-back such issues latterly So, no Cronk. No Slater. And still slick Storm raided time and time again.
There was much talk beforehand about the NRL telling Leeds late in the week they would be using two referees as is the norm in the domestic competition.
There was plenty of brouhaha from the visitors, and rightly so. The unexpected move stank. However, in all honesty, even if the two officials had surreptitiously joined Rhinos’ ranks to raise them up to 15 players, it still wouldn’t have changed the result; Melbourne were that good. That clinical. That ruthless.
Leeds erred and erred again, suffocated by Storm’s relentless approach. In fairness, McDermott’s men never let up but they were far too fragile near their own line, illustrated when Nelson Asofa-Solomona, Felise Kaufusi, Will Chambers and Dale Finucane all added further tries. Cameron Munster leaps and catches the ball.
HOW is it that they can keep on doing this? Not Melbourne Storm storming to more titles nor the NRL dominating the World Club Challenge yet again..
That is all par for the course. No, it is that seemingly innate ability of Australian sides to find yet another gifted footballer just when you foolishly think they may perhaps, at last, be teetering towards vulnerability. It has happened plenty in recent years. For the national side, how would they cope with the retirement of Andrew Johns? Then, similarly, Darren Lockyer? They are already pondering the eventual ramifications of Johnathan Thurston’s career ending.
What they do, however, is simply wheel another cab off the rank to fill any glaring chasm. Yesterday, in the case of Melbourne, it was Brodie Croft playing the part to perfection in this intriguing if eventually underwhelming World Club Challenge in the Victorian capital. Leeds fans in good voice. The NRL premiers were supposed to be a little under-cooked, their new season still yet to start, and, following Cooper Cronk’s departure to Sydney Roosters, the No 7 role could certainly be a little problematic.
Revered Cronk, of course, had spent his entire 12 year first-grade career making things tick for Melbourne, part of that golden triumvirate with fellow Queenslanders Cameron Smith and Billy Slater. It would take time to adjust to life without him. No, it wouldn’t. Instead, Croft, the 20-year-old rookie, stepped up and quietly set about destroying Leeds Rhinos, the Super League champions. There were no nerves, no tension, he looked like the State of Origin veteran he’s replaced as he dictated from the middle, working off the back of Smith and a dominant pack and making so many telling contributions.
He ran like Cronk at times, kicked like him, even his name sounds like his. It was uncanny. Leeds’s hopes of lifting a record-equalling fourth World Club title were all but over by half-time, the youngster having played a part in all three of Storm’s tries as they manoeuvred into an 18-4 lead. Against most teams such an interval deficit would not unduly concern the West Yorkshire club. Melbourne aren’t most teams, though, as they proved yet again with another brutally efficient performance. Rhinos, in fact, had taken an early lead with a well-worked try for Ryan Hall, the England winger who marked his 350th career appearance with a score after Stevie Ward had made a bold blindside raid on the last tackle. It was that sort of unsuspecting invention that Leeds coach Brian McDermott had hinted at as being necessary to break down the formidable purple machine.
Unfortunately, for the next 71 minutes, they would not manage it again and, in truth, rarely even got close.
Granted, they were not helped by injuries, decimated in fact; loose forward Ward and the confident teenage full-back Jack Walker both departing in the first period, McDermott already shorn of four props left at home and England back-row Brett Ferres. Melbourne – who vanquished North Queensland Cowboys 34-6 in last year’s Grand Final – almost looked affronted that Leeds had dared to cross their line. Croft quickly chimed into action, his deft hands sending Jesse Bromwich crashing over, before he dropped his own shoulder to dart in himself, leaving Carl Ablett grounded. Next, his delicious inside ball near halfway unleashed Slater and, though, he was eventually closed down, the ball was worked to the prolific Suliasi Vunivalau who cut back infield and embarrassed three defenders with the way he slalomed to the line. It came just seconds before the break and you could see Leeds visibly sink. Croft had been so central to it all and Hall conceded: “He is a good player.
