Rabbitohs star Thomas Burgess has sent fans a message from his hospital bed after a nasty blow in the NRL opener. Watch the highlights here.
If the retirement of arguably the game’s greatest player of all time was supposed to weaken Melbourne Storm, it appears nobody told the reigning premier.
In an ominous display that will send a chill down the spine of every one of its premiership rivals, Storm started life without Cameron Smith with the loud message it is not going anywhere. Storm was supposed to be rusty, some thought.
The club’s brains trust didn’t bring the players back until early January due to the late finish of last season and to give the players a break from each other.
But in Storm’s first game in front of its home fans in 17 months in front of a COVID sell out of 11,812 fans, it showed it is still going to be a force in 2021.
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After 31 minutes they had blitzed the hapless Bunnies to be up 22-0.
In a game that resembled last year’s grand final, the Rabbitohs fought back through the wizardry of halfback Adam Reynolds to get within a converted try.
Storm, who were missing co-captain Dale Finucane and rising star Harry Grant, steadied to prevail 26-18.
Storm coach Craig Bellamy said the win brought back 'spooky' memories from last year's premiership decider.
“We had a great start and then we struggled for the rest of the game to be quite honest,” he said.
“We got to 22-0, which is a little bit spooky as it was the same as the grand final score and hung on at the end.
“I thought towards the end of the first half we started making some errors and I think we completed one from five, which put us under a bit of pressure and we know how good Souths are with the footy.
“But when we were six in front I thought we steadied the ship pretty good and not having Cameron there I was probably a little bit worried.
“But Jesse (Bromwich) and the leaders there did a really good job.”
Rabbitohs coach Wayne Bennett said his team's attitude was a problem.
“Our first half was awful and after that it’s doing the best you can,” Souths coach Wayne Bennett said.
“We never gave ourselves a chance.
“We played two weeks ago and didn’t make a handling area in a half and then we come out tonight and perform errors, either defensively or handling.
“It comes back to attitude and it just wasn’t there, was it?
“Melbourne were good and they always are and it’s a credit to the way they play and they wanted it more than we did.”
BURGESS ENDS UP IN HOSPITAL
To make matters worse for the Bunnies, star forward Thomas Burgess was taken to hospital after a nasty blow to his shoulder in the dying minutes.
Burgess sent his followers a picture from hospital in the early hours of Friday morning, bloodied and bruised with a neck brace on.
"I'm all good, CT scans have come back clear but have to keep this lovely thing on till the morning to rule out any serious nerve damage," he wrote.
"Could be a long night in Melbourne.
"How good the footy is back eh?"
Bennett also reassured fans that Burgess would be fine.
“Tom’s OK,” Bennett said.
“He’s got a pretty stiff neck and his arm doesn’t totally have all its strength there at the moment but the doc doesn’t think it's too bad.
“He’ll have some precautionary x-rays but everyone’s pretty confident he’s OK."
PAPS IN EVERYTHING
Outside AAMI Park there is now a bronze statue of Billy Slater. If incumbent Storm fullback Ryan Papenhuyzen can continue to repeat his efforts from last night for long enough, Slater may have some company one day.
He is a long way from being in that conversation, but the Storm speedster proved on Thursday night he has already taken his game to another level in 2021.
The man at the back was in everything, scoring two first half tries and setting up another in an electrifying display.
The high-flyer also took on the goal kicking duties and kicked three from four attempts.
He was in the NSW Blues squad last year but is yet to make his Origin debut. Judging on Thursday night’s display, it might be difficult to ignore him for too much longer despite the Blues’ star-studded backline.
THE OLAM BRAIN FADE
It was the 54th minute and the Storm were coming off their line when centre Justin Olam made a massive error.
Olam had a tough pass behind him, but the referee called it a knock back.
But clearly he didn’t hear, rolling the ball away and actually knocking it on.
Storm star Cameron Munster, who lit up the first half, could only look on in horror as the centre turned around and worked out what happened.
“Oh no,” Fox League’s Andrew Voss said. “Where’s he going? He’s played that towards Richmond.
“What’s he doing?” Braith Anasta said.
“Poor old Justin Olam, it’s a disappointing moment,” Voss added.
Anasta continued: “He must have thought he called it a knock on. He just walked off. ‘OK, see ya’s later.”
Voss: “We’re 60 minutes into the season, that could be the most embarrassing moment.”
Greg Alexander chimed in, saying: “I think he needs a HIA.”
“He didn’t even cop a head knock,” Anasta laughed.
THE HOODOO LIVES ON
Never ever go against Storm in Round 1. Many backed the Rabbitohs to triumph, despite the fact the club is still yet to taste victory in Melbourne.
An even bigger hoodoo was Storm’s outrageous Round 1 record.
