After earning man-of-the-match honours in Queensland's State of Origin victory over New South Wales on Wednesday the celebrations continued for Smith, who was playing his 200th match for the Storm.
But the Storm hooker said he was not focused on the milestone, especially as his side was trying to avoid back-to-back home losses against struggling clubs.
"I said to the boys yesterday that it's more important to me that we play well as a team and that we got back on track," he told Grandstand.
"We were ... very disappointed with the way we played against the Raiders and I don't think we've lost two in a row here at home for awhile.
"I just wanted the boys to go out and do their role the best they could today and they did that so I'm proud of them.
However the party for a long time looked like it could be a fizzer.
Melbourne winger Sisa Waqa, who was a late replacement for Anthony Quinn, got his side home with a try in the 73rd minute.
Five-eighth Gareth Widdop kicked the ball into the in-goal area but it rebounded off a Sharks player and he was able to regather and then get a pass away to Waqa to break the deadlock.
The home side did not cross the tryline until the 47th minute of a match that could be described as entertaining, if ugly, with both teams scoreless at the half-time break.
The lowly Sharks competed well and their defence was mostly top notch but they let themselves down with a lack of finishing prowess.
The Storm, in their last game beaten by Canberra, also lacked their usual finesse, perhaps Origin taking its toll on their four representatives.
"I'm pretty buggered at the moment, it's been a big week for us," Melbourne and Queensland full-back Billy Slater said.
"But that's just what footy's all about, it's about turning up for your mates whether it's for Queensland or the Storm.
"It's a pretty special occasion for our mate in the number nine jersey today but I thought the boys really dug deep."
Melbourne's newest Origin player, centre Dane Nielsen, claimed the game's first try.
Widdop again had a hand. This time he kicked high into the in-goal and Sharks winger Stewart Mills spilled the ball as he and Waqa leapt high, with Nielsen diving on it.
The Sharks hit back seven minutes later with speedy full-back Isaac Gordon running on to an inside ball by New South Wales skipper Paul Gallen and escaping Slater's clutches.
Both teams then traded penalties, with the game locked up at 8-8 until Waqa's effort.
Milestone man Smith had plenty of praise for the visiting side.
"It was a really tough match - it was one of the toughest we've played all year," Smith said.
"The Sharks come down here ready to play, there's no doubt about that.
"I thought they did a fantastic job, they've got a few guys injured at the moment that would have been starting in their 17 today. But to hang in the way the boys did, they did a great job so I'm really proud of them."
Slater agreed with his captain's sentiments.
"Cronulla is a tough side, they're really defensive orientated and they're a tough side to break through," he said.
"Coming off a loss last week they would have veen determined to play well."
Cronulla's battle was all the braver after it lost two props to injury in the first half.
Luke Douglas, who has not missed a match since making his debut in 2006, limped off with a knee injury nine minutes in while his replacement Josh Cordoba appeared to suffer a hamstring problem and also did not return.
Sharks centre Ben Pomeroy was also placed on report for a lifting tackle on Nielsen in the 24th minute.
Melbourne: 14 (D Nielsen, S Waqa tries; C Smith 2/2 conversions, penalty goal)
Cronulla: 8 (I Gordon try; S Porter 1/1 conversions, penalty goal)
- ABC/AAP
Tags: sport, rugby-league, nrl, australia, nsw, cronulla-2230, vic, melbourne-3000 First posted May 29, 2011 15:53:00
No comments:
Post a Comment