NRL world lose minds after ‘freakish’ Xavier Coates try assist

Melbourne Storm winger Xavier Coates is making a habit of absurd highlight reel moments, adding to it on Friday night.

How did Xavier Coates do that? Photo: Fox Sports

Melbourne Storm winger Xavier Coates has sent the NRL world into hysterics once again, this time setting up a try commentators have called “one of the greatest tries we’ve seen in our game’s history”.

The Storm pulled off a 16-14 win in a thrilling contest at AAMI Park in Melbourne, bouncing back after falling behind on the back of a 14-minute hat-trick from Canterbury’s Josh Addo-Carr.

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But the NRL world was once again stunned as Coates set up the unlikeliest of tries midway through the first half.

Leading 6-0 after an early try to Ryan Papenhuyzen, the Storm were being held at bay by a scrambling Bulldogs side.

In the 23rd minute, the Storm were attacking the line, kicking for Coates, who was the only one to go up for the ball.

It looked like Coates would be bundled into touch as he wrestled with Jacob Kiraz with four other Bulldogs standing around ready for the offload.

But in a stunning show of strength, Coates stood his ground and instead of passing and with Kiraz pushing him, he kicked behind the play, allowing Reimis Smith to simply dive on the ball to score the Storm’s second.

The Bulldogs did play a part as Kiraz’s teammates just watched rather than getting involved but it was another incredible moment, just a fortnight after Coates’ insanely acrobatic try to win the game against the Warriors.

Last week against the Broncos, Coates went viral again when he took a mark well above the pack that Ginnane said had seen AFL people talking about Coates’ marking technique.

And against the Bulldogs, he did it again.

And then he kicked it!!! Photo by Robert Cianflone/Getty Images

How did he do that? Photo: Fox Sports

“No way, no way,” Dan Ginnane yelled on Fox League commentary.

“Is there nothing Xavier Coates cannot do. He was out in Richmond and he somehow got his boot to it.”

Steve Roach said: “It’s only round 6 and he’s already done two freakish things I haven’t seen before.”

At halftime, James Graham called it: “one of the greatest tries we’ve seen in our game’s history.”

Social media erupted over the kick.

iPaper reporter John Davidson tweeted: “It’s Xavier Coates world. We all just live in it.”

The Age’s Roy Ward commented: “Is Xavier Coates capable of being involved in a normal try lol? Superman a few weeks back, an AFL speccy last week and now his falling kick to Reimis Smith for the try. Sensational.”

One fan said: “Is there anything Xavier Coates cannot do?!? Oh my godddd.”

Another called Coates “a magician”.

Another added: “Xavier Coates every week. #freak”.

Another suggested: “How long were they going to let Coates jump around before being “tackled” there?”

Another posted: “Xavier Coates is unbelievable. It feels like he’s doing something ridiculous every game.”

Coates was outstanding, particularly in the first half. Photo by Robert Cianflone/Getty Images

Coates had a huge game, shutting down a promising Bulldogs play with a jamming effort on Connor Tracey as well.

While the Storm went to halftime up 10-0, the second half saw an epic comeback as Josh Addo-Carr scored three tries in 14 minutes to see the Bulldogs romp into the league.

But just as hope looked to be fading, the Storm hit back through Shawn Blore, who scored just his second NRL try to pull off the victory.

Originally published as NRL world lose minds after ‘freakish’ Xavier Coates try assist