NRL Round 18 2024: Projectile thrown at Tyran Wishart as Storm win 40-28 over Wests Tigers

Security are investigating after a projectile was thrown at a Storm player while he attempted a conversion attempt, as the Melbourne Storm cruised past a brave Wests Tigers side.

Security are investigating after a projectile was thrown at Storm player Tyran Wishart as he attempted a conversion attempt.

Wishart lined up the conversion from attempt from the sideline on the main grandstand end.

It is understand a projectile wrapped in tape was launched onto the field and narrowly missed the Storm five-eighth.

Security are investigating after a projectile was thrown at Tyran Wishart as he lined up a conversion attempt. Picture: Getty Images

Jahrome Hughes stormed into Dally M favouritism after the halfback helped Melbourne end the Wests Tigers’ winning run at Leichhardt Oval with a five star showing as the ladder leaders lost two more players to injury.

The 40-28 result keeps the Storm four points clear of the Panthers, with their little general rallying the troops expertly with three first-half try assists as they overcame a slow start to silence another bumper crowd.

Hughes was 15 points behind Penrith’s Dylan Edwards when voting went behind closed doors, but he has been on an incredible run since then with a string of man-of-the-match performances that will have him in the mix to take out the game’s highest individual honour.

“I can safely say that we wouldn’t be where we are on the table if it wasn’t for him,” Storm coach Craig Bellamy said.

Jahrome Hughes has surged into Dally M favouritism. Picture: Getty Images

Storm players usually steal votes off each other, but all the injuries to key men means Hughes will have racked up the points, with the halfback toying with the Tigers on Saturday night.

The first two tries were fairly standard, but few can produce what he did to set up Will Warbrick as he skated across the slippery surface like Christopher Dean and had the defenders in a trance before he dished to his winger to finish in the corner.

PLENTY OF LEICH-HEART

The Tigers dropped back to the bottom of the table but they’ll take plenty of confidence out of their performance against the league leaders.

The same issues that have plagued them all year came back to haunt them with Solomona Faataape sent to the sin bin for an illegal tackle on Warbrick in the air which saw the Storm punish them with two tries.

“It’s almost like we can’t get through a game without a sin bin,” Benji Marshall said.

They may have gone down, but the Wests Tigers showed some real heart against Melbourne. Picture: NRL Imagery

“They scored twice in that period. Take those two out and we’ve both scored 28.

“It was a tough one. I could see both sides of it, it depends who you support.”

There are still defensive problems, but their attack looked crisp on the edges with Lachlan Galvin and Jahream Bula combining well, while Fonua Pole outshone fellow forward Stefano Utoikamanu who was well contained by one of the teams chasing him for next year.

TWO FOR ONE

The Storm welcomed Ryan Papenhuyzen back after last week’s scare, but there was more bad news for the ladder leaders as their horror injury toll worsened with another two casualties.Big man Nelson Asofa-Solomona (hamstring) only lasted 20 minutes while Bronson Garlick (back spasms) failed to finish the first half which forced a major reshuffle, with Tyran Wishart shifting to hooker and scoring the sealer with 10 to go.

Storm are spoiled for choice at fullback, with Sualauvi Faalogo scoring two tries from the bench. Picture: Getty Images

“I talked to NAS and he said ‘it’s not that bad’, but with all due respect, NAS is not a doctor or a physio,” Bellamy said.

The Storm are already without Cameron Munster, Harry Grant, Xavier Coates and Nick Meaney, with next week’s bye coming at the perfect time.

There was some good news with Papenhuyzen back on deck after missing last week, with the electrifying fullback scoring one and going close a couple of times, with the Storm star dancing through the defence with an early run to build his confidence.

Confidence is something young gun Sua Fa’alogo doesn’t lack with the young gun having a stunning solo try disallowed for an early error, only to make amends with a scything effort to clinch a second-half double.

Originally published as NRL Round 18 2024: Projectile thrown at Tyran Wishart as Storm win 40-28 over Wests Tigers