Melbourne are flying solo at the top of the NRL ladder after maintaining their unbeaten start with a hard-fought 28-6 win over Penrith.
With the Sydney Roosters falling to Manly on Friday night for their first loss of the season, the Storm are the only team yet to to taste defeat in 2017.
Despite the comfortable margin, they were made to work for it against the Panthers at AAMI Park.
Melbourne got off to blazing start and Penrith looked a little stunned as the home side raced to a 10-0 lead.
Will Chambers pushed his case for Queensland Origin selection when he set up the first try with a sweet backhand flick pass to winger Suli Vunivalu, who was a late inclusion after overcoming a shoulder injury.
Chambers then got one of his own after some quick hands across the Storm backline with Cooper Cronk finding his man.
But the Panthers sparked to life and dominated the last 20 minutes of the first half, crossing through five-eighth Te Maire Martin before Waqa Blake was held up over the line.
A converted Cronk try two minutes after halftime pushed the lead out to 14-6 and then the Panthers blew a golden opportunity to put some scoreboard pressure on the Storm when Moses Leota lost the ball over the tryline.
The Panthers dominated possession and territory and kept hammering Melbourne’s tryline, but the Storm backed their position as the competition’s best defence and held firm.
The bunker denied Martin a second try as he spilt the ball just short of the line and then Melbourne put the result out of doubt when speedster Josh Addo-Carr dashed 70 metres for the home side’s fourth of the night.
Vunivalu, who was the competition’s top tryscorer last season, then iced the win when he crashed over for his second just before the fulltime hooter.
Renegade
Roar Guru
Be the NZ 6 in front of Foran... not a chance.
Albo
Guest
Yep ! Still not sure why the Panthers wanted Tamou ? I guess some experienced forward leadership is the idea there, but yet to really see it ! And Merrin was a bit quiet this week , but he only played 50 odd minutes and much of that was when the backs were going beserk throwing the ball amongst themselves ! Happy to give them both a bit of latitude this early in the season.
Albo
Guest
Where do you play Te Mare Martin then ? He will likely be the NZ 6 this year . Nope ! Moylan is a fullback and the key attacking weapon for Penrith . He just needs to be more selective with his options. Tries too hard to set up others, when he needs to take on the line more himself. Missed two tries for himself with such poor options against the Storm.
terrence
Guest
Yep. Not much use being the April premiers in the NRL, usually they are just hanging onto a top 8 spot os the regular season is wrapping up. I usually find the teams most likely to be in the grand final emerge a few weeks after Origin finshes, with a month to go of the regular season.
The Barry
Roar Guru
True!
Magnus M. Østergaard
Roar Guru
I didnt get to watch the Penrith/Melbourne game but Merrin must have been extroadinarily quiet based of his fantasy stat of 24. I know its not always a good indicator but it is for a forward who normally racks up 50.
Lidcombe Oval
Guest
So you will disagree the grand finalist wont be between 2 of the top 5 teams i.e Storm/Broncos/Cows/Sharks/Raiders- If the top 5 are at the best or near it teams 6 to 16 will have to play above their capabilities and for 80 minutes to beat them - I cannot see this happening - can you??
Succhi
Guest
Storm are not really firing yet. To me, Cronk looks a bit sluggish and his passing game is no where near as crisp as it was. But he can read a game well and organise the troops. SOO will knock him around a bit. For mine, Panthers just lack something - maybe one real aggressive forward?
Lidcombe Oval
Guest
I would be very surprised if the Grand Final isn't between two of the top 5 (Storm/Broncos/Cows/Sharks/Raiders). If they play at or near their best these top 5 teams - teams 6 to 16 would have to play above their capabilities to beat them and for 80 minutes.
no one in particular
Roar Guru
Last year after a few rounds people had a Brisbane vs North Qld GF set in stone, the year before it was Souths vs Roosters.
eagleJack
Roar Guru
Agree with the less is more call. I'd like to see Moylan move into the 6 role sooner rather than later. And perhaps have Hiku at the back.
eagleJack
Roar Guru
Agreed. Roosters at 10th?? Not going to happen. But let's not forget that Lidcombe Oval stated that Manly's first try on Friday night was from a forward pass. And the refs got them the win. So Im going to take his opinion with a grain of salt.
Joe
Roar Rookie
Yes, the Falcons are going great and the new Storm recruits are doing well. They will be needed during Origin where they'll lose Smith, Cronk, Chambers and maybe even Slater. Hopefully Munster is back by then too. Olam has the makings of a very good center and hopefully he will thrive in the Storm system.
bearfax
Guest
I think you must have written this item at the beginning of the season because so far your prediction is way off what we are seeing, Lidcombe.
ferret
Guest
Good call "Z". Looks like he's trying too hard and consequently getting in the way or driving the attack sideways. Like Gallen he needs to learn that sometimes "Less is more."
ScottWoodward.me
Roar Guru
Joe Agree Nicholls and Kamikamica had excellent debuts and is a tribute to the Storm system who prepared them. The Storms Qld Cup team The Falcons are also leading the comp and three of their recruits Hughes, Olam and Brandon Smith all had big games in yesterdays win.
ScottWoodward.me
Roar Guru
Hi Joe, Take some heart in Cooper that he was also "quiet" in the initial 7 rounds last season and ended up winning the DallyM. Also what we do not see is his on field communication and organizational skills which were needed with the flurry of Panther attack down his side.
Oingo Boingo
Guest
I wonder how many "experts " tipped the Roosters in 13 and the Tigers in 05 . If premierships were decided in the first 5 games ,gee the record books would look pretty different.
Oingo Boingo
Guest
MAX , I've never thought a lot of Tamou at SOO level , a big lumbering slug most of the time and seems to get wrapped up around the legs and goes to ground like a felled pine tree . Merrin is a bit like woods , can have a good day at the office , but goes MIA more often than not. I think the Panthers will disappoint their fans this year , probably making the eight but blowing out like a candle when the pressure is on.
Agent11
Guest
wow 4 rounds in and you already think the season is decided lol Broncos are playing like a team that will scrape into the top 8. Surely the Roosters and Sea Eagles will give the top 4 a crack the way they are playing. Warriors and Panthers are so overrated however its a long season and there is still plenty of time for them to get their act together.