NRL 2020: Penrith Panthers beat Melbourne Storm 21-14
With a winger-like leap that broke the Melbourne machine, a 118kg hulk with a blond mullet soared through the sky to deliver the win that confirmed Penrith as NRL contenders
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It’s a bird, it’s a plane… No, it’s Viliame Kikau.
A blond mullet attached to a 118kg hulk soared through the sky to deliver the win that confirmed Penrith as NRL contenders.
With a winger-like leap that broke the Melbourne machine, Kikau looked more like Superman than a second-rower as he came from the clouds to snatch a Nathan Cleary bomb and score the match winner.
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In a top-eight dogfight that was locked at 14-14 until Kikau struck in the 63rd minute, Cleary kicked a field goal at the death to seal a 21-14 win at Campbelltown Stadium.
Very much as team performance built on defence, even Ivan Cleary was stunned by his second-row Superman.
“Villy is a pretty special type of specimen,” Cleary said.
“He is 118kg or whatever and we have all seen some of the stuff he can do. He is only young too so it is good times ahead.”
A bounce back after a narrow loss to table toppers the Eels, Penrith proved themselves a genuine top-eight team by delivering the Storm their second loss of the year.
“I thought we handled the second half better this week,” Cleary said.
“And just backing up from that game, it was a good sign for the team.”
THE BLONDE BOMBSHELL
A flying mop, a squidgy or a poodle strapped to his skull? We will let you decide which best describes Viliame Kikau’s haircut.
While Brad Fittler and Phil Gould couldn’t agree on a description of the bleach blond mullet, both were in agreement about the backrower’s talent.
While Cleary didn’t have an opinion on his backrower’s haircut, the coach had plenty of praise.
“I don’t have a nickname,’’ Cleary said.
“But I do think his intensity throughout a game has improved over the past three weeks. It is his consistency that has been good.”
BELLAMY NOT A BULLDOG
Craig Bellamy suggested next season could be his last as a full-time coach after emphatically ruling himself out as a contender to replace Dean Pay at the Bulldogs.
“I haven’t talked to anyone,” Bellamy said.
“I haven’t spoken to anyone at the Bulldogs. Dean Pay is a friend of mine and I don’t think it is fair on him. It is not true. I have a contract next year with the Storm and I don’t know what I am doing after that but I am 62 this year so next year will probably be it for head coaching.”
THE X-FACTOR
He might well go on to prove himself as the buy of the year.
Adding a new dimension to Penrith’s attack and an undeniable threat in the middle, Api Koroisau is both the spark and creativity that could turn Penrith into contenders.
Leaving Cleary to attack the edge, the player poached from Manly gave Melbourne nightmares in the first forty.
Beginning the game with a break, the No.9 laid on the first try of the night when he held up two defenders to create the two on three that lead to Stephen Crichton’s try.
The set-restart rule change has turned what was already a good buy into a great buy. Maybe the best.
SILENCE OF THE CAM’S
The captain’s challenge has become a godsend for referees when it comes to dealing with Cameron Smith.
Renown for getting in the ear of the officials, Cameron has been left struggling for a comeback when asked whether he wants to turn his complaints into a challenge.
Smith was adamant he did nothing wrong when he was ruled to have obstructed a kick chase late in the first half.
“Do you want to challenge it?” referee Ashley Klein asked.
Smith wasn’t so convinced he had done nothing wrong when put on the spot with the Melbourne captain unwilling to risk his challenge.
The officially uncontested penalty put the Storm behind at the with Cleary kicking the Panthers to an 8-6 lead at the break.
Smith saved the challenge for nothing with his only official protest failing in the 53rd minute when he was unable to prove Vunivalu was illegally taken over the sideline.
“That may be his first challenge,” said Melbourne coach Craig Bellamy.
“He made need to work on the next one.”
ANOTHER INFLICTOR
Liam Martin is the Panthers very own Victor Radley. A bit bigger than the Rooster and a little less inclined to use the ball, the backrower is challenging the premiership winning lock when it comes to tackling technique.
All old-school and tough-as-teak, the 23-year-old is giving rivals a reason not to run at Penrith’s right edge.
The backrower stopped Melbourne missiles Justin Olam and Kenneath Bromwich in their tracks.
Martin is proving the perfect protector for Cleary with the Temora boy teaming up with Dean Whare to give rivals a reason or two not to run at the half.