Before the Melbourne Storm could hop on the bus for the three-hour bus trip back to Noosa with the J.J. Giltinan Shield – the Storm sat and watched the Penrith Panthers and Parramatta Eels in game two of the Cbus Super Stadium double header.
Like a champion fighter in the front row of a top contender’s bout.
Penrith knew by the time they were running out they couldn’t win the minor premiership but they were fully aware the Storm were watching.
It was about making a statement right in front of Craig Bellamy and the reigning premiers.
The Eels toiled and made the Panthers work for it in the first half.
Gave as much as they took.
Penrith looked a little off, just half a step but didn’t make it easy for themselves in the opening passages. At times, individuals like Nathan Cleary and Viliame Kikau took charges head-on like they were simply going to run through Parramatta.
It didn’t happen.
Coach Brad Arthur was ecstatic with his second-string team at oranges.
Eels head coach Brad Arthur (Photo by Mark Metcalfe/Getty Images)
We all knew, however, that the Panthers weren’t far away.
Then it all clicked in the second half.
No team, including the Storm, combine their halves better than the Panthers when they are at full tilt. We saw it several times as the match went on. Cleary with the double pump and teasing the Eels before linking with Jarome Luai and feeding Brian To’o for more meat pies.
And it kept coming.
When commentators called for Ivan Cleary to rest his stars – they pressed harder.
This was what we expected and it was impressive to watch.
Earlier, the Storm got another 40 minutes of priming.
Melbourne may well have still gone through the season undefeated, broken Eastern Suburbs’ 1975 most consecutive wins record and won back-to-back premierships.
While records like that are fantastic and actually mean something to a prestigious organisation like the Melbourne Storm, coach Craig Bellamy would be happier with how far they have been stretched in 120 minutes of footy.
While the Eels were too good for them last week at Suncorp Stadium, it was the type of rugby league they needed and the challenge they so desperately required.
It was a gruelling, arm-wrestle contest.
The Eels got the premiership points but nobody will remember that if the Storm are holding up the trophy again on the 3rd of October.
Then, to back that up, Cronulla-Sutherland threw down the gauntlet at Cbus Super Stadium.
For 40 minutes, anyway.
They then stayed back to watch Parramatta and the Panthers in the second match of the double header – it may have had more to do with some of the silverware the NRL was set to hand them as 2021 minor premiers.
While the Panthers couldn’t snatch top spot after the Storm defeated Cronulla 28-16 – the fact they knew the Storm would be watching on from the stands would have given them a little more motivation before finals football begins.
We were all waiting for Melbourne to click.
Closer to the mark, we were waiting for Ryan Papenhuyzen to find his mojo after several concussions.
At one point, as he was finding his feet, he shifted the ball instead of cutting into the Sharks line. Cronulla tossed the Storm over the sideline. Eventually it all glued together and Melbourne were imperious in banishing the Sharks.
When ‘the wrestle’ dominated the game, opposition teams thought of the Storm as a big python. Squeezing and squeezing. Now, they are a monstrous anaconda shooting lasers from their eyes.
Funnily enough, it was the two losing sides on Friday night that showed the way into September footy.
For most of 2021, the top clubs didn’t have to worry about forcing set restarts and building pressure thanks to the ridiculous ‘six again’ rule.
The Sharks and Eels earned more footy with their short kicking games in attack and making their respective oppositions kick the ball back to them from under the posts.
We’ll see it more and more in the coming weeks.
It’s been a frustrating season and many were disenchanted with the rule changes and what the NRL looked like.
We now have rugby league back.
Joey
Guest
Not far fetched at all if you consider where Storm team is currently at. Half the team thinking everything is ok, even though outpointed by a doer Parramatta.
Joey
Guest
Munster’s knee infection could easily be season ending. Both Hughes and Papenhuyzen are still shy of heavy contact. They are looking pretty busted for premiership favourites.
PRW
Guest
They'll meet in the prelim if all games go according to expectations. For these two to meet in the big one, Manly would have to beat the Storm next week and the Penrith beat them in the PF. Or Penrith lose to Souths, get past Roosters/Titans and beat Storm in the PF. So its not as likely as some other matchups.
