Three wins on the bounce at the time of the year, with only two tries conceded in the last two matches. That’s some good Pride.
Melbourne – 28 (Coates 63', 74', Hughes 25', Pezet 38', Asofa-Solomona 59' tries; Meaney 2/4, Pezet 0/1 goals)
Manly – 6 (Olakau’atu 14' try; Garrick 1/1 goal)
Highlights this week are a bit of a slow burn, with Melbourne working their way into the match after something of a slow start.
With Cameron Munster dropping out of the squad following Origin II,1 Melbourne opted to keep Jonah Pezet in the team for his sixth appearance for the season; while Manly also had their own issues after Tom Trbojevic’s season-ending injury early in Origin II.
With the turf at AAMI Park very lush and thick, it was a night for fast feet and the kicking games of both teams to shine through.2
A slow start
For a Storm team on a short winning run up against a Manly team that alternates between mediocre and below average, it was an oddly muted start from the home team. Melbourne seemed to lack energy, and were on the back foot in possession and field position as Daly Cherry-Evans targeted his Queensland teammate Xavier Coates with his kicks. Some good work from Will Warbrick and Reimis Smith foiled Manly’s first chance of a repeat set, with Pezet’s drop out perfectly placed near the sideline.
After Melbourne’s attacking moves to the right last week exposed the Wests Tigers defence, it would be the left edge that looked dangerous for the Storm this week. Coates was just bumped into touch by Reuben Garrick as he looked to score. It would be Melbourne’s only real opportunity in the first 20 minutes though, with Melbourne wasting possession through dropped balls and silly errors.
One of those errors was referee Todd Smith pulling up Trent Loeiro for an incorrect play-the-ball to handover possession 40m out from the Storm’s line. On the ensuing set, DCE worked Melbourne over, eventually grubbering for Haumole Olakau’atu for the opening try. DCE’s kick was perfectly placed with Pezet and Nick Meaney unable to stop the try from being scored.
Down on the scoreboard, Melbourne kept providing chances for the visitors to extend their lead, but despite looking dangerous down their left edge, Manly were unable to capitalise. Melbourne were defending well, despite looking disjointed in attack.
Right side brilliance
With the forward rotations kicking in and the energy increasing as a result, Melbourne were the next team to score, with Hughes turning back to the potent right flank attack that worked so well against Wests last week. With fast hands, Warbrick found himself in a little bit of space heading towards the corner post, with the winger able to get the miracle flick back into play before being tackled into touch, with Hughes pouncing on the loose ball to score. It was a brilliant bit of poise and maturity from Warbrick to get the ball back, with Hughes doing the right thing in backing up his winger. Melbourne took advantage of their first real shot at the Manly line,
That right side brilliance was backed up a few minutes later in defence when desperation from Meaney and Warbrick saved a 40-20 kick from DCE, with that flank looking solid in repelling the Manly attacks down that edge.
Looking to roll
Taking some confidence from their defence, Melbourne looked the stronger team as the first half progressed, but handling errors keep popping up, especially from Pezet’s passing out to the left edge, with the trio of Pezet, Olam and Coates not quite on the same wavelength. The would work it out though when a Coates line break down the right channel coming out from Melbourne’s own half directly led to Melbourne taking the lead for the first time. After almost scoring through Smith and then Warbrick’s barge, Hughes would put through a deft grubber that Pezet would latch on to get it down to score. With the lead just before the break, Melbourne almost had a perfect end to the half with the left edge running free, only to be denied a try by Garrick’s defence of a bouncing Olam kick.
Grinding it out
For the first phases of the second half there wasn’t much to report. Aaron Pene was put on report,3 and then limped off injured. Melbourne’s defence was up to anything that Manly could muster, with their attack looking especially docile in the hands of Josh Schuster. Indeed, Manly looked messy with the ball during this portion of the game, with Melbourne able to gain field position and possession.
Melbourne were also wasting a few chances, but overall it felt like a throwback to when teams would come to Melbourne and just never really look like getting over the top of the Storm in the second half.
Eventually the match would break open with big Nelson Asofa-Solomona the one to do it. Running out wide for the second straight game, Big Nasty would be rewarded with a try following a solid passing move from Pezet and Hughes putting NAS into space past Schuster and Tolutau Koula, with a step around Garrick getting him to the tryline. It was Asofa-Solomona’s second try for the season and it more than justified his role hanging wider on the edge, where he was able to play 75 minutes before coming off late in the game.
