Boom halfback Brodie Croft shines in Storm’s 38-4 win against Rhinos

MELBOURNE disposed of Leeds on Friday night but superstar fullback Billy Slater is under an injury cloud after he failed to finish the match.

Brodie Croft scores a try.

THERE is life after Cooper Cronk at Melbourne Storm.

We knew that, notionally when Cronk announced he would be leaving Storm last year, but just the same, a sign of life was needed.

We got it last night as the NRL premiers thumped Super League champions Leeds Rhinos 38-4 in the World Club Challenge decider at AAMI Park in front of a crowd of 19,062.

It’s a scary proposition for NRL rivals but the reigning premier looks just as potent without the legendary halfback.

As expected, Brodie Croft, 20, filled the famous No. 7 jersey last night and he did it with aplomb.

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Brodie Croft scores a try against Leeds Rhinos.

All eyes were on heir apparent and the 20-year-old Queenslander delivered on the big stages, scoring a try in the first half, with slick passes, daring runs and try assists.

The only hiccup for Storm came in the first half when Billy Slater landed awkwardly and jarred his surgically repaired left shoulder.

He played out the half but sat out the rest of the game purely as a precaution, with Storm not willing to risk the dazzling playmaker just 20 days out of the NRL season.

Billy Slater goes down on his left arm.

Storm coach Craig Bellamy said Slater showed no discomfort in the rooms after the match.

“He’s OK, I think,” Bellamy said.

“It’s a little bit of jarring on his shoulder more than anything else.

“I’m not quite sure whether the docs will scan it or whatever.

The Rhinos threw everything at the NRL heavyweights last night without getting bang for buck, with only England international Ryan Hall scoring in front of a small pocket of Leeds fans.

But Melbourne weathered the storm then landed the flurry of knockout punches.

Sounds familiar, right?

It should, the world club championship basically followed the 2017 script word-for-word.

Jesse Bromwich barged through the Rhinos defensive line to level the match and Storm never looked back.

Suliasi Vunivalu is congratulated by Cameron Smith after scoring a try against Leeds Rhinos.

There were thrills and spills, elements of rust, but all tolled Storm was clinical in its six-try demolition job.

Curtis Scott dropped a sitter, Tim Glasby and Dale Finucane, who worked tirelessly again, coughed up clumsy penalties, and Cameron Smith fluffed an early pass then sensationally struck the upright trying to convert the Bromwich four-pointer.

Smith is human after all, but not bad considering he only started preseason training 15 days ago.

Leading 18-4 at the break, Storm put the foot down in the second half with four more individual tryscorers.

Nelson Asofa-Solomona provided a spark off the bench while Josh Addo-Carr and Suliasi Vunivalu owned the flanks.

Cameron Munster stepped in for Slater at fullback in the second half and looked dangerous every time he went near the ball.

Superstar fullback Billy Slater left the field in the first half with a shoulder injury and didn’t return.

He suffered the injury to the same shoulder which