NRL Round 4 Friday wrap: Storm shut down Souths, Panthers smash Warriors
The hoodoo continues. South Sydney have now been to Melbourne 16 times. For 16 losses. Penrith though are going from strength to strenth, blanking the Warriors in a great result ahead of their clash with the Eels.
Panthers
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Latrell Mitchell had his best game for South Sydney. While Cam Murray, he returned to the middle.
But still, the AAMI Park hoodoo continues.
One of rugby league’s worst road records remains alive after the Rabbitohs were beaten 22-8 by a Storm side where No.6 Cam Munster played somewhere between strong and what you might label “spiders all over him.”
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And because of that, South Sydney have now been to Melbourne 16 times. For 16 losses.
Which isn’t to say they weren’t in this one.
They were. Big time.
With the final scoreline no indication of a match where, undeniably, Munster and Storm fullback Ryan Papenhuyzen starred, but the Bunnies were only a few crucial errors from winning it.
LATRELL WATCH
No, he didn’t exactly star. Or even win.
But hyped South Sydney recruit Mitchell did enough in this one to not only quieten those keyboard warriors for a couple of days – or at least hours – but also suggest better days are to come.
Take his touch of brilliance with 17 minutes gone.
When taking a pass from No.6 Troy Dargan, the Bunnies fullback used just one blink-and-you-miss-it motion to toss on a beautiful long ball that landed – thwack – onto the chest of winger Alex Johnston.
And, yes, AJ still had work to do.
Eventually, contorting his body around the corner post to score.
But undoubtedly, the play belonged to Mitchell.
Part of an 80 minutes that – even with one ugly drop while attacking the tryline – would still be considered his best game since switching from the defending premier Roosters.
Elsewhere, Mitchell saved a Storm try, almost put Dane Gagai over, constantly got his hands on the footy and looked every inch like a bloke growing into a role for which the jury remains out.
A case of stay tuned.
STORM TROOPERS
Hard to believe Ryan Papenhuyzen was once unwanted by everyone but immediate family.
Outstanding at the back, the Big P scored a try, ran for 177m, even leapt like Superman through the air to almost impossibly knock a Souths kick for touch back into the field of play.
And Munster?
Outstanding. Orchestrated three tries, in everything.
But his best moment?
That came with six minutes to the break, when the Storm playmaker took the ball on his own 30m line and dummied, took off, produced a left foot step, a fend on Damien Cook, a goose step then – having suddenly gone 40m upfield – stopped on a dime, turned and fired the ball wide for what would eventually be a try for winger Suli Vunivalu.
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MURRAY IN THE MIDDLE
Cameron Murray’s move back to the middle summed up their night. Some promise, sure. But not quite there.
After three weeks on the Bunnies edge, Murray was moved back into the guts by coach Wayne Bennett where, according to the Fox Sports Lab, he ran for just 62m but made 31 tackles.
Undoubtedly, better is to come.
Ditto the Bunnies, who will get starting No.6 Cody Walker back next week.
Crucially, Souths made a bundle of errors at key moments in this one, including fumbles by Mark Nicholls at the tryline, a failed kick for touch by Reynolds, even an intercept pass when attacking.
Midway through the second half, the Bunnies had racked up 15 errors. Which is too many, especially against Storm.
BLOND BOMBER
What is it with blokes and peroxided blond hair?
Sporting what has apparently become rugby league’s new black, Storm forward Tino Faasuamaleaui ran for 121m – or more than any forward on either side not named Dale Finucane (140m).
About his only error was when, controversially, the 20-year-old caused a Melbourne ‘No Try’ when he stopped in the line and was ruled to have obstructed the Souths defence as Jahrome Hughes went over near the posts.
Special mention also to Storm winger Josh Addo-Carr, who battled through this one with what appeared to be a serious rib injury before then scoring one try and throwing the last pass for another.
After grimacing his way through the first half, the indigenous flyer then whacked some padding around his guts and went back into the fray for the second – eventually scoring of a kick from, who else, but Munster.
MELBOURNE 22 (J Addo-Carr J Olam R Papenhuyzen S Vunivalu tries C Smith 3 goals) bt SOUTH SYDNEY 8 (A Johnston try A Reynolds 2 goals) at AAMI Park. Referee: Gerard Sutton.
