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The Melbourne Storm have made it five wins in a row defeating a lacklustre Parramatta Eels side 18-6.
It was an ideal start for the visiting side as the Storm grabbed the opening try on seven minutes. Some quick passing down the right created an open passage to the line for winger Suliasi Vunivalu to cross over. Cameron Smith couldn’t convert from the corner making it 4-0 early to the Storm.
Parramatta were making the Melbourne defence work but they couldn’t quite produce on the last. The Storm able to counter after one poor last tackle option and secure their second try on 33 minutes. Blake Green kicking to the left to an unmarked Marika Koroibite who did well to gather on the full and touch down. Smith again wayward with his kick to keep it at 8-0 to the Storm.
Melbourne almost made it more before the break with only a great try-line tackle by Manu M’au on Smith keeping it at 8-0.
The Eels emerged from the break desperate for points but the Melbourne line continued to do enough to keep a misfiring Parramatta attack at bay.
And in typical Storm fashion they were able to go up the other end and grab tries of their own. Vunivalu stretching out for the line in the 63rd minute and getting the ball down to secure his second try of the night. Smith this time did convert to give the Storm a 14-0 lead.
The Storm then put the game to bed in the 69th minute as Cheyse Blair was found out wide after a some swift passing. Blair doing enough to get the ball down despite the efforts of an Eels defender. Conversion missed by Smith but Storm now led 18-0.
Desperate to avoid being kept scoreless at home for just the fourth time in their history, the Eels would secure a consolation try in the 78th minute via Michael Jennings. Kieran Foran with an incisive grubber on the line allowing Jennings to pounce and grab his seventh try of the season. Michael Gordon converting on the siren for Parramatta.
A horror month isn’t looking any brighter for the Eels with the Storm putting in a clinical performance to cast further doubt over the Eels finals hopes.
Final Score:
Parramatta Eels 6
Melbourne Storm 18
After falling short of victory last week, the Parramatta Eels will be looking to put their salary cap woes behind when they host the Melbourne Storm at Pirtek Stadium. Join us on The Roar from 7pm (AEST) for all the action.
The Eels were denied a morale-boosting victory on the siren last week as they fell 22-20 to the Rabbitohs.
The Eels – helped by a hat-trick from try-scoring extraordinaire Semi Radradra – looked to have put a fortnight of drama behind them, only for a Rabbitohs conversion in the final minute consigning them to defeat.
Despite the result, Parramatta looked capable of putting their off-field issues behind them as they are forced to start their season all over again.
Melbourne know the pain of salary cap breaches but are unlikely to show any sympathy to their opponents. Sitting third on the ladder, the Storm have won four in a row, including a one-point victory over the Cowboys last week.
Despite fielding a relatively inexperienced backline over the past weeks due to the absence of fullback Billy Slater, playmakers Cooper Cronk and Cameron Smith have done enough to guide the team to crucial wins, including shutouts of both the Warriors and Titans.
The now salary-cap compliant Eels have Kieran Foran return to the squad after a stint in rehab, and he will undoubtedly help his side gel.
Melbourne also field a relatively unchanged squad, with their only personnel change from last week being the replacement of Ben Hampton with Christian Welch Nichol.
Join The Roar from 7pm (AEST) as the Parramatta Eels and Melbourne Storm do battle.
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