Game 718 – S28E05 Review

Manly Warringah Sea Eagles 24–48 Melbourne Storm

Apr 07, 2025

What was previewed as a potential Sunday Scaries, turned into a Sunday Funday for the Storm as their ran rampant in a Brookvale blitz.

Manly Warringah – 24 (Koula 31', 68', Saab 73', Faulalo 80' tries; Carrick 4/6 goals)

Melbourne – 48 (Anderson 17', 49', 54', Utoikamanu 12', Munster 14', Papenhuyzen 51', Garlick 59', Howarth 63' tries; Papenhuyzen 7/7, Wishart 1/1 goals)

After the unpleasantness of last weekend, this week there’s some fantastic rugby league highlights from Melbourne… oh and Manly scored some late tries too.

A week is a long time in rugby league

Well this is an unexpected review. In going down last week to the Dragons, Melbourne were poor. But then things started to look up. Jahrome Hughes was named and then confirmed to come back after just a fortnight from a hand injury. Moses Leo made a surprise debut after just one full match of rugby league for the Bears last weekend. The sun was shining in The Bad Place.

Then Melbourne didn’t touch the ball for a tackle in almost the first five minutes with Manly taking an easy penalty goal in the fourth minute.1 Finally getting some possession the Storm settled into groove immediately. Hughes threw a long pass out to Leo playing on the right edge and all of a sudden Melbourne looked dangerous again. The insipid attack of a week ago was gone, hard running and astute passing was back in vogue. Ryan Papenhuyzen looked on at the back, while Cameron Munster’s vibes were high.

An early error from Shawn Blore going for a million dollar offload didn’t deter the Storm. Blore was working over Daly Cherry-Evans in defence, and Harry Grant was finding seams all through the Manly line. Off a great offload from Stefano Utoikamanu, Hughes earned a six again call and Melbourne went to work inside the Manly end. The way Melbourne built their set was fast and furious. Munster bamboozled the defence to send Utoikamanu through the line to score next to the posts. Playing straight — who would have thought that could work after last week.

Five good minutes

I remember reading a mindfulness book many years ago,2 of which the conceit of the author stuck with me. The contention was to spend five good minutes on a task, usually setting aside the first minute for a mindfulness technique before setting your intention, looking closely and listening, then actioning. For me though I’ve taken the concept more literally — I’m happy to spend five minutes on a task that pops up while balancing competing priorities. My version of five good minutes involves analysing the task to work out if it can be done in five minutes, then either doing it or adding it to the list further down on the priorities workflow if it will take longer.

In rugby league terms, five good minutes for the Melbourne Storm is more than enough to score three tries. Following Utoikamanu’s try, Manly kicked the ball dead on the restart, Melbourne’s middles set the Sea Eagles on the back foot and Munster exploited space on the left edge to dance his way through to score the kind of try that he just loves to score. The genius of the mercurial Munster was on full show. From the restart Melbourne almost made an error, but such is the mindset of this team, the chance that Manly almost had to score was immediately turned into a Melbourne attacking raid with Grant Anderson streaming down the right wing. It was a dashing run that provided the attacking impetus for Melbourne’s third try. A sweeping movement from Grant, through Munster to Hughes cut the home team to shreds, Hughes throwing a fantastic floating pass over the defence to Anderson to score out wide. Just like that, in five good minutes Melbourne had an 18–2 lead.

Melbourne were playing fast and assured rugby league. But the five good minutes weren’t sustained when the spell was broken by an error from Jack Howarth. For the next ten minutes it felt like the Storm were firmly on the back foot. The Manly left edge looked dangerous against Eli Katoa, Hughes and Leo. But Melbourne scrambled well without the ball, even if their discipline wasn’t 100%.

Tolutau Koula was denied a try in the 27th minute, losing the ball just short of the line in what was another warning shot on that left edge. The try had to come just a few minutes later though, Melbourne’s scrambling defence turned passive at just the wrong moment for Koula to find the line to see the margin cut to 10 points.