X Factor
Leading 16–6, It was great to see Pezet and Coates combine for two tries to ice the game. The first one coming from a deliberate spinning grubber kick that evaded Raymond Tuaimalo Vaega for Coates to pick up and carry Garrick over the line. It was a good showing of strength and agility from the winger to get the try. The second try with just five to go saw Coates again latch on to a Pezet kick, with the PNG winger making a spectacular put down in the corner to give Melbourne a 24–6 lead.
In between the two tries, Melbourne just kept pounding away at Manly, and apart from DCE, the visitors were mostly huffing and puffing in attack. Melbourne getting the two competition points in a satisfying win over the mob from the Northern Beaches.
The night might have been summed up by the play from Coates in the final minute where his desperation in defence denied Manly a consolation try, as he put his body on the line to maintain Melbourne’s defensive effort in keeping the Sea Eagles to one try.
Coach quotes
It was a relaxed Craig Bellamy post match:4
Yeah the first half wasn’t great, we didn’t complete. We did a good job defensively to stay in it. We had to work a lot hard than we should have.
We fixed that up in the second half and I was really happy with their effort. It was similar to last week, but we really put our stamp on it in the first 10-15 [minutes] of the second half.
It’s been a pretty good period [during Origin] for us and a few of our younger blokes are starting to get a lot more consistent in the things that work for us.
Was it worth it?
It was an interesting Saturday night at AAMI Park for Storm fans. I’m not sure many (if any) are actually looking forward to the return to Docklands next week, with Swan St and the routines and rituals that come with that part of the fabric of Melbourne Storm supporters.
It was a smaller attendance than previous matches at AAMI Park, with the famously non-travelling away fans not making up anywhere near the numbers travelling to Melbourne compared to others. It made for something of a muted atmosphere, which like the players warmed up through the match. The roar celebrating Xavier Coates’ spectacular second try though was a good one. The initial disbelief turning to “how the hell did he do that” is one of my favourite crowd noises.
7/10
Storm Machine Player of the Year
Coates grabbed the headlines this week with his two tries and was seemingly a magnet for DCE in the first half, but his defensive effort in the final minute also was what the coaches would have wanted to see.
In playing 75 minutes straight, NAS was also immense on the edge, running for more than 150m and making a bunch of tackles. It will be interesting to see how Bellyaches uses the big man in the weeks ahead.
Grant and Hughes did their usual things with and without the ball in their hands. Hughes stepping up without Munster, and Grant backing up from Origin duties playing 75 minutes.
Also giving a point to Trent Loeiro this week. He’s often looked over in his role on the edge, but his line speed is particularly impressive when watching at the ground. He’s not a skillful as previous Melbourne second-row forwards, but he plays his role in the team well almost every week.
Round 17 points:
2 – Xavier Coates
2 – Nelson Asofa-Solomona
1 – Harry Grant
1 – Jahrome Hughes
1 – Trent Loiero
Leaderboard
19 – Harry Grant
15 – Cameron Munster
13 – Nick Meaney
9 – Christian Welch, Jahrome Hughes
7 – Trent Loiero
6 – Will Warbrick, Nelson Asofa-Solomona
5 – Josh King
4 – Eliesa Katoa, Tui Kamikamica, Xavier Coates
2 – Alec MacDonald, Jonah Pezet
1 – Reimis Smith, Justin Olam
Next up
Penrith Panthers – Marvel Stadium, Friday 30 June, 8:05pm
Over to Marvel Stadium for the first of two matches against the 2022 NRL Grand Finalists.5 Penrith, even without Nathan Cleary will be a tough match for Melbourne. The unfamiliar confines under the roof will make for an interesting game of rugby league, and it will be crucial to adapt to the field dimensions early in the proceedings.
Preview post later in the week, with a look back at matches played under the roof.
Suffering from “Caxton-itis” as perfectly proclaimed by Christian Welch.
Dan Ginnane and Greg Alexander of course not knowing this from their studio in The Bad Place.
He’s been hit with a grade one dangerous contact charge and a $1,000 fine. Let’s assume it wasn’t for the supposed high arm fend off and instead for the raised knee into Lachlan Croker. In any event, meh.
His comments about Bob Geldof are good for a giggle.
I wonder if the television broadcasters will actually attend a game in Melbourne for the first time in a long time this week.