The Melbourne Storm have booked their place in yet another preliminary final with a 36-24 win over Parramatta in a see-sawing qualifying final in Brisbane.
However, the win came at a cost for Melbourne, with star five-eighth Cameron Munster going off the field late with a knee injury that threatens to end his finals campaign.
Munster wasn’t the only high-profile casualty of the night, Eels wingers Maika Sivo and Blake Ferguson both suffering early ends to their matches.
Both Sivo and the Storm five-eighth are suspected to have sustained MCL injuries. Munster has already had the same injury twice already this season, and his place in the preliminary final is in serious doubt.
Sivo will most likely miss the Eels’ semi-final next week, and while the nature of Ferguson’s injury is still unknown, they way he limped off the field bodes poorly indeed for the winger.
The Eels had started the match the stronger side. Nathan Brown scored in the very first minute of the game, and captain Clint Gutherson finished off a superb length-of-the-field team effort to give Parramatta a 12-0 lead with 22 minutes on the clock.
However, the Storm responded like the experienced finals outfit they are, Suliasi Vunivalu and Ryan Pepenhuyzen crossing before halftime to send the sides into the sheds all square.
Opposing wingers Josh Addo-Carr and Ferguson exchanged tries in the first ten minutes of the second half, but with the score at 18-all the Storm piled on three in quick succession to take the game away. First it was Jesse Bromwich crashing through the Eels’ left-side defence, then Brenko Lee did the same before Papenhuyzen grabbed his second to push the lead out to 18 points.
Shaun Lane scored soon after to set up a nervy finish, particularly after Munster went off late in the game, but ultimately the Eels were unable to close the margin, Melbourne finishing 36-24 winners.
The Storm will now host the second preliminary final at Suncorp Stadium, while Parramatta head back to Bankwest Stadium for a sudden-death semi-final against either the Rabbitohs or Knights.
bazza200
Guest
Losing Silvo early in the game had a massive impact on the game for parra. Davey did well stepping in but you loose it on the back of your return sets etc. However it didn't affect the problem on one side of the field parra defence there was crap.
Dean
Guest
The Storm were pretty ordinary in the first half. So many errors which was uncharacteristic. If they play like that again next week, they'll be too far behind to recover, especially if their opponent don't suffer the injuries the Eels did.
Duncan Smith
Roar Guru
Hynes is a top player and should be in the side next year.
johnno 2
Roar Rookie
We are extremely blessed to witness the amazing ability of CAMERON SMITH Without a doubt , the best Rugby League player in the world even at 37
Joe
Roar Rookie
Once Nicho covered center I knew he would be their bench player. Eisenhuth was the other option and he covers center but he can't cover fullback/halves. Nicho can cover every backline position and covers the spine positions half/fullback very well. If Finucane plays the bench will be B.Smith, Tino, NAS and Hynes.
Opposed Session
Roar Rookie
Same ploy Storm had with Paps last year, provides cover across the backline.
Joe
Roar Rookie
Not to mention they lost both their wingers during the game who are a big part of bringing back the ball.
Opposed Session
Roar Rookie
Eels to cover Sivo made too many defensive changes. To cover one player they made 3 changes originally which then turned into 5, when they moved Their 5/8 to defend at centre and Backrower to defend at 5/8. This all before Fergo got injured. With each change in person or position you lessen the cohesion of the team or the team within the team (your defensive 4). Nrl teams and definitely the Storm would attack these changes cause your disrupting the relationships around who you usually defend next too. Personally I would have just went with a straight swap with Will Smith for Sivo. Storm should have blown them Off the park but the eels scrambled well in the first half. Munster a huge blow if unfit moving forward. Storm would have only used 15 had he not got injured. The beauty of having someone like Nicho on the bench who can cover anyone in the backline. I’d expect Jacks to come back in at left half if Munster is out and Nicho staying at 14. NAS to drop back to bench and Finucane at 13 for the prelim. Penrith and Storm now get the week off, whereas their opposition will have been 20 straight weeks footy heading into prelim. That’s a huge advantage this year!
jimmmy
Roar Rookie
I thought Parra were very , good. Weakest ever top four side, no chance, won't come close. ?? 24 points against the Storm in a final, and unlucky not to get one more. If you predicted that before the game started you would have been showered with rocks. There is some real hope in this game for the Panthers.
