Storm into NRL grand final after taking down Sharks
Scott Bailey |
Melbourne will have a shot at grand-final redemption after the club’s new big four booked a spot in the NRL decider with a 22-14 win over Cronulla.
One year on from last year’s grand-final defeat to Penrith, the Storm were electric in attack on Friday night against a resilient Sharks side who hung on until late.
Melbourne will now face the winners of Sunday’s other preliminary final between four-time defending premiers Penrith and Brisbane at Suncorp Stadium.
The Storm have not won a premiership since Cameron Smith’s retirement after the 2020 grand final, with the new generation desperate to claim a title of their own.
And in Friday night’s preliminary final, they led the way.
Cameron Munster and Ryan Papenhuyzen were dangerous with every touch, while Jahrome Hughes scored a try just 22 days after fracturing his forearm.
Then, with Cronulla doing their best to hang in at 18-10 down with five minutes to go, it was Harry Grant who provided the knockout blow for the hosts.
Running it on the last, the Melbourne hooker got into free space and spread the ball to the left before Xavier Coates crossed to break Sharks’ hearts.
Between them, Melbourne’s spine of Papenhuyzen, Munster, Hughes and Grant have played just nine matches together this year for eight wins.
And while Friday was their first game together since June, they looked as dangerous as ever headed into next Sunday night’s showdown.
All four played crucial roles in tries, while Hughes bust eight tackles for the night and Papenhuyzen five.
“We’ve still got a bit of improvement in our combination, but the thing that stood out to me is how well they played individually,” Melbourne coach Craig Bellamy said.
“I just thought they did their job really well without linking together too well. That will come.
“Hughesy has been out for a bit, Paps has been out for a bit, Our combination hopefully will improve during the week.
“But they all put their heart and soul into it tonight and got their job done really well.”
None were more impressive than Hughes, who played with a heavily protected left arm and defended on the wing at different stages.
He copped a hit from Teig Wilton in the lead up to Melbourne’s first try, and was on the receiving end of a high shot from Braydon Trindall in the second half.
But he still had his fingerprints all over the win, getting a ball away to help Will Warbrick over for the Storm’s first before scoring their next off an offload from the in-form Stefano Utoikamanu.
Munster and Papenhuyzen also combined to land a decisive blow before halftime, when they caught Sharks fullback Will Kennedy in the line.
Munster kicked early, Papenhuyzen chased through and toed the ball ahead before getting to it first and helping Melbourne to a 16-8 lead.
And while Cronulla got it back to 16-10 via a Papenhuyzen high shot on a try-saver, another Melbourne penalty in a game littered with them and Grant’s late heroics saw the Storm home.
Cronulla were gutsy after a month of defying critics but ultimately ran out of gas against a Storm side who started stronger and rolled them in the middle.
Sione Katoa scored a first-half double to keep them in it, courtesy of a Will Kennedy cut-out ball and Billy Burns poking his nose through.
And while KL Iro got a last-minute consolation try, the Sharks were ultimately outgunned by a Storm side who look like they can threaten whoever they meet next Sunday.
“We’re a really good side that just haven’t quite converted to becoming a great side at the moment,” Sharks coach Craig Fitzgibbon said.
“I’ll tell you this, we’re in a better position than we’ve ever been. We’re not going away.”
AAP
