Unbeaten Melbourne celebrated a club-record ninth straight win as Penrith endured a 44-10 hammering as well as injuries to NSW State of Origin hopefuls Michael Jennings and Luke Lewis on Saturday night.
Star centre Jennings suffered a shoulder injury, while back-rower Lewis hobbled from the field at fulltime.
Adding to the Blues’ growing injury list, Jennings was assisted from the ground minutes after Storm winger Justin O’Neill ghosted past him to run 90 metres early in the second half of the eight-tries-to-two rout at Centrebet Stadium.
The Panthers star originally suffered the injury to his right shoulder in last week’s loss to Newcastle and looked a passenger until he was forced off in the 52nd minute.
The defeat continued Penrith’s nightmare season with a fifth-straight defeat while Melbourne’s victory and Brisbane’s loss earlier on Saturday to the Warriors left the Storm four points clear at the head of the table.
O’Neill was brilliant for the Storm with a hat-trick of tries, including two outstanding long-range efforts.
He scored a 90-metre try on the stroke of halftime after great lead-up work from Billy Slater, who kicked through for the flying winger who touched down under the posts to make it 22-10 at the break.
Melbourne opened the scoring with a try to Matt Duffie on nine minutes before Penrith hit back with a four-pointer from debutant Josh Mansour, who produced a great finish on the left wing after a sweeping backline move.
The Panthers hit the lead soon after when replacement winger Etu Uaisele scored in the right corner to make it 10-6.
But Melbourne returned serve with tries to halfback Cooper Cronk and Ryan Hoffman before running away with the game in the second half with four unanswered tries.
Jeff McGinn
Guest
Thanks Renegade, I stand corrected, but I seem to remember they were well ahead of the pack on the League ladder!. then came origin, then Bennet told them he was leaving.. after which they steadily went 'beatable'.
Renegade
Guest
No the dragons were certainly not unbeaten....it only took them 2 weeks to lose a game last year. This is the first time since 1996 that a team has started the season unbeaten for 9 rounds.
Andrea
Guest
I just wish I could see them play on FTA more than once a year.
Gareth
Guest
The Raiders probably would have gotten up in Round One, barring a couple of shocking refereeing decisions. Maybe torrential rain is the key.
Morfs
Guest
Ah, fair enough. I can see that distinction now. I really should avoid the comments before having breakfast.... Andrew, my bad, apologies for my narckiness.
Noel
Guest
Old mate he means the attack of the dogs.
Morfs
Guest
Hi Andrew I agree that Melbourne are beatable at the moment, although it will take a huge effort on the part of any team to pull off such a win. With regards to Melbourne's attack being poor at the moment, could you expand on how you came to that conclusion? The Storm have scored the most points of any team so far this season (286 - avg 31.78 points per game; the next nearest is Nth QLD, with a total of 220 points so far). So what does that say about the quality of other teams' attack if Melbourne's is poor at the moment? As a Storm fan, I find it both scary and exciting to think that our attack can get better, but at the rate they're going at the moment, I'm happy to see them continue these 'poor' performances.
Andrew
Guest
I think Saints where different. They relied more an amazing defence, something that was always going to come unstuck. Don't get me wrong, Melbourne are beatable, the Dogs nearly got them, and there attack is poor at the moment. But it will take a great performance to get them.
Jeff McGinn
Guest
Weren't St George unbeaten at this same time last year.. look what the effect of Origin had on them.. could history repeat itself?.
DumpStar
Roar Rookie
Origin players missing seems to be the only chance anyone has in beating the Storm (or injuries to their spine).