Melbourne hand Brisbane another Suncorp Stadium belting in 42-12 rout

CAMERON Munster produced a top-shelf performance for Melbourne as they cruised to a 42-12 win over Brisbane.

BRISBANE, AUSTRALIA — JUNE 30: Curtis Scott of the Storm is congratulated by team mates after scoring a try during the round 17 NRL match between the Brisbane Broncos and the Melbourne Storm at Suncorp Stadium on June 30, 2017 in Brisbane, Australia. (Photo by Bradley Kanaris/Getty Images)

CAMERON Munster secured his first Queensland Origin jersey but left Maroons selectors with a giant headache after Melbourne continued their eight-year dominance over Brisbane with a thumping 42-12 victory.

Munster was sensational in front of 41,471 at Suncorp Stadium last night, orchestrating three tries for the Storm to cement their spot at the top of the NRL ladder with their seventh straight win against the Broncos in Brisbane.

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The 30-point win was Melbourne’s 12th from their past 14 clashes against the Broncos and revived memories of last year’s 48-6 shellacking. The last time Brisbane beat the Storm at Suncorp Stadium was in 2009.

“They were too good for us. They outplayed us,” Broncos coach Wayne Bennett said.

“Their first four tries came off silly errors from us. It’s as simple as catching a ball.

“I don’t feel like there’s a hoodoo on the club. We’ve just got to play better.

“We’ve got to man up a little bit more to the responsibilities that go along with that.”

With their Maroons stars back at the helm, Melbourne toyed with a Brisbane side missing representative trio Darius Boyd, Anthony Milford and Corey Oates to run in eight tries.

While Brisbane could tumble out of the top four this week, Melbourne will provide six players in the Queensland team for Wednesday week’s State of Origin decider.

Munster, 22, is a certainty to be in Kevin Walters’ team, but his performance last night has raised more questions for Maroons hierarchy.

The Maroons are on the hunt for a new five-eighth and centre following injuries to veterans Johnathan Thurston (shoulder) and Boyd (broken thumb).

Munster had one of his best games at five-eighth.

The versatile Munster has been revelation in multiple positions during his 57-game NRL career but has formed a slick playmaking combination this season at five-eighth with Maroons trio Cameron Smith, Cooper Cronk and Billy Slater.

Walters, who was watching on in the Fox Sports commentary box, is leaning towards blooding Munster at left centre in place of Boyd and giving Thurston’s Cowboys teammate Michael Morgan his first start in the No. 6 jersey.

Suliasi Vunivalu scored another double, with the second coming from one of the takes of the season.

However there is merit in transplanting Melbourne’s slick spine into Maroons jerseys, leaving Morgan on the bench and finding a new centre or winger.

Storm coach Craig Bellamy said Munster should be selected at five-eighth rather than centre.

“I honestly believe for next week (his best position is) six,” he said.

“I don’t want to tell Queensland what they should be doing but he’s done a great job in that position.

“I’ve got no doubt he will handle it.

“There is a bit of conjecture in what position he’s playing. At the end of the day he’ll do a good job.

“He is a tough, resilient kid. He’s a real footy player.

“He ain’t going to let you down wherever you put him.”

A sour night was on the cards for Brisbane when they lost lock Josh McGuire (concussion) inside seven minutes and Storm winger Suliasi Vunivalu scored a sensational double in the first half as Melbourne bounced out to a 20-6 lead.

Brisbane’s only first half joy came courtesy of Ben Hunt, who steamrolled Billy Slater to keep Brisbane in the contest and show Walters he is a bench utility option for the Maroons.

Cameron Smith looked untroubled by his sternum.

The Broncos got back in the contest when David Mead scored after Storm forward Tohu Harris was sin-binned for a professional foul, briefly bringing the margin back to eight points.

But Brisbane’s leaky defence sprung open again, flyers Josh Addo-Carr and Curtis Scott racking up doubles before Slater and Smith got in on the action.

The Storm produced three tries in a four-minute blitz to blow Brisbane away and continue their love-affair with The Cauldron.

Cronk was left bruised following a solid tackle by Broncos prop Adam Blair but Queensland’s biggest concern is deciding which jersey Munster should wear with the series on the line.

MELBOURNE 42 (J Addo-Carr 2 C Scott 2 S Vunivalu 2 B Slater C Smith tries C Smith 5 goals) bt BRISBANE 12 (B Hunt D Mead tries J Kahu 2 goals) at Suncorp Stadium. Referee: Ashley Klein, Adam Gee. Crowd: 41,741

Originally published as Melbourne hand Brisbane another Suncorp Stadium belting in 42-12 rout