Smith has claimed victory in three of the five meetings between the pair this year, two of them with Queensland in the Maroons’ triumph, and the third in a round 26 wipeout in Melbourne. The time when experience and an innate understanding of the bloke next to you is more important than ever.
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Melbourne Storm set up an NRL Grand Final against Cronulla Sharks next weekend by crushing the dreams of Canberra Raiders.
Austin seemed untroubled by his broken left hand and Hodgson continued his impression of Smith that is so good it would not be out place on a very, very boring episode of Saturday Night Live.
But in a show of big-game experience, the Storm nearly pulled one back through Tohu Harris in the 27th, before milestone man Cronk did it all himself five minutes later.
“We had to hang tough if we were going to face adversity and we probably did that, we just couldn’t get over the line in the end”, the Canberra pivot told the ABC.
“I’ve said before I think there was a disappointment there they felt I wasn’t able to contribute and [they were] possibly going in a different direction – and I knew I just needed an opportunity”, Ennis said. He works hard every time he pulls on the jersey.
“I’ve been really fortunate to play a lot of football, and I’m pretty excited about playing game 301”.
Melbourne star Cooper Cronk has likened this year’s Storm team to their triumphant 2012 NRL outfit – maybe even a little bit better.
However the insertion of Cameron Munster, Suliasi Vunivalu and Marika Koroibete have provided plenty of x-factor, while Blake Green has proved a steady foil for Cronk in the halves.
“(They have) mobile, strong forwards, athleticism on the edges, and some smart creative halves”, he said.
His milestone will add to the players’ motivation, although a shot at the grand final on Sunday week should be enough. “They’re normally the ones that come out on top”. The fact that Shaun Fensom can’t get a run in Canberra’s best 17 players is a testament to the quality this side possesses.
“When it comes down to grand finals, it’s whoever handles the occasion the best, goes out and executes their game plan to the best”.
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The way they closed out the game, getting repeat sets or putting grubber kicks over the sideline to pack a scrum ten out from the Raiders line was fantastic.
