Melbourne Storm continued their unbeaten record at home on a Thursday with a win over the Brisbane Broncos in an intense and entertaining clash at AAMI Park.
Result
Melbourne Storm 24
Tries: (4) William Warbrick 39th, 74th; Cameron Munster 12th; Justin Olam 62nd
Goals: (4) Nick Meaney 13th, 56th, 68th, 76th
Brisbane Broncos 16
Tries: (3) Herbie Farnworth 16th; Jesse Arthars 23rd; Corey Paix 77th
Goals: (2) Reece Walsh 17th, 77th
Report
The Broncos were on top in the opening 10 minutes, with plenty of enthusiasm in attack and defence, but it was the Storm who took their first real chance in the 12th minute – with Harry Grant heavily involved in the lead up and throwing the final pass to try scorer Cameron Munster to charge over and score under the posts. The Storm had taken the early 6-0 lead.
Not long after Justin Olam looked set to extend the lead, but somehow Reece Walsh managed to stop a full-speed Justin Olam from scoring in the corner. The very next set the Broncos scored themselves with a penalty try to Herbie Farnworth and Reece Walsh involved in the lead up with a grubber kick for Farnworth. The four-pointer was awarded after Grant was judged to have pushed Farnworth in the back as he was about to dive on the ball in the in-goal. The converted try came at a cost though, as Adam Reynolds banged his head into the turf chasing the loose ball and left the field on a medicab. Good news for Reynolds came later after initially losing feeling in his body after the clash, diagnosed with a Category 2 head knock.
The Broncos continued to dominate and extended their lead after consecutive sets on the Storm line, with Jesse Arthars being on the receiving end of another fine try-assisting pass from Reece Walsh. The fullback missed the sideline conversion, having taken over the kicking duties after Reynolds’ absence. With 15 minutes until half-time the Broncos led 10-6.
A few minutes later, and with Melbourne in promising attacking territory, a game-halting scuffle broke out between Tom Flegler and Harry Grant and then most of the other players. No penalty was awarded but Jahrome Hughes may have been lucky for what looked like a cheap shot as third man in. In the next Broncos set Reims Smith was put on report for an ordinary lifting tackle, and some genuine feeling was creeping into the contest. At the same time the Storm lost hulking impact player Nelson Asofa-Solomona to a rib injury.
A big moment with three minutes until half-time as Farnworth was sent to the sin bin for a professional foul on Reimis Smith chasing a grubber. Although Smith’s performance was worthy of Champions League football, it was still illegal and cost the Broncos dearly. Within the next set William Warbrick scored in the corner and the Broncos had another seven minutes to endure with 12 players when the second half resumed. The sideline conversion missed and the half-time score was 10-10.
Melbourne looked to have taken further advantage before Farnworth returned as Warbrick scored his second try of the match, but the try was called back by The Bunker as Xavier Coates was marginally offside from Cameron Munster’s bomb, with the Storm winger’s pressure causing Walsh to spill the ball that led to the try. Farnworth returned before there was any more scoring.
The Storm should have scored in the 50th minute through Eliesa Katoa after a line break from Jahrome Hughes, but the Storm forward had the ball sensationally knocked out of his hands by Ezra Mam in the in-goal as he dived in to score. Brisbane should have punished them next set but the last pass went astray. It was genuinely exciting end-to-end rugby league at this stage, but the score remained 10-10.
Brisbane lost their second player to the sin bin in the 65th minute when captain Patrick Carrigan was penalised for a hip drop tackle and placed his Origin place in jeopardy with a report. Melbourne sneaked ahead 12-10 on the scoreboard with the subsequent penalty goal. The Storm got lucky minutes later as a sensational Walsh strip and try was judged illegal (correctly) by The Bunker.
Next set Melbourne scored with a last tackle play that saw two bombs being put up, and the second one being lost back conveniently by Xavier Coates into the hands of Justin Olam. Nick Meaney missed the conversion but converted a penalty a few minutes later to push the score out to 18-10.
The Broncos hung on well but Melbourne extended their lead with six minutes to go after Walsh spilled a Storm kick and Jahrome Hughes quickly kicked the ball out to Warbrick on the wing for his second try. Meaney converted for a 24-10 lead.
The last five minutes saw a try under to posts to Corey Paix, running over from dummy half; two all-in melees – both Tom Flegler and Aaron Pene being sent to the sin bin as a result of the second; a near-miss from the Broncos for a second quick-fire try; and a length of the field try to Xavier Coates being called back incorrectly after a knock-on was ruled despite it coming off Justin Olam’s head (echoing the Jack Wighton-Xavier Savage no try from Magic Round). The end result was a 24-16 win to the Storm and a cracking game to start Round 11 of the NRL.
It was a welcome win for Melbourne to climb back into the top four and extend their unbeaten streak at home on a Thursday to 16 games and continued Brisbane’s hoodoo against the Storm on a Thursday too. Grant was the Storm’s best, with glimpses of their best from the halves. A final stat from the Storm’s win is that Melbourne made it 3/3 for teams winning their second game after a bye when losing their first post-bye clash.
Brisbane may have lost but showed their top four credentials with an electric performance at times, and a brave effort after losing key player Reynolds early and having three stints with 12 players. Walsh was outstanding and must be close to an Origin jersey. Mam, Carrigan, and Payne Haas were also very good.
PLAYER OF THE YEAR POINTS
Embed from Getty Images3 – Reece Walsh (Broncos)
2 – Harry Grant (Storm)
1 – Cameron Munster (Storm)
