With eleven key players taken from the teams that took to the field at AAMI Park on Thursday night, one might have been excused for ducking out to the local Chinese and missing the footy.
The potential to be underwhelmed must have surely crossed the minds of the average fan and perhaps even the supporters of the two combatants, who both would have a rock-solid excuse if beaten.
Thank goodness the coaches and players did everything in their power to lure us away from the sweet and sour pork and lemon chicken.
They provided every possible reason to stay in and persist with the game rather than heading out for a bite.
The reality is that without its entire back row, halfback and front rower Paul Vaughan, the Dragons’ fans would have been well within their rights to write off a clash with the Storm during the origin period.
However, the champions from south of the border managed to throw up six Origin players of their own and if not for the shock representative retirement of Cameron Smith, the Red V may have felt even more confident entering the game.
The curse that Melbourne has on the Dragons would surely not apply with two teams so affected by representative duty?
As it turned out, there was little between the teams and the Dragons ground their way to a competitive first half position, based on outstanding completions and the determined and resilient attitude that its young team took into the game.
Early tries to Curtis Scott and Brodie Croft were cancelled out by four pointers to Kurt Mann and Nene MacDonald, before Cheyse Blair scored in the thirty-third minute to seemingly take the initiative in Melbourne’s direction.
Within moments Euan Aitken crossed the line and the subsequent conversion saw the Dragons in front for the first time. With seconds remaining in the first half, Hoffman broke clear down the left and the Storm took a 22-18 lead into the break.
The Dragons pressed early in the second half off the back of continued completions and tries to Mann and Luciano Leilua which pulled them level after Young Tonumaipea had scored for Melbourne.
From there on the exhibition lived up to its name with the Storm piling on four tries in the final 14 minutes to turn a tight scoreboard and contest into a rather lopsided affair.
(AAP Image/Julian Smith)
Anyone who missed the game might well have interpreted the final scoreline as something of an embarrassment for the Dragons yet it was far from the case.
James Graham was tireless in the middle, Matthew Dufty and Leeson Ah Mau gave everything, yet once again, the Storms’ ability to find fringe players to fill the roles absented by rep players won the day.
Jahrome Hughes and Brodie Croft should be on the radar of clubs looking for quality in the spine and the forwards that Craig Bellamy has waiting in the wings would be assets in most teams.
Sadly it meant little, considering how far removed the starting teams were from the ones likely to meet in semi-final play, yet entertaining it was.
Friday night saw the Panthers at home to the Warriors, in a game where the top eight contending New Zealanders would historically fumble their way to a loss and confirm suspicions of their fragilities.
If anyone was hoping for that type of result they weren’t disappointed, as the youthful Panthers put on six unanswered tries before the visitors finally crossed the line in the 76th minute.
It was a convincing 36-4 trouncing in which the home fans saw the best of the young wave of talent from the foot of the mountains. That talent is destined to decide the hopes and successes of the Panthers over the next decade and its promise is unquestionable.
The Warriors now slip to seventh in a heavily congested top eight and the Panthers continue to make a convincing argument for their inclusion in Premiership discussion.
Without their State of Origin halves they have avoided major damage through the representative period and sit within two points of the ladder leading Rabbitohs.
The Warriors appear a long way from the side that took the premiership by storm in the early rounds. With such a gap between the top eight and the also-rans, their finals spot is probably safe.
However, competing in and being a serious threat in the playoffs are two different things and right now, the Warriors look to be making up the numbers.
The Barry
Roar Guru
“Famous Dragons spirit”????? They definitely had excuses but they folded like a house of cards and had 50 put on them.
Muzz
Guest
Entertaining game. Dragons edge defence was shocking! Nightingale resembled a peak hour turnstile.
KenoathCarnt
Guest
Storm were missing Glasby,Brommich, Finucane,Kasiano,Musnter,Chambers,Addo Carr, and Slater.Storm were missing their entire team practically so what is your point?
Jacko
Guest
Luai to displace cleary for later stages of season.
AJL.
Roar Pro
The Warriors were disgraceful. Given their history of late season collapses, Kearney would be deeply concerned right now...
KenoathCarnt
Guest
Yea but Storm were playing like trash then and now they are comming together. Whenever Dragons have come up against a side that is playing well they get stomped on.
