Jahrome Hughes, James Fisher-Harris injured in brutal Storm-Warriors clash

Melbourne’s demolition of the Warriors could come at a cost to both clubs, with Jahrome Hughes and James Fisher-Harris suffering injuries.

Melbourne Storm has extended its winning streak over the Warriors to 17 after a 28-point victory in front of packed crowd of 26,427 at AAMI Park.

The game was all but over at halftime on Sunday after the Storm powered six tries in a clinical opening 30 minutes to gain a 36-0 lead before the contest petered out in the second half for a 42-14 result.

Star half back Jahrome Hughes didn’t return to play after 40 minutes as a precautionary after a right shoulder knock he suffered in a tackle in the 12th minute.

Storm coach Craig Bellamy is hopeful there is nothing “too serious” to Jahrome Hughes’ right shoulder after the star halfback was taken off at halftime

Hughes was in visible pain immediately after the knock in the 12th minute but got to his feet after some brief medical attention and played out the rest of the half.

“He was a bit sore at halftime,” Bellamy said post-game.

“He was keen to play on but the way the game was, the best option was to take him off.

“He was ready to go again if we needed him but, like I say, we just thought it was the best decision (to be) precautionary and take him off.

“We got a five-day turnaround next week, give him the best chance to be ready for Friday night (against the Dolphins).”

Bellamy said Hughes will likely go for scans following the win, which improves the Storm’s record to 4-1 this season.

Jahrome Hughes didn’t return for the second half injuring his shoulder. Picture: Robert Cianflone/Getty Images

“He will probably go for scans,” he said.

“He was in a bit of pain but it seemed to get better as time went on so hopefully there is nothing too serious there.”

The Warriors had 14 errors and didn’t register their first try until the 54th minute through 19-year-old Leka Halasima as the Storm took control for the majority to register their second win on the trot after a shock round 4 loss to the St George Illawarra.

The win in front of a sold-out crowd lifts Craig Bellamy side’s record to 4-1 while the Warriors’ three-game win streak comes to an end.

It was the Storm’s second highest crowd for a regular game at AAMI Park.

COATES FIRES

Xavier Coates continued his stunning form against the Warriors with the Storm winger scoring his side’s first and last try.

The 24-year-old now has 12 tries in his past seven games against the Warriors which included last season’s thrilling winner in round 2.

Xavier Coates continues to feast on the Warriors. Picture: Robert Cianflone/Getty Images

STORM DOMINATE

Storm produced a thrilling first half with a stunning six tries in the opening 30 minutes to take a 36-nil lead at the break.

Ryan Papenhuyzen was at his kicking best, proving faultless with six conversions from six attempts following seven straight last week.

Coates had two try assists to go with his four-pointer in the 2nd minute as front rower Josh King fired with a try assist and the second Storm try in the 14th minute.

Back-to-back long passes from Harry Grant and Papenhuyzen ended with Grant Anderson scoring in the 30th minute to cap off a stunning first-half performance for the home side.

The Storm won linebreaks (7-0) and had 60 per cent of possession in their most promising half of the season.

Papenhuyzen converted his final conversion attempt in the second half to make it 14 faultless conversions in a row from his last two games.

SKIPPER INJURED

Co-captain James Fisher-Harris came off after 11 minutes and was ruled out with a pec injury.

The prop was seen in the changerooms just before half time with ice on his left pec.

In addition, Charnze Nicoll-Klokstad came off for a head injury assessment after a heavy landing in a tackle four minutes into the second half and didn’t return to play.

James Fisher-Harris icing his injured pec.

WARRIORS LIFT

Perhaps helped by coming off the bye, the Warriors finished the game strong with three second-half tries while keeping the Storm to one.

After Halasima’s try just out of the break, Rocco Berry and Luke Metcalf both put down four-pointers in the final 10 minutes to give the visitors something to take home in Erin Clark’s 100th NRL appearance.

Originally published as Jahrome Hughes, James Fisher-Harris injured in brutal Storm-Warriors clash