The Storm are cooked. Six straight losses, the worst run of the Craig Bellamy era, and a 48-6 home belting at the hands of the Rabbitohs to seal the worst weekend Melbourne have had in 25 years. Souths walk out of AAMI Park as winners for the first time ever and the Storm walk out 14th on the ladder.
Souths End the Melbourne Hoodoo
South Sydney had played 24 matches at AAMI Park since the venue opened in 2010 and lost the lot. That changed on Saturday night. Eight tries to one. 48-6. Latrell Mitchell was at his best from fullback with 7 from 8 off the kicking tee and a hand in five tries. The Storm did not get on the board until the 73rd minute, by which point the contest had been over for an hour.
Tallis Duncan grabbed a hat-trick from hooker. Alex Johnston bagged a double. The Rabbitohs completed at 91% and the Storm coughed up 14 errors, the worst error count of any side this year. Souths jump to 5-3 and back into the top eight conversation. Bellamy's side now sit 14th and their finals price has drifted from $1.40 to $4.50 in three weeks.
Roosters and Warriors Hold Their End Up
The Roosters did to the Dragons what they have been doing all season. 62-16 at Allianz, eight straight losses for Dean Young's side, and another vintage night for James Tedesco with 263 Run Metres. Mark Nawaqanitawase scored a double on the right edge. Halfback debutant Kade Reed showed enough for the Dragons to suggest there is a player in there, but his side were dead by the 30th minute.
In Wellington, the Warriors came from 18-6 down at the break to pinch it 20-18 against the Dolphins in front of a sold-out Sky Stadium. Webster's mob are 7-1 and second on the ladder. Match reports and the full Round 9 wrap are available at ABC Rugby League.
Where the Markets Land
The premiership market is starting to make sense. Penrith remain $3.50 favourites. The Warriors are next at $5.50. The Storm have gone from $4.50 to $9 in three weeks and the punters who held them are bleeding. Souths at $26 hold value if Mitchell stays on the park. Backing the Roosters at -10 line markets has paid in seven of their last eight, the most reliable NRL line play of the year. Neds's Dragons head-to-head price for next Friday against the Broncos sits at $7. Long shot, sure, but Reed at halfback against an out-of-form Brisbane is worth a small ticket.
Round 9 fixtures are locked in across three days from Friday 1 May. The marquee match is Roosters versus Broncos at Allianz on Saturday night. Full NRL Round 9 tips and predictions for every match are now live, with Dragons on the bye.