Melbourne Storm proved too strong for Newcastle last night with a 34-22 win at AAMI Park. The competition front-runners staked an early claim for the NRL premiership with a strong performance that even made coach Craig Bellamy smile.
Melbourne came out firing with an early try to English five-eighth Gareth Widdop. Minutes later they doubled the lead with winger Matt Duffie running 70 metres after a Knights mistake.
Newcastle regrouped and got one back through James McManus, but like the true professional and clinical team that they are, the Storm hit back through Ryan Hoffman to go into the sheds with a halftime lead of 16-6.
Melbourne back rower Sika Manu didn’t return for the second half after leaving the field with a sprained ankle. However it didn’t take long for Melbourne to get on the scorecard again with man of the moment Billy Slater extending the Storm’s lead with his ninth try of the season.
Frustration began to show for the Knights with captain Kurt Gidley marched 10 metres for dissent, giving Melbourne the chance to go on the attack and seal the match through Will Chambers.
Four tries in the final 11 minutes blew out the score with Mullen, Costigan and McManus scoring late tries for the Knights and Todd Lowrie picking up a try for the Storm.
It was not all good news for Melbourne, however, who may find that some of their players are in trouble with the judiciary.
Anthony Quinn was put on report for a high tackle and Todd Lowrie may have a case to answer midweek with a tackle on McManus as the third man in at the legs.
A reasonable crowd of 9,460 turned up to AMMI Park, considering that across the road Hawthorn was playing Collingwood in front on 70-odd thousand.
The midweek re-signing of Cooper Cronk gave him extra incentive to prove his worth and he delivered with a stellar performance, guiding the Storm around the park.
The much anticipated Smith v Buderus clash ended in a TKO to Smith. The Knights’ veteran left the field late in the game with a head knock.
Melbourne is now five from five, and even though it is early days they are strong competition favourites. For Newcastle, adjusting to Wayne Bennett’s style is still taking some time.
In patches they were really good last night, but there is still a long way to go if they are going to be a force come finals time.
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