Storm thrash Eels 32-0 to claim NRL preliminary final berth
If there were any doubts, this night erased them. Melbourne put that controversial defeat to Canberra behind them with a show of force that left Parramatta breathless, scoreless and out of the NRL finals.
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Melbourne Storm qualified for their 11th preliminary final in the Craig Bellamy era with a breathtaking 32-0 win over Parramatta Eels at AAMI Park.
Storm prop Nelson Asofa-Solomona powered the minor premiers to victory, running over the top of Eels would-be tacklers from start to finish.
The clean sheet puts Storm on a collision course with reigning premiers Sydney Roosters and Cooper Cronk next Saturday — AFL Grand Final night — at the SCG.
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The Eels were made to look second-rate, frantic and fumbly, as Storm had eight players top 100 running metres.
Asofa-Solomona led the way there too, with 164m while Josh Addo-Carr chimed in with 156m of his own.
It could have been a lot worse, too, had Cameron Smith’s trusty left shoe been on song last night.
The skipper operated at 1-5 off the tee, while Cameron Munster also missed a regulation conversion.
CIRQUE DU STORM
HATH no fury like Storm scorned and it was the Eels that felt the full brunt of the Melbourne machine.
From Cameron Munster running to the advantage of a deflection of an opponent’s knee to Josh Addo-Carr surging past six would-be tacklers, Storm painted Melbourne a shade of purple in breathtaking fashion.
Addo-Carr’s 70m solo effort was something to behold, stepping past Eels like they were bolted to the ground.
The electric winger’s second try just as impressive, making up a stack of ground to slam dunk the Steeden in goal just centimetres from touch.
Suliasi Vunivalu brought Eels sensation and Fijian countryman Maika Sivo, who was placed on report for a shoulder charge on Storm fullback Ryan Papenhuyzen, back to earth in almighty fashion.
SWIPE LANDS SMITH IN BIN
STORM captain Cameron Smith is likely to escape with a $1500 fine for a low grade contrary conduct charge after lashing out at Eels hooker Reed Mahoney.
Mahoney had hold of Smith’s jumper behind play when the 36 year-old retaliated with two open-handed slaps across the Eel’s arm.
Was it worth 10 in the bin? Probably not. Even NRL legend Phil Gould, a card-carrying Storm loather, went into bat for Smith on Channel 9. “An absolute nothing, it’s a disgrace.”
Anyhow, with Smith off the ground the Eels, trailing 22-0, threatened the Storm line but failed to penetrate the wall.
It is only the second time in 410 NRL games Smith has been sent to the bin.
He spent 10 in the sheds in Round 4 last year at Cronulla for giving referee Matt Cecchin a bake.
PURPLE WALL
STORM coach Craig Bellamy could care less, a lot of the time, how many tries Melbourne scores. What matters most to the master coach is how many tries the purple ball denies.
It breaks the opposition’s heart, having to do everything right and then some to match down field only to be held out by a relentless and hardened Storm unit.
Justin Olam squared up and levelled two Eels in brutal one-on-one takedowns, while Jahrome Hughes was rewarded for his three repeat tackling efforts deep in the first half, with Cameron Smith in the sin bin, with an Eels turnover.
Originally published as Storm thrash Eels 32-0 to claim NRL preliminary final berth