Glenn
Guest
It was great to see that famous Dragons spirit out there, this team has it in spades. Their young forwards were understandably tired in the last 15 minutes after such an exciting and open game which was a credit to both sides. No worries for the Red V, we effortlessly dispensed with the Storm earlier in the season when both sides were at full strength and the talented Mr Smith couldn't do a thing about it. And we'll do it again in September if necessary. Not bad for a side that most said would be below 12 this year. SAINTS!
3_Hats SSTID 2014
Roar Rookie
What a load of rubbish despite the Storm putting 50 on a soft Dragons team my Rabbitohs have still got the best attack in the comp The Rabbitohs have scored more try's than your blokes yet we still have plenty of more trys in us. How many Trys do you think we are going to put on the Dogs, Eels, Tigers twice, Raiders, Broncs, Rorts and your cheats? PLENTY!
3_Hats SSTID 2014
Roar Rookie
Attacking masterclass or just plain Pathetic defence?
Nat
Roar Guru
We've made that comparison with Hook and the Broncos young talent before. But it's also a balance to the old heads he keeps at the place as well. You keep thinking Semi's or prelim was a good result and next yr will be one step better - until it just doesn't happen and you watching those fellas lighting up another team.
Geoff Dustby
Guest
nice effort. thoughts on the 11 players missing from the game?
peeko
Guest
interesting you can draw conclusions from a game missing 11 top liners
Geoff Dustby
Guest
nice effort champ. they scored 5 tries without their forward pack. fail, try again
Nat
Roar Guru
I know which one you're talking about. I thought RTS done a good job at herding them toward the sideline and if Hiku bothered he could have covered Blake going inside as they ween't that far away. That young Luai had him picked from the start and kept at him.
Eddie Otto
Roar Guru
Melbourne showed to me why they remain the favourites and clearly the best coached team in the NRL. Defensively they have not quite been at their best this year however they have so much strike power across the park No team in the game could score 50 points without 6-7 key players including Slater, Addo Carr and Munster. My theory is Melbourne's best is better then everyone else's best and they will be desperate to be the first side to go back to back since 1992-93. I see no reason they can't do it.
The Barry
Roar Guru
I’m not sure it was an attacking masterclass or substandard defence but who cares it was a hugely entertaining game to watch. I think the result is largely irrelevant for the Dragons. Four starting forwards and halfback would cruel most teams. Plus they lost Host early and someone else later on. Nightingale played more minutes than planned on the edge and was playing busted and buggered for about the last 20. Panthers v Warriors was a weird one. For the first 30 minutes it looked like being a tit for tat battle in the middle. But then as soon as Penrith got the asendenscy they went bang, bang and it was 12-0(?) at half time. Concerning for the Warriors how quickly and completely they folded when things went against them. Probably lucky there’s such a big gap between 8th and 9th.
Albo
Guest
Jimmy, they are already an NRL powerhouse even if it hasn't translated into Panther NRL premierships. They regularly feature in the junior competitions that furnish the NRL eventually. The Panthers produce so many quality young players to service the competition via other Clubs. Take the Sharks with their current list of Panther juniors in Graham, Lewis & Moylan, or the three Jennings brothers at Parramatta & Souths. The Panthers are a key nursery for the NRL. The real problem for the Panthers as a Club is in identifying which players to retain and foster, and who to let go, in order to best produce a premiership. Not sure the Panthers management have ever really got that right ?
jimmmy
Guest
Yeah , I agree with all that. It just seems incomprehensible to me that all that talent ( plus I hear they have wonderful facilities as well) doesn’t translate into premierships. The NSW Origin half pairing , a dominant forward pack ,really good outside backs plus depth, depth , depth. I lean to a Panthers , Storm final but of course that depends on the way the finals matchups work out.
jimmmy
Guest
I also thought it was a great game to watch. I don’t think you can take too much out of it though, the defense was appalling.( by both sides.) I thought the Storm were the best chance of winning another GF before a ball and kicked this year and I have not changed my opinion at any time. One thing though is that they are a lot closer to the pack this year than last. They are still favourites for mine but not unbeatable like 2017.
jimmmy
Guest
Hiku was awful. There was one break . ( Can’t remember which one there were so many) where he stopped as soon as he was passed by his opposite . That’s just not NRL standard. The Warriors are a good time team. If it all goes smoothly and they are on top they play like world beaters. But they have no grit. Not for me.