“They lost Billy Slater, too, so they had a bit of a swap around as well as us. “But you didn’t really see much of that; it was seamless for them as they have a very good system here at Melbourne with players coming through. “You saw that tonight with how that rotation worked. And it’s rare they get beat here. “We came in with the idea of throwing the ball about which was good for about 20 minutes. And then we let it get the better of us a little bit. We dropped a few balls, were just giving them field position and before you know it the scoreline had gone. We just wanted to put the cat amongst the pigeons; if all we did was play one-up stuff, they love defending that.
“They defended that all of last year and only lost a couple of games so that’s why we tried to do something a little bit different. “But ultimately it didn’t go very well.” Amid all this it was forgotten that Slater never returned for the second period, worryingly, having left clutching a shoulder, the injury that had forced the stellar full-back such issues latterly So, no Cronk. No Slater. And still slick Storm raided time and time again.
There was much talk beforehand about the NRL telling Leeds late in the week they would be using two referees as is the norm in the domestic competition.
There was plenty of brouhaha from the visitors, and rightly so. The unexpected move stank. However, in all honesty, even if the two officials had surreptitiously joined Rhinos’ ranks to raise them up to 15 players, it still wouldn’t have changed the result; Melbourne were that good. That clinical. That ruthless.
Leeds erred and erred again, suffocated by Storm’s relentless approach. In fairness, McDermott’s men never let up but they were far too fragile near their own line, illustrated when Nelson Asofa-Solomona, Felise Kaufusi, Will Chambers and Dale Finucane all added further tries. Cameron Munster leaps and catches the ball.
https://www.yorkshireeveningpost.co.uk/ ... -1-9020132
Melbourne Storm 38 Leeds Rhinos 4: Errors cost us dearly, admits coach McDermott Brian McDermott. MELBOURNE 38 LEEDS RHINOS 4 0
COACH BRIAN McDermott and captain Kallum Watkins admitted Leeds made too many errors to give themselves a chance in the World Club Challenge showdown at Melbourne Storm. Rhinos struck first through Ryan Hall, but were outclassed for the rest of the game as the NRL champions showed their class to run out 38-4 victors.
“I never thought we had a grip of the game in the first half, but we didn’t lose it either,” McDermott said. “It was a contest, but the errors killed us a bit in the first half, they gassed us out. I thought their defence was outstanding and the longer the game went on the better it got. “I thought our forwards were outstanding, but we played without our four biggest forwards and ultimately that told.” Leeds lost Jack Walker and Stevie Ward in the first half and Joel Moon hobbled off in the final moments.
Kallum Watkins goes on the attack. Walker could need minor surgery on a knee problem and initial indications were Ward had torn a calf muscle. Captain Kallum Watkins felt Leeds contributed to their own downfall. “It was very tough,” he said. “We wanted to back ourselves and play a bit, but we shot ourselves in the foot a bit, especially in the first half. Ryan Hall touches down to give Leeds Rhinos an early lead. “We gave them too many opportunities. Hidden Room Discovered In Jefferson's Mansion “It was the same at the start of the second half, we made an error and they punished us. “They are clinical and they showed what a good side they are. “There’s plenty for us to learn, but I am proud of the attitude we showed and the effort. “We will learn from this.”
Melbourne Storm 38 Leeds Rhinos 4: Errors cost us dearly, admits coach McDermott Brian McDermott. MELBOURNE 38 LEEDS RHINOS 4 0
COACH BRIAN McDermott and captain Kallum Watkins admitted Leeds made too many errors to give themselves a chance in the World Club Challenge showdown at Melbourne Storm. Rhinos struck first through Ryan Hall, but were outclassed for the rest of the game as the NRL champions showed their class to run out 38-4 victors.
