The Grand Final rematch has seen the Melbourne Storm defeat North Queensland Cowboys 30-14 at AAMI Park on Thursday night.
MATCH DETAILS
After under performing to the Storm standards many have come to know, the Melbourne side etched their way to a victory with a mountain of possession through penalties. Cowboys were unable to replicate their oppositions resilience on their goal line conceding multiple penalties for skipper Cameron Smith to make 4 penalty goals to have the scoreboard pressure to build on and win.
FOUR POINTERS
STORM BOUNCE BACK
The Melbourne team after a disappointing outing for their round 2 defeat were looking sharp to start the rematch with their grand final rivals the Cowboys. The Storm’s key men in Smith, Billy Slater and Cameron Munster all contributed to fantastic plays to lift their team over a formidable North Queensland outfit. Smith punished out of marker to grab penalty conversions to add to his 2 try assists throughout the match and grab the victory 30-14.
MORGAN RUSTY
Michael Morgan will look to improve his performance after playing the reigning premiers, he was unable to bring much impact as was needed to win. The returning five-eighth from an abdominal injury was tested in defence while having blundered in crucial moments such as a kick out on the full in the 34th minute from his own 40 metres which allowed Melbourne to convert a try that next set before the half.
REFEREES STAMP AUTHORITY
Referee Matt Cecchin showed he was having no problems blowing the whistle throughout the match, calling penalties for being inside the 10-metre line 9 times in the game. Cecchin had no forgiveness in holding and marker calls blowing penalties for both multiple times.
COEN HESS DOUBLE
The highlight of the Cowboys trip down to Melbourne was that the newly starting backrower in Coen Hess, he was able to find the line for a double both at important times in the game. The Queensland Maroons player was able to inject his signature barnstorming runs close to the line to cut through many Storm players to give his side some sort of chance of a comeback.
WHAT THEY ARE SAYING
“All those little things probably except the completions have been a whole lot better tonight.”- Craig Bellamy
“We weren’t anywhere near consistent enough with our effort, last two weeks we are being beaten through effort.”- Paul Green
“Knew they would be tough and knew they wouldn’t turn up they did last week.”- Matt Scott
THE RESULT
Storm 30
Tries: Stimson, Welch, Chambers, Asofa-Solomona
Goals: C.Smith 6/6, Croft 1/2
Cowboys 14
Tries: Hess (2)
Goals: Thurston 3/3
SQUADS
Storm: 1 Billy Slater, 2 Suliasi Vunivalu, 3 Will Chambers, 4 Curtis Scott, 5 Josh Addo-Carr, 6 Cameron Munster, 7 Brodie Croft, 8 Jesse Bromwich, 9 Cameron Smith (c), 10 Nelson Asofa-Solomona, 11 Joe Stimson, 12 Ryan Hoffman, 13 Dale Finucane
Interchange: 14 Tim Glasby, 16 Christian Welch, 17 Sam Kasiano, Brandon Smith 21
Cowboys: 1 Ben Hampton, 2 Kyle Feldt, 3 Justin O’Neill, 4 Javid Bowen, 5 Antonio Winterstein, 6 Michael Morgan, 7 Johnathan Thurston (c), 8 Matthew Scott (c), 9 Jake Granville, 10 Jordan McLean, 11 Gavin Cooper, 12 Coen Hess, 13 Jason Taumalolo
Interchange: 14 Te Maire Martin, 15 John Asiata, 16 Scott Bolton, 17 Ethan Lowe
https://nothingbutleague.com/2018/02/16/world-club-challenge-match-report-melbourne-storm-38-leeds-rhinos-4/
