NRL 2022 round 12: Melbourne Storm defeat Manly Sea Eagles, Cameron Munster stars
With no Tom Trbojevic, and facing a resurgent Cameron Munster, Manly were always going to struggle on Thursday night – but the Sea Eagles’ biggest enemy was themselves.
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It was a struggle for the Manly Sea Eagles in the first steps of its transition to life without superstar Tom Trbojevic for the remainder of the NRL season.
The absence of Trbojevic, who sustained a season-ending shoulder injury in the nail-biting loss to Parramatta Eels last week, left a massive void in the Sea Eagles attack in their 28-8 defeat to second-placed Melbourne Storm at AAMI Park on Thursday night.
Sea Eagles coach Des Hasler could have done with a weapon like ‘Tommy Turbo’.
The veteran coach watched on with frustration as his side butchered countless opportunities within striking distance of the tryline.
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Hasler never mentioned who was missing from the game, only what was missing from the Sea Eagles disjointed attack.
He believes the cohesion isn’t broken, but it definitely needs some finetuning if his side is to end the three-game losing streak that has them in a freefall in the standings.
“We just don’t give ourselves a chance,” Hasler said.
“We just don’t set it up, we don’t execute well enough.
“I think we were disappointing in a number of areas that you’ve only got to adjust or fix minor and you’re right in the game.”
Hasler will preach to his team the virtues of patience and importance of attention to detail ahead of their crucial game against the New Zealand Warriors at Brookvale Oval next Saturday night.
He said that he “can’t excuse” some of the errors made by his team in attack.
“It’s about building that pressure and building that field position and we just didn’t give ourselves a chance,” Hasler said.
“You can’t keep tossing up errors.
“We have to find a better application.
“It’s around the individual really buying into that and we need to do some work around that.”
Sea Eagles captain Daly Cherry-Evans was “disappointed” with his team’s performance.
He was hurt that his team could not get up for five-eighth Kieran Foran, who was celebrating his 250th NRL game.
“We had plenty to play for,” Cherry-Evans said.
“I think a lot of that [disappointment] was based on knowing we had a few special occasions and some people back in the side.
“They were too good tonight and we were really disappointing.”
The night was further soured for Manly when Dylan Walker limped off with a knee injury.
Walker had provided a spark off the bench for the Sea Eagles, but it lasted just 37 minutes as his heavily strapped knee needed attention.
“Dylan is a bit of a concern for us at the moment,” Hasler said, fearing what could come from the scans.
Hasler was pleased to see winger Jorge Taufua feature in his first NRL game since round 17, 2020.
He said that Taufua, one of two Sea Eagles try scorers on the night, along with Christian Tuipulotu, “competed well” on his return.
MAGIC MUNSTER STOPS STORM ROT, WARMS MAROONS’ HEARTS
The crafty Cameron Munster regained his magic in a big way to help Melbourne Storm put a horror Queensland trip behind them with some tasty home cooking.
Munster was hugely influential in a 28-8 thrashing of Manly Sea Eagles at a chilly AAMI Park on Thursday night, helping snap the second-placed Storm’s worrying two-game losing skid.
The 27-year-old five-eighth put the exclamation point on the game, executing a one-on-one strip on comeback Sea Eagles winger Jorge Taufua in the second half before crossing the line for a try that put the game out of reach of a visiting Sea Eagles lacking offensive punch.
It was just one of many highlights for Munster, who’s dancing feet had the Sea Eagles at sixes and sevens and his kicking game terrifying opponents under the bomb.
The Storm, relishing the direction provided by return-from-injury Jahrome Hughes, came out of the blocks breathing fire in the first half.
After a disallowed try to Felise Kaufusi, who stepped into touch before planting the ball down, it was not too long before the Storm opened their account when hooker Brandon Smith took the ball from the base of the scrum and found Munster, who wrong-footed Sea Eagles defender Tolutau Koula and moved into a gaping hole for the game’s first try.
A six-point lead turned into 12 before too long for the Storm.
Shortly after halfback Jahrome Hughes produced a try-saving tackle on the defensive end, he would provide a try assist for forward Chris Lewis.
Hughes cut the ball on the inside to Lewis, who went through uncontested.
It was Manly who finished the first half the stronger.
Dylan Walker came off the interchange bench and provided a spark, adding to the already dangerous play of captain Daly Cherry-Evans and fullback Reuben Garrick.
JORGE RETURNS
After a number of blown attacking opportunities, the Sea Eagles finally broke through the Storm defence with Walker combining with Garrick to find Jorge Taufua on the left for a try in the corner.
Taufua was mobbed by jubilant teammates, who appreciated the hard work the veteran had done in the gym to get back to first grade.
It was the 30-year-old’s first game in the big league since round 17, 2020, after two years out with a devastating Achilles injury.
While Taufua would have been thrilled to be back, he was put under a constant aerial bombardment by the Storm kickers, and appeared shaky with the ball at times, but will be better for the run.
MUNNY MAN
The Storm scored a crucial try to start the second half when Munster put up a well-weighted kick to winger Xavier Coates, who rose high to score his 11th of the season.
Munster turned from provider to scorer when he thieved the ball off Taufua and made his way under the posts.
Kenny Bromwich found the try line and the Storm had a 24-point lead.
Despite it being one-way traffic for most of the second half, Manly found a consolation try through Christian Tuipulotu.
HUGHES IMPACT
The Storm looked a more settled line up with Hughes marshalling the troops.
Returning from a troublesome calf, the 27-year-old guided the Storm across the park, and took some of the attention away from fellow stars Munster and Brandon Smith, who both had a major impact.
Hughes came off with six minutes to go to the applause of an appreciative Storm faithful.
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