Storm blitz way into grand final

2009-09-28

Melbourne powered its way into its fourth straight NRL grand final with a commanding 40-10 win over Brisbane in Saturday night’s qualifying final at Etihad Stadium.

After losing the 2006 grand final to Brisbane, the Storm overwhelmed Manly in 2007 before falling 0-40 to Manly in last year’s grand final.

Next Sunday they’ll face Parramatta, making its first grand final appearance since 2001 and looking for its first title since 1986.

But while the Eels have been in outstanding touch over the past 10 weeks, they haven’t been as dominant as the Storm have been over the last month.

Since suffering back-to-back losses to Newcastle and Manly they’ve overpowered the Sydney Roosters 38-4 and the Vodafone Warriors 30-0 in the last two rounds of the regular season followed by a 40-12 thumping of Manly in week one of the finals and now this victory over the Broncos to charge into next Sunday’s grand final at ANZ Stadium.

Two of their superstars Greg Inglis and Billy Slater were inspirational in their most important win so far.

Slater scored a fabulous first half try and also scored his side’s last of the night while Inglis was exceptional with a pure hat-trick, his first try just before halftime and two following after the break.

It could be a double night of celebrations for the Storm at ANZ Stadium next Sunday after the club’s NYC side reached its grand final as well and also did so by crushing Brisbane 40-16.

Match details:

NRL Finals – Week 3

At Etihad Stadium, Melbourne

Melbourne Storm 40 (Greg Inglis 3, Billy Slater 2, Will Chambers, Dallas Johnson tries; Cameron Smith 6 conversions).
Brisbane Broncos 10 (Alex Glenn, Israel Folau tries; Corey Parker conversion).
Halftime: 22-0 Storm.
Referees: Shayne Hayne and Jared Maxwell.
Crowd: 27,687.

Article courtesy of the Vodafone Warriors. A link to their website can be found here…