“I never thought we had a grip of the game in the first half, but we didn’t lose it either,” McDermott said. “It was a contest, but the errors killed us a bit in the first half, they gassed us out. I thought their defence was outstanding and the longer the game went on the better it got. “I thought our forwards were outstanding, but we played without our four biggest forwards and ultimately that told.” Leeds lost Jack Walker and Stevie Ward in the first half and Joel Moon hobbled off in the final moments.
Kallum Watkins goes on the attack. Walker could need minor surgery on a knee problem and initial indications were Ward had torn a calf muscle. Captain Kallum Watkins felt Leeds contributed to their own downfall. “It was very tough,” he said. “We wanted to back ourselves and play a bit, but we shot ourselves in the foot a bit, especially in the first half. Ryan Hall touches down to give Leeds Rhinos an early lead. “We gave them too many opportunities. Hidden Room Discovered In Jefferson's Mansion “It was the same at the start of the second half, we made an error and they punished us. “They are clinical and they showed what a good side they are. “There’s plenty for us to learn, but I am proud of the attitude we showed and the effort. “We will learn from this.”
https://www.yorkshireeveningpost.co.uk/ ... -1-9020801
Peter Smith’s big match verdict: Storm too good in all departments for Leeds Rhinos Ryan Hall touches down to give Leeds Rhinos an early lead. PETER SMITH
IT ALWAYS looked a tall order and so it proved. Leeds Rhinos were outclassed in their Downer World Club Challenge showdown with a hugely-impressive Melbourne Storm at AAMI Stadium yesterday. Jamie Jones-Buchanan of Leeds Rhinos and Cameron Munster of Melbourne Storm contest for the ball. Rhinos didn’t play particularly badly, but Storm – despite their season not yet having begun – were too good in every department.
To win, Leeds would have had to be at nine or 10 out of 10 right across the park. They needed to be squeaky clean in terms of discipline, make few errors, be rock solid in defence, take every chance that came their way – and have the bounce of the ball. None of those things happened. Leeds conceded some costly – and at time dubious – penalties and were punished for them. Melbourne Storm celebrate a try.
Four of Storm’s seven tries came after Rhinos had been penalised. Rhinos chanced their arm and tried to play, but that led to a series of errors. Though they scrambled well and there were some big individual defensive efforts, they were prised open too easily at times. Despite scoring first, Leeds lacked the know-how to break down a superb Storm defence and they also had no luck. Injuries to two key players – full-back Jack Walker and loose-forward Stevie Ward, both in the first half – added to their problems.
On another day, against a different team, Rhinos would certainly have scored more points and might have won the game, but that was never really on the cards despite Ryan Hall’s eighth-minute opener. With Leeds defenders hurling themselves at the opposition and the likes of Walker, Hall and Kallum Watkins looking a threat from the back, Rhinos did give Storm something to think about. But effort will only get you so far and quality told in the end. Rhinos stuck at it – typified by Brett Delaney’s astonishing effort to keep Josh Addo-Carr out in the second half, but Storm were in cruise control.
The result will be portrayed as another humiliation for Betfred Super League, but it’s worth noting that Storm beat North Queensland Cowboys by 34-6 in last year’s NRL Grand Final.
They are an outstanding team and though Leeds could and should have got closer, losing to Melbourne is nothing to be ashamed of and it could prove a valuable learning experience for Rhinos. The Super League outfit weren’t quite one to 13 in the starting line-up, but the only exception was Walker who wears No 24, but is first-choice at the moment. After missing the win over Hull KR due to a leg injury, Joel Moon returned at stand-off and Liam Sutcliffe reverted to centre, with Jimmy Keinhorst – last week’s hat-trick hero – taking a place among the substitutes. Ward made his first start of the year at loose-forward and Delaney dropped to the bench.
