Storm back in business

The Melbourne Storm finally produced the home ground form that their supporters have been waiting for when they smashed the South Sydney Rabbitohs by 42 points on a chilly night at Olympic Park.

Below par at home this season, having lost four of their previous five outings, Melbourne, led by a first half hat trick to Billy Slater, controlled the match from start to finish and again staked a claim for a semi final birth.

Unfortunately the win came at a cost with Ryan Hoffman on report, for a high tackle, while Dallas Johnson left the field late in the first half with a knee injury and did not return. The injury could put any Origin aspirations behind him.

Slater scored his third hat-trick of his career and was back to his blistering best while Cameron Smith again topped the tackle count with 46. Dennis Scott was strong in defense and attack also with 26 tackles and 12 hit-ups.

Souths were behind the eight ball before the game missing internationals Shannon Hegarty and captain Bryan Fletcher, however acting captain Ashley Harrison battled hard as he topped their tackle and hit-up count whilst also scoring their only try.

Scott Geddes also battled hard in the forwards. To add insult to injury Scott Logan and John Sutton were helped off the ground with injuries late in the game.

The Storm came out firing on all cylinders and veteran Matt Geyer scored the opener after five minutes, thanks to a 25-metre Matt Orford pass that left Geyer in a mile of space. Orford missed the conversion and the score was 4-0.

Six minutes later Slater was in after stepping his way through the defense from close range and he got his second after a kick to himself on his way through the line. Once Jake Webster got in on the act the score was 20-0 after 25 minutes and it looked like getting ugly for the Bunnies.

Unfortunately the Storm didn’t let up as a trademark chip for Slater from Orford saw him get his third try and when replacement five-eighth Cooper Cronk put David Kidwell through a hole and the score was 32-0 at the half.

The second half petered out a little bit. After an early try to Steven Bell, Harrison crossed the chalk for Souths’ first and only. However late tries to the ever improving Glen Turner and a second to Geyer saw the Storm run out comfortable winners 48-6.

Next week the Storm will face a tough challenge as they play their 200th premiership match against Canterbury, they will be missing their Origin stars. Souths tackle the second-placed Parramatta in a tough contest.