Melbourne were hanging on a little in the ten minutes to half time. The intensity in attack had shifted to defence, but poor discipline had let the home team get back into the match. It felt like Manly should have scored before the break, but in the end they had to settle for just a penalty goal to close out the session, Reuben Garrick slotting a 40m penalty goal from Trent Loiero’s standard once-a-game penalty.3

Brookvale blitz

Coming back from half time there was a moment when it looked like Manly would be able to continue with the momentum that they had built up as the first half came to a close. The Storm’s bench forwards Tui Kamikamica and Alec MacDonald were just the spark that was needed though in the middle. I thought their attitude and effort were exemplary. Melbourne were able to grind through the home team’s supremacy and come out the other side to go on a five-try blitz to stun the locals into leaving.

The catalyst was an error from Ben Trbojevic when he was ruled to have incorrectly played the ball at midfield. It was a 50:50 call that went against the home team, but it was precisely what the NRL wanted the referees to call as flagged to the clubs during preseason.

With possession in Manly’s half Melbourne went to work. The way that Hughes and Munster were combining was definitely what was missing last week, and it would be Hughes down the right channel who found Anderson 10m out from the line with some classic halfback play. With plenty to do GA beat two and like he was made of rubber reached out to plant the ball on the line.

From the restart it was Melbourne Storm at their best. The sequence of kick return, edge hit up, middle run, and a tempered two pass run on the first three tackles had the Storm already at the 40m line with Manly on the back foot. Then it was Grant, Munster, Hughes, Munster, Papenhuyzen try. Munster drifting across the field is a thing of beauty. Hughes hitting and bursting through the line sublime. Munster and Paps supporting the line break through the middle is pure Melbourne Storm rugby league.4

The the next restart Melbourne were again in attacking position following a fumbled catch from Lehi Hopoate, and despite Hughes being out of action following a tackle on the previous set, the attack went down the right edge this time Paps and Katoa combining to send Anderson over in the corner for his hat trick. Melbourne’s structured play was too much for Manly and the lead was out to 26 points.

Melbourne then scored what could be their funniest try of the season. Running rampant Bronson Garlick scored with his first touch of the ball just seconds after being subbed on for MacDonald. On the back of another strong set and a run from Utoikamanu on tackle four, Grant dashed from dummy half then put through a deft grubber into open space for Garlick to sprint through to be the unlikeliest try scorer. It was just his second career try and the smiles from the Storm players were massive. Grant’s option to kick was brilliant work.

With just under 20 minutes to go that would be the end of the day for Paps after scoring his seventh goal of the day he was subbed off as a precaution, but Melbourne had one more try in them as the Manly fans headed to the exits.

🚨 SCRUM TRY ALERT 🚨 Just lovely work from Jack Howarth.

Melbourne should have extended the score to 50 points just after the Howarth try,5 but didn’t take a penalty shot at goal even if Munster wanted to take the two. That then led to a final 15 minutes of junk time. Hughes took the final ten minutes off joining Paps and Coates. Manly scored three tries to inflate their score the disappointing aspect to the second half as Melbourne’s intensity waned.6

The final scoreline, inflated by the junk time tries scored by the home team wasn’t a fair reflection in the end. Melbourne should have topped 50 but didn’t. The Storm conceded 20+, but shouldn’t have. Hopefully the little niggling injuries collected by some Storm players aren’t anything too concerning.

Post match quotes

Belsa was full of praise for Jahrome Hughes in the post match:

We know he’s a good player, a smart player, but he’s a tough unit as well. To come out and play only missing that one game after breaking a hand, that’s pretty gutsy.

He was also effusive in his praise of the first half start, knowing that Manly have been blitzing teams at home in the opening stages.

There was an interesting exchange too about Wishy playing in the halves last week too:

It’s a tough job to come into that position. When you’ve got your normal halfback in the team whose played there for years, it brings confidence to the team.

Stat offloads

Melbourne’s 48 points is the new highest score in matches between these two teams, eclipsing the six occasions exactly 40 points was scored.
It was the first time the Storm has scored eight tries in a match against Manly.
Melbourne snapped a three-match losing streak at Brookvale Oval, improving to a 45.83% win record at the venue.
This was the first match involving Melbourne to end with 48–24 scoreline. It was the second match during the NRL-era that was the final score, with a further match in the 1995 ARL season.
Grant Anderson scored his first senior rugby league hat trick, having scored two doubles at Queensland Cup level and three at NRL level since scoring twice on debut at the SCG in 2022.
Stefano Utoikamanu became the 170th player to score a try for Melbourne in just his fourth match with the club. Utoikamanu scored three tries with the Tigers in 2024 and has now scored 12 tries in 82 NRL appearances.
Melbourne haven’t lost consecutive matches since rounds 2-3 in 2023.

