Ryan Papenhuyzen stars as Storm rebound to down Titans 24-8
Cameron Munster allowed frustration to get the better of him early in Storm’s clash with Gold Coast but Craig Bellamy was pleased with his response. Read what Melbourne’s coach had to say about the match.
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The minor premiership must wait another week, or two after Melbourne Storm defied the gutsy Gold Coast Titans 24-8 at AAMI Park.
What we do know, however, is whoever wins the 2019 NRL premiership will, more than likely, need to go through Melbourne to hold aloft the silverware.
Storm is now guaranteed to host a qualifying final in the first week of the post-season after Sunday’s come-from-behind win in front of a crowd of 11,758 fans.
Josh Addo-Carr came within a whisker of adding another four points lest for Titan Phillip Sami’s extraordinary 90-metre chase to bring the Foxx down with only centimetres to spare.
With regular halfback Brodie Croft (rested) a late withdrawal and Storm, said to be trialling different combinations, speedster Ryan Papenhuyzen moved into fullback with Jahrome Hughes partnering Cameron Munster in the halves.
Papenhuyzen scorched the turf for a game-high 239 metres, including 61 post contact, while Hughes amassed 90 metres to go with a sharp kicking game that afforded Storm valuable territory.
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SLOPPY STORM
It will bring Storm undone, eventually.
Maybe not this game or next week, but when the season is officially on the line in September the Storm will want to hang on to the football or else best start planning its Mad Monday or Wacky Wednesday now.
For all its dominance this season the Storm has had a knack of giving up the rock far too easily and, in doing so, leak points.
The only thing uglier than Melbourne’s first half at AAMI Park was the club’s 18-0 capitulation last week against Canberra.
Wayward passes, dropped balls, forward passes, iffy penalties and official warnings made the minor premiership-bound NRL heavyweight look like a wooden spoon candidate.
Storm completed their sets at a 58 per cent (11/19 sets) off nine errors and eight penalties.
Storm went 80 minutes, including the last 50 minutes last week against Canberra without scoring, before Mr Fix-it Kenny Bromwich at full stretch almost burst the football trying to ground the Steeden.
Cameron Munster, who committed three penalties, including two for dissent towards the referees, and three errors, held nothing back in a half-time interview to Fox Sports.
“I don’t want to swear on national television but it’s absolute shit from myself.”
THE RESPONSE
You just knew.
Even after Craig Bellamy surprised onlookers with a subdued and measured half-time address, contrary to thoughts going into the sheds initially, Storm unleashed a 16-minute burst of clean and clinical football to put paid to the Titans.
Ryan Papenhuyzen, Storm’s best and most consistent on the day, scored three minutes into the second half and then Dale Finucane followed suit 13 minutes later.
Tries aside, ball control reigned supreme as Melbourne completed at 83 per cent (10/12) to turn the scoreboard on its head.
ON REPORT
Luckless Melbourne Storm premiership centre Curtis Scott will learn his fate on Monday when the NRL match review committee delivers its finding on a crusher tackle in the 14th minute of Sunday’s win.
Scott, who had not worn the purple colours at NRL level since breaking his foot in Round 9, was placed on report in the 14th minute for the dangerous tackle on Titans winger Phillip Sami.
A suspension would open the door for Marion Seve and Solomone Kata to break into the run-on squad with Storm star Will Chambers (ankle) already sidelined.
Storm and NSW Origin superstar Josh Addo-Carr could also come under scrutiny for tunnelling Jesse Arthars.
Addo-Carr tried to pull up once he realised Arthars was in the best position but a slight escort, potentially the Storm sensation’s defence should the matter go to the NRL Judiciary, forced the electric winger into the collision.
Titans hooker Mitch Rein was also placed on report in the second half after up-ending Brandon Smith in a dangerous tackle.
BELLAMY BACKS ‘FRUSTRATED’ MUNSTER
Craig Bellamy was pleased with how Cameron Munster responded after the superstar playmaker allowed frustration to get the better of him early in the match.
Munster committed three errors and three penalties in the first half alone, to go with an official caution from referees about dissent.
The premiership five-eighth, however, brushed it off to play an important role in Melbourne’s come-from-behind win.
Bellamy counselled Munster during the interval about the body language issue.
“It just looked like he was a bit frustrated with things and probably looking to blame other people than who he should have been looking at (himself),” Bellamy said.
“All you got to do is make sure he’s doing his job.
“It only came through frustration but I thought the second half he really reset and did a tremendous job for us.”
Bellamy hoodwinked Storm with a measured half-time address, focusing on the importance of cleaner ball control and another strong defensive effort, and not penalties and errors.
The gallant Titans tossed everything at Storm but ultimately ran out of steam.
“I always felt that was going to be, a lot of people think playing the team on top with the team on the bottom it’s going to be this and it’s going to be that, I thought they played really well,” Bellamy said.
“We were disappointed again in our ball control in the first half and we seemed to get a few decisions that went against us as well, but they put a whole heap of pressure on us.
“I thought our defence was really good, I thought Josh (Addo-Carr) could probably have shown a bit more urgency on that try they scored but I thought our defence the whole game was really good.”
Storm ironed out the completions issue in the second half to run out comfortable winners.
Bellamy defended Curtis Scott, who is on report for a dangerous tackle, and Josh Addo-Carr, who is likely to come under scrutiny for tunnelling.
“(Titan Phillip Sami) backed into the tackle,” Bellamy said.
“Sometimes they’re just accidents, I didn’t have a whole heap of looks at it but again I think he backed into the tackle and Curtis ended up over the top.
“(As for Addo-Carr) I thought he might have got a little shove into it actually, someone else will have a look at that and make decisions and we’ll have a look at that from there.”
Storm will need to be at its best next week against Manly Sea Eagles at hostile Brookvale Oval.
MELBOURNE 24 (J Addo-Carr K Bromwich D Finucane R Papenhuyzen tries C Smith 4 goals) bt GOLD COAST 8 (J Arthars try M Gordon 2 goals) at AAMI Park. Referee: Chris Butler, David Munro. Crowd: 11,758
Originally published as Ryan Papenhuyzen stars as Storm rebound to down Titans 24-8
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