Cameron Munster returns as Melbourne Storm find form with win over West Tigers


“That was old school wasn’t it?” Welch said.

“Bronson Garlick [pinched the ball]. That was a huge play.

“He comes up with that play and we get a penalty and it really changed the momentum. It was a cheeky, little steal. You don’t see them too often these days. It was very impressive.”

Sheens added star English forward John Bateman had played with an injury, he declined to say what it was, in the second half and would need scans.

“John played with an issue tonight that most people wouldn’t and came back out when he probably shouldn’t have but he is a tough kid,” Sheens said.

“There is [doubt he plays next week]. We will need a scan to check on his issues. We will wait and see.”

Second-gamer Jonah Pezet again impressed, this time in the halfback role following a two-game suspension to regular starter Jahrome Hughes, the young NSW back defended with vigour and made some tidy passes in the lead-up to two tries.

Bellamy praised Pezet as being among his side’s best players on the night.

The Storm will be a little unhappy with their inability to gain more possessions in the second half with Wests having plenty of the ball but being unable to crack the home side’s defence.

A much-lower than normal crowd of 11,669 showed what local fans thought of the made-for-TV time slot which was especially unfair on the thousands of club members who live in the outer suburbs and had little chance of attending the match.

The Storm were on the front foot early and drew an early penalty which Nick Meaney converted for a 2-0 lead, perhaps that kick was a nod to All Blacks superstar Jordie Barrett who spent the week training with the Storm as a part of his two-week break from Super Rugby.

Bursting through: Melbourne Storm’s Xavier Coates.Credit:Getty Images

Still, the Tigers showed some drive pushing into their attacking 10-metre area twice in the early going but both times ended in turnovers due to poor passing.

Poor handling must have been going around as Storm back-rower Trent Loiero could well have had a try on 17 minutes but couldn’t grasp a low pass and allowed it to hit the ground.

But on 18 minutes the Storm scored their first try with offloads from Josh King and Jonah Pezet ending with 50th-gamer Eliesa Katoa throwing a cutout ball to winger Will Warbrick who powered over to score in the right corner making it 6-0 to the home side.

Pezet continued his impressive start by drawing in the defence and off-loading at the last second to Katoa who broke the line and attracted the fullback before dishing to Meaney who jogged under the posts for the second try.

Warbrick was almost away again on the half hour but he made an error as he was tackled which combined with a second Storm penalty pushed the Tigers into attack where Asu Kepaoa broke the line and scored in the left corner cutting the lead to 12-6.

The Storm didn’t drop their heads and hit back minutes later when a Munster high-ball was knocked backwards by Xavier Coates right into the path of Justin Olam for an easy try and a 16-6 lead which turned to 22-6 just on half-time when Munster crashed over for a try.

Melbourne had their chances early in the second half but couldn’t find the line with Tariq Sims held up just when he looked ready to power over.

Tigers star and long-time Storm nemesis Api Koroisau snuck in for a try on 55 minutes when Meaney allowed a grubber to roll to the back of the in-goal and his teammates failed to spot the Tigers’ hooker who touched it down just before the line.

The Storm face South Sydney at Accor Stadium this coming Friday at 8pm AEDT.



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