PRW
Guest
Against the 15th and 16th teams. They've had one hard game in the past 3 months, and they lost it. It's very hard to judge how they're going against bottom 4 teams.
PRW
Guest
So what is your cut off point? 50 points? 100? You wait until it is impossible for anyone else to beat them, and that was at fulltime in the Penrith game.
PRW
Guest
I don't think anyone is under any illusions that anyone but Turbo is winning the Dally M. Ivan wanted to get the combinations gelling.
The Mexican
Roar Rookie
I'm a Storm supporter and I see a lot of people mentioning a Storm/Panthers Grand Final but how far fetched is a Manly/Penrith Grand Final?
andyfnq
Roar Rookie
Manly v Storm GF is coming, Panthers are still a great team ut Manly are playing better footy lately
Wait a minute!
Guest
A win over a Turboless Manly at the start of the season. Before they started winning. A meaningless win as things are now. South’s, zero chance of beating either. If they lose to Penrith again? They are just making up the numbers.
Mon
Guest
Souths have already beaten Manly mate and we will again. With or without Turbo.
Womblat
Guest
Yeah Manly are the real dark horse. I can't believe the difference one Turbo makes on those blokes. Agreed on Souths.
Worlds Biggest
Guest
Read my previous missive, I am not a fan of the Storm in any way, shape or form. Further I did mention those two being absent for “ week 1 “ shouldn’t be a deterrent for them. Even without those two, they should still have enough to beat the Sea Eagles or Chooks. IF those two are out for a longer period then that might change the goal posts. Are you suggesting they will be out longer than a week or two ?
Joey
Guest
Blind love or just takin the p*ss if you think two Origin stars make no difference to their chances.
Worlds Biggest
Guest
I’m not a Storm fan but I wouldn’t be concerned if Munster and JAC are unavailable for week 1. Hynes has been outstanding this season and the return of Pap in form is huge. They got Nelson and Finucane back so that evens up things somewhat. That charge on Nelson for pushing was farcical. They have to start with Smith with Grant off bench, what a luxury.
zonecadet
Roar Rookie
Why did the Storm have to wait until the end of the Penrith game to be presented with the Shield? How on earth was Penrith ever going to bridge the gap in points differential.
Wait a minute!
Guest
I think everyone has been saying that Manly & South’s can win the Premiership. I look forward to seeing Melbourne take on Manly next week. If Melbourne wins again, Manly won’t win the Premiership. If South’s defeat Penrith, I still think that South’s can’t win the Premiership. As they won’t defeat Melbourne or Manly. Even with Mitchell, they can’t defeat either.
Onya.
Guest
Just for the South’s ‘Downtown’ whinge brigade from a few weeks ago. I was watching some game mini’s from years ago. Parramatta versus Penrith 2016 at Parramatta. Very close game , decided in the last 20 seconds. In that game , the bunker disallowed a Penrith try, because of a downtown player ( Latu ). Latu played zero part in the try & was about 8 metres from the other Penrith player who got the ball. Before they scored.
Joey
Guest
Most of the Storm team are coming straight off a fair and square loss to Parra. They had a chance this week to get combinations clicking again, and chose not to. Addo-Carr and Munster in doubt, and unclear how B.Smith and Grant have pulled up. That’s not exactly finals momentum is it.
egbert
Guest
Accomplished sports writing Curtis. One thing I will say is that if we do get the same grand final again, the Storm won't be 22-0 (or whatever it was) at half time again, Penrith won't let that happen, at least. That was a bleak day in the highest tier of ANZ.
Womblat
Guest
Panthers and Storm is a tantalising matchup 100%, but I reckon Manly and Souths might just be happy in the bleachers that no-one thinks they are real contenders. On their day, they can really make it work. But all things equal, barring injury to a couple of key players, it'll be black on purple come GF day. And yeah, it'll rock. How lucky are we that the sport managed to survive these stupid times? I'm only sane because I can watch the footy.