sundayterritorian.com.au SPORT Barba comes Furner’s game plan: on top early and do the hard yards back to earth THE dark horse of the NRL start fast. A solid opening is come into the game off two ‘‘But we’re not worried want history repeating itself. HE produced the match- finals, contender, or pre- something that’s largely been straight losses, Furner says about what we’ve been He said it had been an area of clinching try, but Canter- tender? Canberra coach missing from Canberra’s it’s imperative the Raiders tagged.’’ He added: It’s about ‘‘hit-and-miss’’ over the past bury David Furner has heard it all. otherwise impressive five- kick off well in order to our players starting fast and six weeks. ‘‘Games versus was just happy to contribute But ahead of today’s do-or- match winning streak. progress beyond the semis nice and aggressive.’’ Penrith and the Roosters, for in a week he won’t forget. die semi-final against Cron- In that period, the Raiders for the first time since 2008. The Raiders also allowed example, we had some pretty Darwin-born Barba pra- ulla, Furner has instructed have accrued just the one ‘‘Dark horse, or making up to get to a handy slow starts, really burned our ised his senior teammates his charges to ignore all the lone half-time lead. the numbers, or (Steven) lead in the last semi-final energy and just scraped by and coach for labels, stick to their game That was in their season- Bradburys or something like they played in 2010 — which with the win – but we can’t helping bring him back plan and another simple, but best victory over Canterbury. that – that’s what we’ve been they lost — and captain afford to do that in a finals down to earth after Tuesday vital, edict: start hard and Against the Sharks, who told,’’ Furner said. doesn’t series,’’ Shillington said. night’s Dally M medal vic- tory, as he prepared for Fri- day night’s 16-10 NRL quali- fying win over Manly. It wasn’t the sort of per- formance Barba produced on an almost weekly basis to secure him the gong as the Storm smash Souths NRL’s best for 2012, but the freakish fullback said he was more intent just to en- NRL QUALIFYING FINAL sure he played his role for the side. SOUTH looked like There was the early scare rabbits caught in the spot- of a knock-on with his first light as romped to touch of the ball when he a 24-6 win in their qualifying was driven back by four final at AAMI Park. Manly defenders, but it Pre-match Souths down- proved to be his only error played a lack of finals experi- of the night. ence — their last appearance ‘‘It’s been a pretty big was in 2007 — but were no week but I really had to fo- match for the Storm’s poise cus after Tuesday night, I under pressure. had to really try and get With fullback back into game mode,’’ Bar- back to his devastating best, ba said. Melbourne delivered a clini- ‘‘We got this far with all of cal performance that earned us just doing our job — that them a rest next weekend be- was my main focus, just try- fore a preliminary final in ing to get back to doing what Melbourne. I’d done the past 26 rounds.’’ The Rabbitohs must now He did manage to add to put the hiding behind them his equal NRL-best try- and prepare to take on the scoring tally with his 22nd winner of today’s match be- try of 2012, more remarkable tween Canberra and Cronulla being the fact it was the in Sydney next week. eighth time he had finished The game was effectively off a try-scoring movement over by half time with the from within his own half. home side leading 18-0 with Slater setting up two tries and scoring one of his own. He showed South’s fullback Lyon blow still has plenty of work to do to take his mantle rocks Manly as the game’s most complete No. 1, with the giant Inglis HE stopped short of suggest- kept comparatively quiet. ing that Manly could not The first try was scored in win without , the seventh minute by vet- but Canterbury opposite eran in a Josh Morris was happy to bizarre piece of play. admit the Sea Eagles were Hoffman appeared to be easier to contain without momentarily knocked out their co-captain. when his head hit a team- Lyon limped off with a mate’s hip while making a calf strain 25 minutes into tackle and the second-rower Friday night’s 16-10 qualify- stumbled around in a daze. ing final loss to the Bull- But an Inglis pass went to dogs, with scans tomorrow ground and was scooped up to determine his immediate by Slater who dashed 50m finals future. and in the next set Hoffman, As part of Manly’s much- who had shrugged off any as- vaunted right-edge attack sistance, opened the scoring alongside Daly Cherry- for the home side. Evans and , became the the loss of Lyon left the Sea first Victorian player to play Eagles struggling for the in an NRL final and got his tryscoring chances fans had start when Anthony Quinn become accustomed too. was ruled out injured. ‘‘They were probably a bit The 19-year-old injected unlucky to lose Jamie Lyon enthusiasm and speed in a there, he adds a lot more to memorable night as he also their attack than what they got on the scoreboard in the had tonight — they could 35th minute to extend the have been a lot better,’’ Mor- lead out to 18 points. ris said. ‘‘I didn’t see him go Any hope the Rabbitohs off but then I saw Jamie Storm’s Mahe Fonua scores a try during the NRL qualifying final against South Sydney Picture: GETTY IMAGES had of a second-half revival Buhrer there. was quickly snuffed out when ‘‘He is one of their linch- Melbourne repeated the set pins in attack and they play from a scrum that had definitely would have put Fonua over. been a lot better with him in Slater leads in slaying the Rabbitohs that side.’’ STORM 24 Compounding Lyon’s ab- THIS was all about big- ill-disciplined penalties with ition to score the first try. Storm’s best over the 80 min-

sence was an unhappy night match temperament. obvious finals nerves in Slater had a try of his own on utes, Slater’s attacking RABBITOHS 6 PUB: for right winger Dean Yet again, Billy Slater their first play-offs appear- 24 minutes, a hand in a third spark proved vital, despite MELBOURNE: M Fonua R NTNE-WS-9-SE59KGE:MDA-TE: Y-C-CO-LO-R: Whare — who made several showed he has got it. South ance in five years, Slater did to Mahe Fonua before half- missing much of the latter Hoffman B Slater S Waqa errors both with and with- Sydney didn’t. what he does best — make time and helped set up Sisa half of the season because of tries C Smith 4 goals out the ball. The Sea Eagles The result was the Rab- the big stage his own. Waqa’s four-pointer just af- a knee injury. SOUTH SYDNEY: E Pettybourne try A Reynolds could be forced to find a new bitohs were beaten by Slater His stunning 65m run in ter the break to make stew of Slater’s first half input goal centre combination for next and an ultra-professional the opening few minutes — the Rabbitohs. turned the match, as Storm Crowd: 19,750 at AAMI Park week’s semi-final — with Melbourne side. beating four defenders and While teammates Ryan moved into the grand final Referees: Shayne Hayne, facing suspen- As the Rabbitohs spent the another two with a slick pass Hoffman and Cameron and Rabbitohs failed their Jason Robinson sion for a high tackle on opening 40 minutes mixing — gave the Storm field pos- Smith were probably the first finals test. . www.sundayterritorian.com.au Sunday, September 9, 2012. Sunday Territorian. 59