The Melbourne Storm have completed a perfect 12 months, backing up their 2017 NRL minor premiership and premiership, crushing the Leeds Rhinos by 34 points to win the World Club Championship.
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A game which has been rarely played in Australia saw a big crowd on hand at AAMI Park in Melbourne as the Storm had to overcome a slow start and injury to superstar fullback Billy Slater.
The Queensland and Australian fullback didn’t take any part in the second half as a precautionary measure, but it’s not likely he will miss Round 1 of the season proper, which kicks off on March 8 with the Storm to play the Bulldogs in Perth on Saturday, March 10.
The Storm started the game slowly. Leeds opened the scoring through Ryan Hall in the ninth minute with the visitors running the ball on the last.
It was a trend which followed the Rhinos throughout the game, but eventually came back to bite. They surrendered the ball often, making too many errors and not putting anywhere enough pressure on the professional Melbourne outfit.
Melbourne then ran up 38 unanswered points over the final 63 minutes, with Jesse Bromwich opening the scoring for the hosts in the 17th minute off a short pass at the line from Brodie Croft.
The most impressive point for the Storm in their 38-point barrage was the new halves combination of Cameron Munster and Brodie Croft. Munster had a big 2017, playing State of Origin, but Croft played excellently on a big stage as he prepares to take over from Cooper Cronk in 2018.
Melbourne had to work hard for their points during a hotly contested first half, but it was Croft himself who crashed over for the second try after taking on the line. A penalty goal followed, with Suliasi Vunivalu putting in a wonderful effort on the stroke of halftime to make the score 18-4 heading into the sheds.
It was always going to be a long way back for Leeds and they simply never found their mojo in the second. Nelson Asofa-Solomona, who was named man of the match, crossed for the first of the second half with Felise Kaufusi, Will Chambers and Dale Finucane all adding to the score before fulltime.
Melbourne Storm 38
Leeds Rhinos 4
Asko
Guest
Something has to be done about the Storm (and a couple of other NRL clubs) slowing down the play the ball when the opposition is attacking. It is a disgrace, is not being properly refereed, it is unfair and is wrecking the game. There is no point bringing in rules to improve the speed of the game if teams like the Storm hold up play at the tackle. The Storm have made slowing down the play the ball while the opposition is attacking there trade mark. They can regroup and, big surprise, their reset defence is outstanding..... The World Club final was ruined as a fair and exciting game.by the Storm using this tackle to extreme and without sanction. This needs to be jumped on in the new NRL season. .
Sleiman Azizi
Roar Guru
That's right. Melbourne proved to be the best professional team by beating Leeds. Both clubs sent out the best teams they could for the match. 20,000 or so fans turned out to watch. The match garnered relevant rugby league attention both here in Australia and in the UK. Just because it was the first hit-out of the year for Melbourne and the third for Leeds doesn't mean the World Club Challenge is a trial match.
Peter Phelps
Guest
It was NOT a trial game. It is an international club match for the world title and trophy. That is NOT a trial and never will be,
Crosscoder
Roar Guru
Bellamy has the ability to slot in "strangers " and youth into his side and they play like veterans. They'll be up there at the shouting end this year IMHO. Slater's effort in handing over his winner's medal to a young Leeds kid, again shows he is a class act.
Worlds Biggest
Guest
The Storm were very impressive in there first hit at full strength. Croft was excellent and looks a lot like Cronk in how he plays - funnily enough ! The young guy off the bench Smith was a handful. Hoffman looks like he never left looking solid out wide too.
Kilgore Trout
Roar Rookie
Croft seemed to have plenty of time . Never looked rushed . Kicked well . Threw some great passes . Great signs for the Storm . Let's see how he stands up after getting targeted every week ..... but , wow , he does look very very good .
Kenw
Guest
They looked good, any Storm fans would have to be excited for the way Croft played. Still just a trial game though, against a travelling, weakened SL team - and unfortunately recent years have seen consistent thrashings in meetings between NRL & SL teams even when played in the UK. The Storm are likely to be a factor again this year in the comp but I wouldn't base that fact on this game.
Joe
Roar Rookie
NAS is 21 and Welch is 23 as well.
Duncan Smith
Guest
Apart from the veterans, this is a really young side - Croft, Munster, Scott, Vuni, JAC, B. Smith
Raugeee
Guest
:D
BA Sports
Guest
It's one game but I thought it was a bit ominous for 2018 and the future. Croft was really good - and so young. Smith will replace Smith and if they keep churning out wingers, who knows when this dynasty will end.
Duncan Smith
Guest
I used to rate Marcus Bai and Koribete as awesome wingers, but I think JAC and Vuni are the best they've ever had.
Nat
Roar Guru
I do wonder what the future holds for Nelson AS. Melbourne utilise his size perfectly in attack off the kickoff and as a battering ram at the line. His defence in the middle of the park can be left wanting and grabbing at jumpers, mostly because no ones running at him. I just wonder as his star rises, will be satisfied playing the support role behind the Bromwich Bros but can he play 60mins as a stater?
jimmmy
Guest
The thing they have which is hard to match is that electrifying back three. They can create tries from nothing. I think some teams can match them in the forwards, some can match them in the halves but across the park it is hard to match them everywhere.
Albo
Guest
Yep ! A pretty good first up hit-out with their top team ! Young Croft fits in seamlessly as the "Cronk type" and with experience will only get better. I think he is already ahead of Cronk at their same stages of development and the kid could be anything under the great guidance he will be getting on and off the field there. Nelson Asofa - Solomoma came of age in the World Cup and looks like now causing a heap of problems for rivals this season. I see no reason to doubt the Storm having a serious shot at going back to back this year.
Joe
Roar Rookie
Good win no doubt but I won't be getting ahead of myself about Crofts abilities. He did play a good game for sure but this is a WCC against a weakened Leeds side. I still remember a 19 year old Jayden Nikorima being touted as the next superstar halfback when he starred in a WCC thrashing of St Helens for the Roosters a couple of years ago. The real question is whether they can consistently produce week after week. The players I was really happy about was Christian Welch who had a strong performance off the bench, coming off an ACL injury which ended his season last year. Also Nelson Asofa-Solomona who I think will soon be one of the best props in the competition. I thought the Storm forwards set this game up and I am looking forward to see how they go against the Dogs pack who have the current Roos props and under Dean Pays tutelage in the first round. That will be a real test for this Storm team and their chances in 2018.
Duncan Smith
Guest
My dry humour has eluded you, old son.
Gurudoright
Guest
Whoa!!!!! Don’t go out on too much of limb there champ
Nat
Roar Guru
Well that was dominant. Aside from Smithy missing the mark a few times it was hardly a rusty first hit out by the Storm. Reminded me of watching a good 90s team up against, well, Melbourne who are the pioneers of this generation of football.
Duncan Smith
Guest
Based on that, I expect the Storm to make the top eight this year.