By Steve Jancetic
March 14th 2010 @ 5:01am
Storm do enough to see off Sharks
Melbourne launched an effective if unspectacular defence of their NRL premiership by overcoming a committed Cronulla side 14-10 at Toyota Park on Saturday night.
Just as they did against Leeds in winning the World Club Challenge earlier this month, the Storm looked a long way from the well-oiled machine which won last year’s title, with the absence of injured halfback Cooper Cronk particular telling.
The Storm scored tries either side of the halftime break to Greg Inglis and former Shark Luke MacDougall.
The double touchdowns were more than enough for a Sharks side which only came into the game late when Luke Douglas barged over from short range nine minutes from time following some clever work from new hooker Paul Aiton.
The 11,820-strong crowd tried their best to lift the home side, but their last throw of the dice ended with debutant Albert Kelly – who was playing against older cousin Inglis – kicking the ball straight to the opposition from a scrum win.
Cronulla’s cause wasn’t helped by their own ill-discipline, with Inglis’ 35th minute try coming moments after skipper Trent Barrett was sinbinned for one ruck indiscretion too many, that penalty one of 20 blown throughout a game which failed to find any rhythm.
The Sharks’ only points of the first half came via a pair of penalty goals, the second of which came after Storm winger Anthony Quinn was placed on report on the stroke of halftime for an elbow to the throat of Sharks lock Paul Gallen.
Cronulla started the second stanza still playing with 12 men, but had their full quota when Melbourne’s Dane Neilsen popped a ball for Billy Slater who put MacDougall over in the south-western corner.
The match began with a minute’s silence following the death of Sharks halfback Scott Porter’s sister overnight, Porter showing great courage to play in the round one match despite the tragedy.
“We thought it was going to be a little bit like the Leeds game, especially when we heard there might be a bit or rain around and that’s how we prepared,” Storm coach Craig Bellamy said.
“It certainly wasn’t a great spectacle but we did what we needed to do and we got the points.
“Our attack in the first half was particularly poor and it’s something that we’ll need to work on.”
Sharks coach Ricky Stuart was proud of how his side hung in against the premiers, but was livid over Barrett’s sin-binning and said he would be seeking clarification from referees boss Robert Finch over the incident.
“It cost us the game in the end,” Stuart said.
“They scored off the next set down the edge where Trent defends.
“I just want to know that whatever Trent was sin-binned for, is that going to happen for the next 25 games?
“I’ll answer that now – no.”
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