QUALIFYING FINAL - Storm vs Rabbitohs
https://www.news.com.au/sport/nrl/nrl-l ... ac141a9b7c
NRL Late Mail: Star trio boost Storm
Gilbert Gardiner
6 Septermber 2018
MELBOURNE is set for a triple treat of good news for the blockbuster clash with South Sydney — keep up to date with all the latest team changes for week one of the NRL finals.
STORM coach Craig Bellamy has all but given the green light for Billy Slater, Cameron Munster and Suliasi Vunivalu ahead of Friday night’s qualifying final against South Sydney.
Munster (knee) will be tested again today, while Vunivalu (hamstring) “should be back in” after sitting out last week.
Slater returned to the club early in the week after spending time in north Queensland with a sick family member.
“Unless something drastic happens Billy will be playing,” Bellamy said.
“It was a big thing for him last week and his family but that situation has certainly improved a lot.”
But Bellamy cautioned the Storm about relying too heavily on the premiership trio to deliver the win.
“We got some key personnel coming back into the team which is really nice but it’s not going to help us (win),” Bellamy said.
“We just need to make sure we’re doing things a little bit better than last week with the footy.
“We squandered a few chances there so hopefully we’ll do better than that this week.”
The Storm will train Thursday afternoon at Gosch’s Paddock.
NRL Late Mail: Star trio boost Storm
Gilbert Gardiner
6 Septermber 2018
MELBOURNE is set for a triple treat of good news for the blockbuster clash with South Sydney — keep up to date with all the latest team changes for week one of the NRL finals.
STORM coach Craig Bellamy has all but given the green light for Billy Slater, Cameron Munster and Suliasi Vunivalu ahead of Friday night’s qualifying final against South Sydney.
Munster (knee) will be tested again today, while Vunivalu (hamstring) “should be back in” after sitting out last week.
Slater returned to the club early in the week after spending time in north Queensland with a sick family member.
“Unless something drastic happens Billy will be playing,” Bellamy said.
“It was a big thing for him last week and his family but that situation has certainly improved a lot.”
But Bellamy cautioned the Storm about relying too heavily on the premiership trio to deliver the win.
“We got some key personnel coming back into the team which is really nice but it’s not going to help us (win),” Bellamy said.
“We just need to make sure we’re doing things a little bit better than last week with the footy.
“We squandered a few chances there so hopefully we’ll do better than that this week.”
The Storm will train Thursday afternoon at Gosch’s Paddock.
Spot on. Adding two excellent backs and Vunivalu (yourhero wrote:But Bellamy cautioned the Storm about relying too heavily on the premiership trio to deliver the win.
“We got some key personnel coming back into the team which is really nice but it’s not going to help us (win),” Bellamy said.
) to the team is great but that doesn't help us win the ruck battle which is where most of the focus needs to be.Such a critical game, obviously. Your entire season virtually comes down to this. You work hard all year to put yourself in a position to win a top 2 spot. You don't want to squander that opportinity.
Win, get a week off and then enjoy a Home Prelim. Saloon passage to the GF.
Lose, you have to play an elimination Semi and then play away in a Prelim. Tough road to a GF win.
Side point - It's a great finals system (infinitely better than the McIntyre System) and rightly rewards those that finish higher in the home/away season. But of course if you don't capitalise on the advantage you have earned, it was all for nothing...
Win, get a week off and then enjoy a Home Prelim. Saloon passage to the GF.
Lose, you have to play an elimination Semi and then play away in a Prelim. Tough road to a GF win.
Side point - It's a great finals system (infinitely better than the McIntyre System) and rightly rewards those that finish higher in the home/away season. But of course if you don't capitalise on the advantage you have earned, it was all for nothing...
Some interesting points on our Finals campaigns over the years, particularly the importance of a Week 1 win;
1. The only time in our history where we have finished in the Top 4, lost in Week 1 of the Finals and still won the Grand Final, is in 1999.
2. Since 2005, we have finished in the Top 4 every year except for 2010 (16th*) and 2014 (6th). That is 13 from 15 top 4 finishes… Honestly, quite astounding.
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Since 2005 –
Of the times we finished outside the Top 4…
- In 2010 - Needs no explanation.
- In 2014 we finished 6th and were comprehensively beaten by the Dogs at AAMI Park in Week 1 in an Elimination Final.
Of the times we lost Week 1 of the Finals…
- In 2008 we lost in Week 1 to Warriors (18-15). We still made the GF (minus Smith) but were beaten (40-0).
- In 2013 we lost in Week 1 to Souths (20-10) then were bundled out by Newcastle in a home Semi (18-16).
Of the times we won Week 1 of the Finals but never won the GF…
- In 2006 we won in Week 1&3 but lost (were robbed) GF to the Broncos (15-8).
- In 2011 we won in Week 1 but lost a Home Prelim to the Warriors (20-12).
- In 2015 we won in Week 1 but lost a Home Prelim to the Cowboys (32-12).
- In 2016 we won in Week 1&3 but lost GF to the Sharps (14-12).
Of the times we won Week 1 of the Finals and ultimately won the GF…
- This was the case for each of our GF wins in 2007, 2009, 2012 & 2017.
1. The only time in our history where we have finished in the Top 4, lost in Week 1 of the Finals and still won the Grand Final, is in 1999.
2. Since 2005, we have finished in the Top 4 every year except for 2010 (16th*) and 2014 (6th). That is 13 from 15 top 4 finishes… Honestly, quite astounding.
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Since 2005 –
Of the times we finished outside the Top 4…
- In 2010 - Needs no explanation.
- In 2014 we finished 6th and were comprehensively beaten by the Dogs at AAMI Park in Week 1 in an Elimination Final.
Of the times we lost Week 1 of the Finals…
- In 2008 we lost in Week 1 to Warriors (18-15). We still made the GF (minus Smith) but were beaten (40-0).
- In 2013 we lost in Week 1 to Souths (20-10) then were bundled out by Newcastle in a home Semi (18-16).
Of the times we won Week 1 of the Finals but never won the GF…
- In 2006 we won in Week 1&3 but lost (were robbed) GF to the Broncos (15-8).
- In 2011 we won in Week 1 but lost a Home Prelim to the Warriors (20-12).
- In 2015 we won in Week 1 but lost a Home Prelim to the Cowboys (32-12).
- In 2016 we won in Week 1&3 but lost GF to the Sharps (14-12).
Of the times we won Week 1 of the Finals and ultimately won the GF…
- This was the case for each of our GF wins in 2007, 2009, 2012 & 2017.
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steaming stormer
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Expect a rubbish crowd - 13k tickets sold as of this morning.
I'm not copping solely the scheduling - not everyone is a Melbourne or Geelong fan... yes, it impacts the crowd obviously, but that's horrible. Expecting about 15k now
I'm not copping solely the scheduling - not everyone is a Melbourne or Geelong fan... yes, it impacts the crowd obviously, but that's horrible. Expecting about 15k now
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steaming stormer
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I'm guessing that's about tickets sold... it's a contact within the Club that told mescriptyx wrote:Did someone say something?
That's really disappointing if accurate. Our average home crowd in 2018 was 17,293 - a 5.9% drop from last year (18,375). Anything less than our regular season crowd average would have to be seen as very disappointing.steaming stormer wrote:Expect a rubbish crowd - 13k tickets sold as of this morning.
I'm not copping solely the scheduling - not everyone is a Melbourne or Geelong fan... yes, it impacts the crowd obviously, but that's horrible. Expecting about 15k now
NRL crowd figures are down 2.9% overall on last season.
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steaming stormer
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Yep, very disappointing. It's a strong source but I'd love him to be wrong on this one!
