Minor premiership up for grabs as Panthers stun Storm in 22-16 upset win in Melbourne
WHO comes back for the Storm? That’s what Craig Bellamy will be asking on Saturday after Melbourne Storm left the minor premiership door ajar on Friday night, going down 22-16 to Penrith.
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WHO comes back for the Storm?
That’s what premiership mastermind Craig Bellamy will be asking on Saturday after Melbourne Storm left the minor premiership door ajar on Friday night, going down 22-16 to Penrith at AAMI Park.
Cameron Munster and Brodie Croft should return, after being late withdrawals with knee soreness.
Premiership winger Suliasi Vunivalu (hamstring) and Nelson Asofa-Solomona (ankle) must prove their fitness, while Brandon Smith (ankle) will also need to convince club medical staff to give him the green light.
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Will Chambers on the other hand must watch the first final from the grandstand, serving the third and final week of a costly suspension.
Friday night’s loss puts Storm at risk of dropping to second on the ladder.
Rubbing salt in the wounds, Cooper Cronk’s Sydney Roosters need only run up the scoreboard - a 27 point win - on wooden spoon-bound Parramatta Eels to leapfrog the Storm and claim the JJ Giltinan Shield.
In doing so, the Roosters will most likely face Cronulla Sharks next week, while the Storm will host South Sydney at AAMI Park with a preliminary final berth on the line.
The Panthers prevailed on Friday night scoring four unanswered tries in the second half to establish the match-winning break over the depleted Storm, who to their credit, refused to give in despite missing a band of premiership brothers.
The Storm dominated territory and possession in the first half but without resident finishers Munster, Vunivalu, Chambers and co, the reigning premier was unable to capitalise on the scoreboard.
The 10-6 lead was never going to be enough.
And it wasn’t, despite the Panthers being reduced to 12 men twice in the first 40 minutes.
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Stand-in Storm winger Justin Olam had chances but was unable to keep his little toe and pinky finger in play, twice being denied by the video referee.
Storm debutant Scott Drinkwater, stepping in for Billy Slater, ruled out on Friday for personal reasons, could not have been more impressive.
He made his own luck and in the end was rewarded with a try in his first game, a gut busting run that pierced the Panthers defensive line.
Drinkwater busted five tackles in the process and had an earlier try denied after the video referee decided Jahrome Hughes impeded a would-be Panthers tackler.
Storm veteran Ryan Hoffman completed his miracle comeback, coming on late in the second half just 19 days after ripping the lesser of three muscles that make up the hamstring.
Hoffman did his job in his AAMI Park regular season swansong but in the end sheer weight of numbers got the Panthers over the line.
Storm forward Tim Glasby will be assessed this week after a knock to the head ended his night prematurely.
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Originally published as Minor premiership up for grabs as Panthers stun Storm in 22-16 upset win in Melbourne