Stats that Matter - Round 16

2,300

Another week, another Cameron Smith milestone. With his second half conversion the Storm skipper surpassed 2,300 points in his career, becoming just the second player in the history of the game to do so. He now sits just 116 points behind Hazem El Masri for the most of all time. There is quite simply no words left to describe him.

12

You can always rely on No.12. When his side needed him Ryan Hoffman was there in all the right places to play a leading hand in getting Melbourne over the line. Hoffman charged down Cooper Cronk's first attempt at a field goal and proceeded to sprint 20 metres down field to bounce on the loose ball and win possession back for Storm. He then partnered with Tim Glasby for another charge down in the final minute to win the game. Hoffman was fittingly awarded man of the match and showed to the NRL that the Storm veteran well and truly still has it.

5

There is just something about when these two teams meet. The last three games have been decided by a combined margin of five points. For the second straight year it was a one-point deficit between them at the Adelaide Oval. Both sets of fans know to let the nails grow out a little bit longer so they have enough for when Storm and the Roosters meet. If they do end up meeting in a final, you can only imagine just how gripping this contest would be.

3

For two teams with a plethora of attacking weapons the fact they only managed to produce three line breaks between them shows just how good both Melbourne and Sydney were defensively. This game had a finals-feel to it, such was the tense atmosphere as the players headed to the sheds after a try less first half. Friday night showed why they rank first and second defensively in the competition.