Winterstein's been piss poor most of the finals especially against Cronulla. Either playing with injury or just woefully out of form.
Should've been penalised yes. Complexion of the game had already changed though. It's just ridiculous refereeing to allow rucks like this.
Against anyone else we could comeback but Melbourne has been pretty well far ahead of the rest of the pack all year.
Yeh interesting one. It wasn't a pull back but Kafusi was definitely a sleeper in the line and hindered TMM in getting across to make a tackle of Slater. Sleepers are my pet hate either run through the line or stop before it, if you're in the line it should be an instant penalty. I'm 100% convinced it's a tactic of the Storm to when they run that block play for the right edge second rower to sleep in the line, they've been doing it for years now. Never gets picked up.
Yeah it's over. 9/10 Storm rucks are knees and elbows. Cowboys are on their backs. The difference is just so stark and from there chain-reaction with Melbourne playing so fast and the Cows struggling to get over the advantage line.
I'm still content with having knocked off 3 Sydney sides to get here even if Melbourne give us a towelling. Its what I had a sneaking suspicion would happen.
To be fair it's not just this game, after Origin the refs just stopped well.. officiating. I think it changed the whole complexity of the season. Like literally nothing is being officiated on any more. Unless there's foul play or you make an error and force the refs to make a call they just won't. There's no way Archer is still in charge next year, surely. Pretty much sums up my thoughts on it all.
Paul Green did the right thing and played the first half the way they have been playing the last couple of months but it's clear now that Melbourne aren't having an off-day so it's time to switch to Plan B in this second half.
Classic Winterstein diving at the ball for no reason... Pretty much wrapped up the grand final with that try before the half from Slater.