Lack of size among the forwards was an issue though. Anthony Mullally was the only player to drop out from the previous week, due to a dislocated finger and he joined fellow props Keith Galloway, Mitch Garbutt, Nathaniel Peteru and Mikolaj Oledzki on the casualty list, along with back-rower Brett Ferres. Rhinos made a terrific start, going ahead after eight minutes. They received back-to-back penalties and opted to attack from the second, in front of the posts. Matt Parcell almost found a way through, Carl Ablett was also tackled on the line, but on the final tackle Ward slipped out a superb pass to Hall and he continued his strong opening to the season by forcing his way over at the corner. Watkins couldn’t convert from wide out and that was as good as it got for Rhinos, who were 18-4 down by the break. Ward’s forward pass turned over possession 30 metres from Leeds’ line, Storm received their first penalty and from it Jesse Bromwich was too strong close to the line off Brodie Croft’s short pass. Cameron Smith proved he is human by striking his conversion attempt off a post. Storm’s second try also came following a penalty, Croft jinking over and the video referees confirming the initial decision of try.
Smith converted that one and added a penalty six minutes before the break when Brad Dwyer supposedly obstructed Billy Slater – who didn’t feature in the second half due to a shoulder injury – as Rhinos defended a kick. By that stage Leeds had lost Ward and Walker was also off, with Sutcliffe slotting in at full-back and Keinhorst taking over in the left-centre. He had Leeds’ only chance in the 32 minutes after Hall’s try, but spilled Ablett’s pass. At 12-4 Leeds were still in the game, but Storm landed a killer punch on the final play of the opening half.
It was a brilliant finish by Suliasi Vunivalu, who displayed power, pace and footwork to slice through the defence from the right wing before touching down between the posts, but he got past Moon, Dwyer and Adam Cuthbertson and all will feel they should have done better. Smith converted and realistically, down by 14, there was no way back for Leeds. After Nelson Asofa Solomona scored in the 44th minute and Smith booted his fourth goal, it was simply a question of how many Storm would win by.
Trendchaser Leeds were hard done to on that occasion. Parcell rocked Smith with an outstanding tackle, the Australia captain didn’t like it and was awarded a penalty and the big substitute went over in the next set. Felise Kaufusi touched down 12 later, but Leeds held out – and even had spells of pressure – until 10 minutes from time. Will Chambers eased over after Hall and Vunivalu had competed for the ball from a high kick.
It looked like a possible knock-on by the Storm man, but the video referees backed up the on-field decision of try. Watkins was Leeds’ best player and he almost registered a consolation score, but Addo-Carr chased back well to make the try-saving tackle and Rhinos conceded again in the final moments, to Dale Finucane and Cameron Munster converted after the siren.
The penalty count finished 8-8 (4-4 in the first half).
Peter Smith’s big match verdict: Storm too good in all departments for Leeds Rhinos Ryan Hall touches down to give Leeds Rhinos an early lead. PETER SMITH
IT ALWAYS looked a tall order and so it proved. Leeds Rhinos were outclassed in their Downer World Club Challenge showdown with a hugely-impressive Melbourne Storm at AAMI Stadium yesterday. Jamie Jones-Buchanan of Leeds Rhinos and Cameron Munster of Melbourne Storm contest for the ball. Rhinos didn’t play particularly badly, but Storm – despite their season not yet having begun – were too good in every department.
To win, Leeds would have had to be at nine or 10 out of 10 right across the park. They needed to be squeaky clean in terms of discipline, make few errors, be rock solid in defence, take every chance that came their way – and have the bounce of the ball. None of those things happened. Leeds conceded some costly – and at time dubious – penalties and were punished for them. Melbourne Storm celebrate a try.
Four of Storm’s seven tries came after Rhinos had been penalised. Rhinos chanced their arm and tried to play, but that led to a series of errors. Though they scrambled well and there were some big individual defensive efforts, they were prised open too easily at times. Despite scoring first, Leeds lacked the know-how to break down a superb Storm defence and they also had no luck. Injuries to two key players – full-back Jack Walker and loose-forward Stevie Ward, both in the first half – added to their problems.
