By Roy Ward
Melbourne Storm showed their doubters that predictions of the team’s demise were greatly exaggerated as Cameron Munster and Xavier Coates drove them to an impressive 28-8 win over the Sydney Roosters on Thursday night.
The Storm’s 1-2 start had some critics lining them up for a fall in the standings but they have now defeated premiership fancies South Sydney Rabbitohs and the Roosters in consecutive weeks and sit on the verge of the top four.
In wet, smokey conditions at AAMI Park, due to rain and haze from controlled burns outside the city, the Storm withstood a strong start from the visitors before Munster’s creativity and Coates’ finishing saw them bolt away with the match with Coates bringing up his hat-trick in 48 minutes.
A crowd of 16,323 turned up to watch the surging Storm who held their shape defensively and then exploded in attack with fullback Nick Meaney, playmakers Jahrome Hughes and Munster plus hooker Harry Grant regularly combining to cut open the visitors.
The Roosters cut frustrating figures as the game and the rain went on with former Storm hooker Brandon Smith having a homecoming to forget including a round of jeers and booing when he fumbled the wet football in the second half.
The Sydney side committed 13 errors to just eight from the Storm who in turn had 57 per cent of possession which exhausted the visitors.
Roosters forward Victor Radley might have a nervous wait on Good Friday to see if he is penalised for a late hit on Munster in the first half which saw him both placed on report and sent to the sin bin.
The Roosters were patient and clinical in their early chances and on 12 minutes they scored the opener with Sam Walker throwing a brave, lofted pass and was cannoned into by Justin Olam for his trouble.
But Walker’s pass caught the Storm’s defence moving up too fast and allowed winger Jaxson Paulo to score in the corner as the visitors led 6-0.
The Storm responded shortly after as Christian Welch’s offload broke open the Roosters’ defence with fullback Nick Meaney finding winger Xavier Coates for a try.
Walker’s kickoff bounced over the Storm’s receivers with Hughes’ desperation leap to keep it from going out of the in-goal ruled a deliberate knock-on with Walker converting a penalty kick for an 8-6 lead.
The Storm continued to build up possessions and pressure on the Roosters and Radley was first to crack hitting Munster late after he threw a pass with a brutal tackle which saw him both reported and sent to the sin bin for 10 minutes on 27 minutes.
Munster had the last laugh with his high kick in the next possession being caught by a surprisingly high leap from Meaney who scored next to the posts and converted the try for a 12-8 lead.
Harry Grant’s pressure on Walker saw the Roosters star rush a field kick and put it out of bounds on the full, that allowed Storm to march up the field.
Meaney and Munster teamed up with Meaney breaking the line and drawing in the last defender before passing inside to Munster to score under the posts for an 18-8 lead which they took into half-time.
Munster was again the playmaker as the Storm extended their lead soon after the resumption with a Roosters penalty allowing Storm to push forward with Munster’s high chip landing in the in-goal and bouncing into the hands of Coates to make it 22-8.
Coates completed his hat-trick on 48 minutes chasing down Olam’s surprise grubber kick and touching it down just before the line showing expert handling in wet conditions.
Meaney was sent for a head injury assessment midway through the second half and Munster filled in at fullback but Meaney was able to return and complete the game.
The Storm are still waiting on the return of star fullback Ryan Papenhuyzen from a fractured knee cap, he received a loud cheer when shown on the big screen late in the game, the Storm faithful can see big things on the horizon as this season plays on.
The Storm play Manly Sea Eagles at 4 Pines Park this coming Friday at 8pm.