BURTON BRUSHES OFF GOLDEN POINT WOES IN BIG PANTHERS WIN
by Matt Logue
It is the Michael Jordan quote that inspired Penrith young gun Matt Burton to overcome the most frustrating performance of his career with two tries in a big win over the New Zealand Warriors.
A week after Burton missed five field goal attempts in a draw with Newcastle, he responded in style with a starring role in a commanding 26-0 victory.
The Dubbo junior received a message from his former schoolteacher during the week, encouraging him to stay positive after a forgettable effort with the boot against the Knights.
The message included a quote from Chicago Bulls legend Jordan, saying: “I’ve missed more than 9000 shots in my career. I’ve lost almost 300 games. 26 times I’ve been trusted to take the game winning shot and missed.
“I’ve failed over and over again in my life, and that is why I succeed.”
The inspirational Jordan quote must have resonated with Burton because he picked himself off the canvas after the Knights draw to dominate the Warriors.
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He scored a classy solo try in the opening minutes before capitalising on a charge down to race 40 metres and bag his second try.
He also put on a try for replacement back-rower Billy Burns in the second half to round out an impressive individual game.
Penrith coach Ivan Cleary praised Burton for his ability to defy the field goal critics with a classy effort against the Warriors.
“I felt that the criticism of him last week was unwarranted,” Cleary said.
“Sure he missed a few field goals but I thought he was really courageous and he kept stepping up.
“He also walked in with his head up straight away during the week, trained well and went out there and put in a good performance.
“I’m really proud of him.”
Burton is expected to be replaced next week by Nathan Cleary, who returns from his two-game TikTok ban.
Coach Cleary was uncertain who will partner his son Nathan in the halves next week when asked post-game.
“We’ve got a few guys coming back next week and a few guys playing well, so that is good,” he said.
“We will have a look at it on Monday and work out what we do.”
As good as Burton has been for Penrith, Jarome Luai is favoured to retain his position in the halves.
Without Cleary, the baby Panthers put the error-riddled Warriors to the sword at Campbelltown.
The mountain men charged to a 16-0 lead at halftime before maintaining their momentum in the second half to remain undefeated this season.
Penrith’s premiership credentials will be put to the test next Friday night when they meet rivals Parramatta in a blockbuster at Bankwest Stadium.
The Panthers are also expected to be boosted by the return of fullback Dylan Edwards for their clash against the Eels.
Cleary’s return:
Nathan Cleary faces pressure to perform when he returns from his two-game suspension against local rivals Parramatta on Friday night.
Cleary’s leadership and reputation was questioned after he lied to the NRL Integrity Unit over his TikTok video drama on Anzac Day.
He must now respond by performing strongly on the field to regain the public’s respect.
Cleary is a class player, so there is no doubting that he possesses the skills and work-ethic to regain his mantle as one of the NRL’s most revered players.
If the Panthers want to go deep this season, they need their No.7 at his best every week.
Warriors woes:
A week after dominating the Dragons with a near-perfect performance, the Warriors produced a woeful display against Penrith.
The New Zealanders were poor in defence while they couldn’t control the football, coming up with 14 errors.
The Warriors are already injury-riddled having lost winger Ken Maumalo with a serious hamstring injury at training during the week.
Maumalo is expected to be sidelined for a lengthy period.
The Kiwis are also without backs Peta Hiku, David Fusitu’a, Adam Keighran and Taane Milne.
As brave as Stephen Kearney men have been playing away from home without their families, consistency remains a problem.
If the Warriors want to be considered a title contender, they must produce every week.
Leota the NRL’s quickest big man?
He weights in at 108 kilos, but Penrith interchange prop Moses Leota can run like the wind for a big man.
Leota made a barnstorming break in the second half before running 25 metres untouched.
The Auckland-born Samoa Nines representative has been a sensation off the bench for Penrith this season.
Leota has only scored five tries since joining Penrith in 2016, but I’m tipping that will change at some stage this season.
PENRITH 26 (M Burton 2 B Burns J Luai J Mansour tries S Crichton 3 goals) bt NZ WARRIORS 0 at Campbelltown Sports Stadium. Referee: Matt Cecchin.
Originally published as NRL Round 4 Friday wrap: Storm shut down Souths, Panthers smash Warriors