On another day, against a different team, Rhinos would certainly have scored more points and might have won the game, but that was never really on the cards despite Ryan Hall’s eighth-minute opener. With Leeds defenders hurling themselves at the opposition and the likes of Walker, Hall and Kallum Watkins looking a threat from the back, Rhinos did give Storm something to think about. But effort will only get you so far and quality told in the end. Rhinos stuck at it – typified by Brett Delaney’s astonishing effort to keep Josh Addo-Carr out in the second half, but Storm were in cruise control.
The result will be portrayed as another humiliation for Betfred Super League, but it’s worth noting that Storm beat North Queensland Cowboys by 34-6 in last year’s NRL Grand Final.
They are an outstanding team and though Leeds could and should have got closer, losing to Melbourne is nothing to be ashamed of and it could prove a valuable learning experience for Rhinos. The Super League outfit weren’t quite one to 13 in the starting line-up, but the only exception was Walker who wears No 24, but is first-choice at the moment. After missing the win over Hull KR due to a leg injury, Joel Moon returned at stand-off and Liam Sutcliffe reverted to centre, with Jimmy Keinhorst – last week’s hat-trick hero – taking a place among the substitutes. Ward made his first start of the year at loose-forward and Delaney dropped to the bench.
Lack of size among the forwards was an issue though. Anthony Mullally was the only player to drop out from the previous week, due to a dislocated finger and he joined fellow props Keith Galloway, Mitch Garbutt, Nathaniel Peteru and Mikolaj Oledzki on the casualty list, along with back-rower Brett Ferres. Rhinos made a terrific start, going ahead after eight minutes. They received back-to-back penalties and opted to attack from the second, in front of the posts. Matt Parcell almost found a way through, Carl Ablett was also tackled on the line, but on the final tackle Ward slipped out a superb pass to Hall and he continued his strong opening to the season by forcing his way over at the corner. Watkins couldn’t convert from wide out and that was as good as it got for Rhinos, who were 18-4 down by the break. Ward’s forward pass turned over possession 30 metres from Leeds’ line, Storm received their first penalty and from it Jesse Bromwich was too strong close to the line off Brodie Croft’s short pass. Cameron Smith proved he is human by striking his conversion attempt off a post. Storm’s second try also came following a penalty, Croft jinking over and the video referees confirming the initial decision of try.
Smith converted that one and added a penalty six minutes before the break when Brad Dwyer supposedly obstructed Billy Slater – who didn’t feature in the second half due to a shoulder injury – as Rhinos defended a kick. By that stage Leeds had lost Ward and Walker was also off, with Sutcliffe slotting in at full-back and Keinhorst taking over in the left-centre. He had Leeds’ only chance in the 32 minutes after Hall’s try, but spilled Ablett’s pass. At 12-4 Leeds were still in the game, but Storm landed a killer punch on the final play of the opening half.
It was a brilliant finish by Suliasi Vunivalu, who displayed power, pace and footwork to slice through the defence from the right wing before touching down between the posts, but he got past Moon, Dwyer and Adam Cuthbertson and all will feel they should have done better. Smith converted and realistically, down by 14, there was no way back for Leeds. After Nelson Asofa Solomona scored in the 44th minute and Smith booted his fourth goal, it was simply a question of how many Storm would win by.
Trendchaser Leeds were hard done to on that occasion. Parcell rocked Smith with an outstanding tackle, the Australia captain didn’t like it and was awarded a penalty and the big substitute went over in the next set. Felise Kaufusi touched down 12 later, but Leeds held out – and even had spells of pressure – until 10 minutes from time. Will Chambers eased over after Hall and Vunivalu had competed for the ball from a high kick.
It looked like a possible knock-on by the Storm man, but the video referees backed up the on-field decision of try. Watkins was Leeds’ best player and he almost registered a consolation score, but Addo-Carr chased back well to make the try-saving tackle and Rhinos conceded again in the final moments, to Dale Finucane and Cameron Munster converted after the siren.
The penalty count finished 8-8 (4-4 in the first half).