RoryStorm
Guest
Nicho Hynes deserves a rap. I didn't know much about him before the season started but he doesn't seem to do much wrong when he's out there. I hope Brodie Croft was watching him yesterday. Nicho didn't try to be a star with a big kick to gain territory. Those couple of kicks towards the end of the game were exactly what the Storm needed to help chew up a little bit more time before the reset. He's exactly what the Storm need sitting on the interchange bench IMO from what I've seen of him. Another future star maybe? Nothing seems to faze him. I wonder what the Storm have planned if both the wingers depart at the end of the season. I also had a question mark with Justin Olam but it didn't take long for that to disappear. Like the majority of the best of the PNG players, he seems to be made from stone. The only time I remember him staying down after a tackle was when he copped an accidental boot to the cojones.
Joe
Roar Rookie
Also wanted to add that I've been very impressed with the massive improvement in the Storm players. Four players in particular who's performances have just improved out of sight in the last year or 2 - 1 - Papenhuyzen who surely has to now be considered in the elite level fullbacks in his 2nd year. 2 - Justin Olam who I had doubts over early on but is now provides so much in attack and defense 3 - Jahrome Hughes who only just started playing halfback for the Storm last year 4 - Tino who had his debut last year and is now a certainty for Origin These players are now critical parts of this Storm team. I know the Storm have always been known for production line of players but I think this crop surely has to be one of the best from the Storm system.
steveng
Roar Rookie
As I’ve predicted the semi-finals will pan out as Roosters v Raiders and Bunnies v Eels :laughing: the Eels were just too complacent and didn’t take their chances to put the Storm to bed. This is also what the Bunnies did a few weeks ago in round 17 when they lead and got beat 22-16, there is too much talent in the Storm and it will take a very determined and mongrel side to beat them. Great game but the Eels just did exactly like they have done for ages, started like they were on fire and then faded to nothing.
Duncan Smith
Roar Guru
I was surprised to see Nicho Hynes on the bench, but I suppose he was there to cover this sort of injury.
Gun Dog
Roar Rookie
Great game.....Storm just to good...pace and power in abundance....and mental toughness.
Mooty
Roar Rookie
Just like normal for the Storm, although Munster a bit of a concern, he is a big hole to fill. But knowing the Storm and Bellamy they would already have him covered.
The Barry
Roar Guru
Eels defence fell to pieces at critical times last night Storm were clinical when the game was in the balance Roosters chances have taken another massive hit - Raiders, Storm maybe Panthers to do the threepeat
Flexis
Roar Rookie
Quite the achievement. To put that into perspective, the last time the Storm didn’t make the prelims the Bulldogs faced the Rabbitohs in the grand final. Makes it feel like an era ago.
Joe
Roar Rookie
That was a pretty tough game. Glad to see the Storm through to another prelim, that's six in a row. Just an outstanding effort. Didn't see Chris Lewis come of the bench so it looks like they only used 3 bench spots. Not sure they can do that for the prelim...hopefully Finucane is back although he will be pretty rusty after missing several weeks. NAS did great in the 13 today though but a bench of Tino, B.Smith and NAS would turn games. Hopefully Munster is ok, signs are he will be ready for the Prelim but who knows. Eels without their two wingers are going to have an uphill battle next week.
zonecadet
Roar Rookie
Too big, to fast, too strong. Like a few games of late, Team A gets out in front and looks to be manufacturing an upset only to see Team B keep their composure, stick to their plays and finish their sets building pressure until the inevitable happens and boom, game never in doubt. Well, at least the Storm did it without a dubious call from the referee, sorry about that Sharks. You can't coach speed and the storm has it in abundance, possibly more than any other team.