Melbourne has not lost its season opener since 2001 and never in Craig Bellamy’s time since the Storm super coach took the reins in 2003.
Bellamy always has his side ready to the minute, and Thursday night was the proof.
A BELLAMY SMOKY
Sunshine Coast product Tyson Smoothy came from nowhere to make his debut on Thursday night.
He was so obscure the club’s media staff had to corner him earlier this week for a head shot because they didn’t even have a photo of him on file.
The 21-year-old only started training with Storm on January 4 as part of the club’s partnership with the Sunshine Coast Falcons.
Yet the Kawana Dolphins junior impressed Bellamy enough in two months to earn his debut in the season opener against a star-studded Rabbitohs outfit.
The young hooker, wearing the No.21, came off the bench to give Brandon Smith a breather in the second half and didn't look out of place.
Smith also looked sharp out of dummy-half in his first time in the No.9 jersey since Cameron Smith's retirement.
Melbourne Storm's perfect Round 1 record is safe – just.
Both teams have showed they are legit premiership contenders after dusting off a bit of opening round rust.
Paps, B Smith, Munster and the Fox were very good for the Storm – especially in the opening 30.
Latrell and Jai Arrow showed great signs for South Sydney.
Despite the errors it was a great game for footy.
Signing off. Thanks for joining us.
Tom Burgess clutching at his left shoulder. He looks in serious discomfort. Friendly fire from Benji.
He's still down with the doctor and a couple of trainers assessing him. Both his arms were moving so hopefully that's a good sign. The stretcher is on the field. Let's hope he's OK.
"Great concern for Tom Burgess," says Matty Russell on the sideline at AAMI Park.
What a game of footy. The Storm are just holding on here.
OHHHHH! Debutant Tyson Smoothy collects Latrell Mitchell off a J Hughes bomb and forces the ball loose! Huge play from the youngster but Justin Olam has had another barry, losing control of a loose ball. CAPTAIN'S CHALLENGE BY STORM. Successful! Haha the PNG hard man has redeemed himself. Storm on the attack.
Welch loses it just short of the line. Incredible stuff. Souths ball.
STORM 26, BUNNIES 18
Okay, now Ryan Papenhuyzen has cracked triple figures! 😅 #NRLStormSouths pic.twitter.com/QaOQMaJ2MC
— SuperCoach NRL (@SuperCoachNRL) March 11, 2021
Geez that's a tough call for the Bunnies. Penalty called on gagai for attacking kicker Hughes.
It's tough alright, Brandy. Braith is completely off it. Pap kicks the penalty as the Storm edge ahead but can they hold on?
21-year-old Tyson Smoothy is on the park for Cheese. What a time to make your debut!
OH! A horror error from new skipper Bromwich. South Sydney have a centrefield scrum 25m out. Storm's round 1 unbeaten record is under serious threat!
BIG MISTAKE FROM COOK LETS THE STORM OFF THE HOOK.
Video footage of Olam's 'Bella' coming asap … Craig Bellamy is going to be fuming with bhis centre!
The shocking mistake leads to a beautiful Latrell four-pointer to get South Sydney within a converted try after Adam Reynolds goes 3 from 3 from the sideline. "That Justin Olam play the ball could prove very costly."
GAME ON, says Vossy. Storm haven't scored a try since the 30th minute.
STORM 24, BUNNIES 18
Oooo yeahh! We have a ball game.#NRLStormSouths #TelstraPremiership pic.twitter.com/n3lGS3m0eD
— NRL (@NRL) March 11, 2021
AJ scores a double! 🔥#NRLStormSouths #TelstraPremiership pic.twitter.com/goNPc3LnfJ
— NRL (@NRL) March 11, 2021
Chaos off the restart with Mansour in all sorts.
Big shot forces a mistake from Dane Gagai. Penalty Storm! That's the Storm machine in a nutshell and they've earned a penalty.
Paps converts. Storm back out to a two converted try lead.
STORM 24, BUNNIES 12
I get a feeling the Bunnies are gonna make of a game of this.
Storm kick off. 40 to go. Mistake from the Storm in their opening set of the half and Bellache is fuming. haha so good.
Bunnies on the attack early in the second. Six again. Bunnies look dangerous with every touch.
WHAT. A. BALL! Cody Walker with a TWO-MAN cut out to hit Alex Johnston on the chest. AJ said he wants Nathan Merrit's club try-scoring record, then the great Ken Irvine's all-time record. He's tracking OK!
Adam Reynolds splits the posts from the sideline. GAME ON!
STORM 22, BUNNIES 12
Peach of a pass that by CWalker #NRLStormSouths
— Rob Sutherland (@rob_sutherland3) March 11, 2021
— Dan (@theSportress) March 11, 2021
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