Melbourne Storm needed a dose of luck and all the grit they could muster to overcome the Brisbane Broncos 24-16 at AAMI Park on Thursday night.
With legendary coach Craig Bellamy expected to announce next week whether he will end his time as Storm coach or stay on, his young side showed they are gradually discovering the resilience needed to win NRL games although they also rode their luck after a brilliant strip from Ezra Mam and careless ball-handling saw Eliesa Katoa deny himself a certain try in the second half.
Munster was again brilliant while the Broncos will rue some poor discipline which repeatedly allowed the Storm to have extra possessions in a game which had the intensity and fury of finals match in front of 16,043 fans.
The Broncos were also brave in continuing to attack despite losing captain and halfback Adam Reynolds to a neck injury in the first half.
A purposeful run from Munster opened the scoring with the Storm five-eighth forcing himself over the line and bouncing off the goalpost before touching down on 11 minutes.
The game changed on 16 minutes when the Broncos lost Reynolds after he appeared to be knocked out while desperately chasing a bouncing ball over the in-goal.
Adam Reynolds is taken off the field on a stretcher.Credit: Getty Images
Reynolds banged his head as he dived for the ball and didn’t get back up, he was cleared of a serious neck injury but ruled out of the game.
But while Reynolds was being treated, the TV referee ruled that centre Herbie Farnworth should be awarded a penalty try after his chase of the ball was interrupted by Storm hooker Harry Grant who had legally bumped him away from the bouncing ball but then crashed into his back as he tried to lunge for the ball with the converted try making it 6-6.
The Broncos didn’t lose their poise despite Reynolds’ exit and they soon had the lead with fullback Reece Walsh seeing the Storm’s wide defenders had come in so he threw a lofted, cutout pass to winger Jesse Arthars who scored in the corner for a 10-6 lead.
Storm centre Reimis Smith was placed on report for a dangerous tackle while Storm forward Nelson Asofa-Solomona was forced off just before half-time after aggravating a rib cartilage problem he picked up last round.
Farnworth was sent to the sin bin for a professional foul on Smith, moments later Jahrome Hughes and Smith went wide to Will Warbrick who beat the last defender to the outside leaping for the line and making it 10-10 at the break.
The Storm looked to have made the best possible start to the second half as Xavier Coates pressured Walsh into dropping a highball close to the line and some quick passing found Warbrick unmarked and he dived into the corner for his second try but the video referee ruled Coates didn’t have both feet behind the Munster when he kicked the ball so he was offside ruling out the try.
Katoa should have put the Storm ahead on 50 minutes when Hughes broke the line and put him into an open run to the line but he took it too easy and didn’t see Mam sneaking up on his outside with the Broncos playmaker slapping the ball from his grasp as he went over the line, it saved a certain try.
Asofa-Solomona returned but was set upon by three Broncos in his first carry as they tested out his ribs, Broncos forward Pat Carrigan was assessed to have made a hip-drop tackle on the Storm big man who went off with a leg injury but returned later.
Reece Walsh of the Broncos scores a try, which was later disallowed by the video bunker.Credit: Getty Images
Carrigan was placed on report and given 10 minutes in the sin bin, the Storm kicked a penalty goal to take a 12-10 lead just before the hour.
Walsh almost came up with a strip of Warbrick and try which could have changed the game but Mam was in on the same tackle so the strip was ruled a penalty as it wasn’t one on one.
On the restart the Storm earned another penalty and soon had a try with Xavier Coates dropping a high ball but it went backwards into the hands of Olam who had to just reach forward for the try.
Warbrick scored late to confirm the win while melees twice broke out in the final minutes and Cory Paix scored a late try for the Broncos.
The Storm play the Dolphins at Suncorp Stadium next Saturday at 7.35pm AEST.
