Melbourne dominate Penrith in Bathurst, running out 32-2 winners

After watching his side leak 24 unanswered points to Melbourne in a shocking second half, Penrith coach Ivan Cleary didn’t hold back.

Jahrome Hughes of the Storm is tackled by James Fisher-Harris (left) and Sione Katoa of the Panthers during the Round 3 NRL match between the Penrith Panthers and Melbourne Storm at Carrington Park, in Bathurst, Saturday, March 30, 2019. (AAP Image/Dan Himbrechts) NO ARCHIVING, EDITORIAL USE ONLY

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Penrith coach Ivan Cleary savaged his team’s second half performance labelling it “awful” and “inept” after his side fell 32-2 to Melbourne in Bathurst.

Cleary was positive when his side trailed 8-2 at half-time but that fell away early in the second half when they leaked 24 unanswered second half points which started with a Brodie Croft try.

“I thought our boys failed to deal with that,” Cleary said.

“From then on we were awful. We didn’t cope with that. We completed like four sets for the rest of the game. Inept. Way too many fundamental errors.

Melbourne dominated Penrith from start to finish. AAP Image/Dan Himbrechts.

MUNSTER OF AGE

We aren’t sure if it is a record but Munster’s three one on one steals would have to be some sort benchmark. Aside from that the Melbourne Storm five-eighth was in everything to again lead the side with a man of the match performance.

He scored a try, laid on another in a real showing of his continued maturity as a player.

Melbourne coach Craig Bellamy is thankful Munster’s performances did not match what he sometimes dishes up at training.

“He is one hell of a player,” Bellamy said. “You don’t really see it a whole heap at training during the week. He can have his on and off days. He is an ultimate competitor. It doesn’t matter what position you put in.

“A lot of balls sailing over the sidelines out of his hands (at training). He is a bit creative. He tries things. Sometimes you’ve got to play the high percentage. I am a bit more conservative in some areas. He makes our jobs a little bit more fun.”

Penrith were totally dismantled. Photo by Mark Kolbe/Getty Images.

DEFENCE WAS KEY

Melbourne may have raced in five unanswered tries but it was their defence in the first half which helped secure them victory. Penrith really struggled offensively against a resilient Storm defence who withstood a weight of possession against them in the opening half.

Penrith had 65 per cent of possession in the opening 20 minutes and spent all but five of those minutes inside Melbourne’s half.

But Melbourne’s defence stood strong and saw them take an 8-2 lead at half-time in front of 10,973 people.

Melbourne are ensconced at the top of the ladder. AAP Image/Dan Himbrechts.

HORROR NIGHT FOR EDWARDS

Penrith fullback Dylan Edwards struggled with the damp conditions, fumbling two balls which resulted in direct tries to the Storm.

The first was when he tried to clean up an error by Dallin Watene-Zelezniak which led to a Munster try while the second fumble was off a Munster kick with the back-spin gifting Brodie Croft a try.

Rookie Marion Seve scored with his first touch. Photo by Mark Kolbe/Getty Images.

Edwards made six handling errors for the match.

“You feel for someone who goes through a night like that,” Cleary said. “He never shied away from the gamer. It wasn’t his night. Pretty disappointed

“It was one of those nights.”

MELBOURNE 32 (J Addo-Carr J Bromwich B Croft C Munster M Seve tries C Smith 6 goals) bt PENRITH 2 (J Maloney goal) at Carrington Park. Referee: Ashley Klein, Adam Cassidy. Crowd: 10,973

Originally published as Melbourne dominate Penrith in Bathurst, running out 32-2 winners