Broncos Storm NRL

[17 SEPTEMBER, 2008]     NRL: Watch Storm v Broncos LIVE   For all Melbourne Storm fans who can’t get to Brisbane to watch Saturday night’s semi-final against the Brisbane Broncos at Suncorp Stadium, and don’t want to wait until 11.25pm to watch it on free-to-air television, don’t fear.   Melbourne Storm, in conjunction with Channel 9, will be hosting a live-site at the Water Front City Piazza, Docklands this Saturday night.   Come and watch as the Melbourne Storm attempt to knock the Broncos out of the 2008 NRL finals race, and advance to the preliminary final against the Sharks in Sydney next Friday night.   Details as follows:   WHAT: Semi-final Storm v Broncos Live Site DATE: Saturday 20th September 2008 TIME: 6:30pm – 9:30pm VENUE: Water Front City Piazza, Docklands MELWAYS REFERNCE: Map 2E D4   For more information contact: Publicity Manager - Lizzie Joyce: 0408 234 109

____________________________________________________       Chris Couch   Media Manager    Melbourne Storm Rugby League Club

NRL Melbourne Storm Minor Premiers

[07 SEPTEMBER, 2008]     NRL Melbourne Storm seal minor premiership 2008   Thousands of Storm fans gathered at Olympic Park tonight to celebrate a 40-4 win over the South Sydney Rabbitohs, a third consecutive minor premiership and to say goodbye to a club legend.   The chase was on at Olympic Park on with the Storm winning by 36 points to snatch top spot from Manly at the end of the home and away season. A margin of 26 points and a win was needed by Melbourne to claim the J.J Giltinan Shield.   Olympic Park also welcomed for the last time n a home-and-away game veteran Matt Geyer, who has been with Melbourne since their induction into the league in 1998.   The script could not have been written any better for Geyer with a great pass from fullback Billy Slater setting him up for the first try of the match to send the loyal home fans into delirium.   The Storm looked like a team on a mission as Smith converted the try and drew the chance of Melbourne’s third consecutive minor premiership six points closer.   The Storm were all about attack in the opening ten minutes of the match with constant pressure being put on the Rabbitohs at both ends of the field.   A spanner was thrown in the works when Slater was sin-binned for 10 minutes for a professional foul only metres from his own try-line. But the Rabbitohs couldn’t capitalise, and in fact it was the Storm who scored next.   Anthony Quinn took on the South Sydney defence and slammed the ball over the line for the team’s second try.   The Rabbitohs were not without spirit, with Nathan Merritt scoring a try with less than ten minutes remaining in the opening term bringing the margin back to ten points.   Just as there seemed to be a momentum shift in favour of South Sydney, the Storm were rewarded for their continual attacking efforts with, a try from Ryan Hoffman moments before half-time swinging the moments back in Melbourne’s favour.   The second half opened up quietly with ten minutes passing without a score. The silence was broken at ‘The Graveyard’ with a classic Slater run sending the ball over the line and setting the crowd alight.   Suddenly, what had seemed to be a formidable challenge at the beginning of the match was only four points away. With 26 minutes remaining, a single try would steal top spot from Manly.   With a play that was a combination of all that makes Melbourne a deserved minor premier, Folau gathered the loose ball and Slater, with speed slammed the ball over the line to seal top spot.   Smith provided Melbourne with a little bit of breathing room, converting the try with 21 minutes remaining, providing the Storm with a 28-point lead.   The Rabbitohs continued to press forward, but Melbourne’s pressure at both ends of the field forced mistakes and led to loss of possession for the visiting team.   Brett Anderson was next on the scoresheet for the Storm, a Cooper Cronk kick sending the winger on his way over the try-line.   In a match that went all Melbourne’s way a late try from Jeremy Smith crowned the Melbourne Storm as minor premiers for the third year in a row.   It was even sweeter for Matt Geyer, taking the opportunity to kick the final goal, putting it through in style to a standing ovation from the Melbourne crowd.   STORM 40 (Tries: Slater 2, Geyer, C Smith, J Smith, Quinn, Hoffman, Anderson; Goals: Smith 3, Geyer) def. RABBITOHS 4 (Try: Merritt) at Olympic Park

____________________________________________________       Chris Couch   Media Manager    Melbourne Storm Rugby League Club

Cameron Smith injury

NRL Slater, Inglis and Folau travel details

 

Melbourne Storm’s Billy Slater and Israel Folau will be arriving at Sydney airport for tonight’s Dally M Awards Ceremony on Qantas flight QF442 at 4.20pm.

 

Greg Inglis is already in Sydney and will not be at the airport.

 

Cam Smith is not travelling due to a corked thigh. With Smith required in Sydney yesterday for the Final Eight Captain’s Call, Storm medical staff did not want Smith travelling to Sydney two days in a row.

 

Slater, Inglis and Folau will be departing Sydney airport tomorrow morning on Qantas flight QF415 at 8.00am.

Matt Geyer Retirement

Melbourne Storm will tomorrow night honour Matt Geyer, the club’s last remaining foundation player, at a formal cocktail party on the 89^th floor of the Eureka Tower in celebration of his stellar career at the club. 

Geyer will retire at the end of this season after 11 years at the club, with over 250 first-grade games to his name, along with 111 tries and 104 goals (so far).

The event will kick-off from 7.00pm as Geyer, his family and guests arrive on the purple carpet at the base of the Eureka Tower, before the formal speeches and presentations take place from 7.35pm.

The formal NRL part of the evening should be completed by approximately 8.05pm.

Media are invited to capture vision and take photos, as well as interview Geyer and any other guests of interest on the purple carpet; and capture the formal speeches.

WHAT: Matt Geyer farewell cocktail party

WHERE: Eureka Tower, 89^th floor – 7 Riverside Quay, Southbank

WHEN: Wednesday, September 3^rd from 7.00pm

WHO: Matt Geyer and his family; the entire Storm coaching and playing staff; as well as VIP guests such as Club Ambassadors Molly Meldrum, Nicole Livingstone and Marty Fields; brother Mark Geyer; Storm founder John Ribot; foundation coach Chris Anderson; former teammate Marcus Bai; and Club Chairman Dr Rob Moodie.

 

Geyer stats:

Melbourne Storm Debut – v Western Suburbs Magpies Round 2, 1998

Premierships – 2 (1999 and 2007)

Melbourne Storm Clubman of the Year – 2002

Melbourne Storm Life Member Inductee – 2005

Melbourne Storm Season Leading Try Scorer – 1999 (20) & 2000 (14)

Melbourne Storm Season Leading Point Scorer – 1999 (242)

State-of-Origin – 3 games (2000)

City Origin - 2006

 

Geyer’s Melbourne Storm Club Records:

Most Points in a Match - 34 (4 tries and 9 goals) v Western Suburbs Magpies in Round 10, 1999

Most Tries in a Match- 4 v Auckland in Round 20, 2000 &, and 4 v Western Suburbs Magpies in Round 10, 1999

First Player to play 200 Club Games - v Sharks in Round 20, 2006

First Player to play 250 Club Games - v Tigers in Round 18, 2008

Points (so far) – 652 (111 tries and 104 goals)