See the numbers that mattered from an action packed night in Canberra as Storm triumphed over the Raiders.
2
Not a noted try scorer, Dale Finucane came up trumps on Saturday night when it mattered most scoring two tries. The emerging NSW Blues prospect put in an enormous shift, making 130 metres, 35 tackles during his 64 minutes on the park.
Bookending the contest with four pointers was just what his side needed as Finucane helped prove the difference.
43
Minutes – that is the amount of time Storm skipper Cameron Smith spent on the park before being forced to leave the field with a pectoral injury on Saturday night – it was the least amount of game time the 34-year old has played in a single game since 2009.
Smith’s absence was compounded by the departure of Billy Slater from the field which caused a re-shuffle in the Melbourne camp. It was one which Craig Bellamy’s side dealt with well, holding firm and defending strongly for the remainder of the contest.
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Kenny Bromwich was one of a number of players thrust into different roles against the Raiders due to the re-shuffle forced by injury. The New Zealand born forward played in the ruck, second-row and even deputized at hooker for parts of the contest.
Bromwich played a large role in Storm’s stout defensive performance, recording a team high 36 tackles on the night.
142
The Raiders right edge combination of Joseph Leilua and Jordan Rapana were averaging 253 metres gained per game so far this season but on Saturday night only managed 142 metres. Leilua and Rapana had scored 23 tries between them for the season however Storm’s left edge defence of Josh Addo-Carr and Curtis Scott managed to quell the men from Canberra, keeping them scoreless.