Was it worth it?

There’s not many worse experiences in rugby league than enduring Fortress Shithole as an away fan. It’s horrible to get to, the locals are as bad as those who frequented Lulie Street in the 1980s and 1990s, and usually in Melbourne’s case, we get beaten. But unexpected wins are sometimes the best wins. Hope all the Storm fans who made the trek had a great day out.

Watching on television for the first time in 2025 was okay in the end,7 even if Andrew Voss and Brandy Alexander shouldn’t be paired together as often as they are on Fox League.8

9/10

Storm Machine Player of the Year

Part of me wanted to give everyone a point this week for a total performance until junk time, especially after giving out just one point last week. In the end this was Munster’s show with a try and two try assists. Grant Anderson scored his first ever Dally M point in this match for hit hat trick, but he can have two points from me for getting the job done, especially on his two second half tries. I did call for Stefano Utoikamanu to have a big day and he definitely answered that request. I also thought Trent Loiero deserves his flowers.

Honourable mentions to everyone else who didn’t get points.9

Round 5 points:

3 – Cameron Munster
2 – Jahrome Hughes
2 – Ryan Papenhuyzen
2 – Grant Anderson
1 – Harry Grant
1 – Stefano Utoikamanu
1 – Trent Loiero

Leaderboard

8 – Cameron Munster
5 – Ryan Papenhuyzen
3 – Eliesa Katoa
2 – Jack Howarth, Jahrome Hughes, Stefano Utoikamanu, Grant Anderson
1 – Nick Meaney, Trent Loiero, Josh King, Harry Grant

Around the grounds

Jersey Flegg Cup — Penrith Panthers 20–30 Melbourne Storm

The Storm moved a point clear on top of the ladder, continuing their undefeated start to the season. Down 14–10 at half time, they would fall even further behind, but roared back to overhaul the lead with three tries in the final ten minutes to seal the win.

S.G. Ball Cup — Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks 40–36 Melbourne Storm

Disappointing end to the season for the under-19s. Blitzed in the first half, the Storm went to the sheds down 30–0. Amaziah Murga scored the Storm’s first try, then Cooper Clarke and Lockyer-Azile Foliola scored doubles to see the team fall just short of an amazing comeback. Melbourne finish the season in eighth with five wins from nine matches.

Harold Matthews Cup — Melbourne Storm 20–38 Canberra Raiders

Three tries to the visitors in the first ten minutes had the Storm in trouble at Seabrook Reserve. They would score twice before the break, but never really got close. In the end it was another loss, the seventh from eight matches. The under-17s only competition point coming in their draw with Penrith in March.

Queensland Cup — Brisbane Tigers 26–18 Sunshine Coast Falcons

It was an error-ridden start to the Storm Bowl at Langlands Park before the home team finally held the ball and crossed through Sherwin Tanabi. A second try had the Tigers up 12–0, eventually going to the sheds up 16–6. A double to Joseph Vite brought the Falcons back into the match in the second half taking the lead 18–16 with just over ten minutes left. Two late tries sealing the win for the Tigers who had Kane Bradley out wide and former Storm forward Joe Stimson playing 80 minutes in the middle to make 41 tackles. Angus Hinchey was the only Storm player for the Falcons, coming off the bench for a brief spell in the second half.

NSW Cup — Penrith Panthers 24–26 North Sydney Bears

Joe Chan made his first appearance for the season, scoring the first try of the day for the Bears. It was a good first half from Norths, heading to the sheds up 22–6. They extended that lead before the Panthers scored three tries between the 59th and 70th minute to set up a tight final ten minutes.

Suncorp Super Netball — Melbourne Mavericks 59–69 Sunshine Coast Lightning

Totes forgot the the Super Netball was back this week as I had other sports events on Saturday night. The Mavericks beat the Lightning in both matches last year, so the Sunshine Coast were keen to win in Diamonds midcourter Liz Watson’s 150th national league match. It was tight through the first quarter, but the Lightning eased away through the middle two quarters and were comfortable enough to take a 10-goal win.

Next up

Round 6 vs New Zealand Warriors – Sunday 13 April 2025, 2:00pm @ AAMI Park

Back home this week and it will be interesting to see what Warriors after they sat out in round 5. Whether that is a good thing for the Storm will be interesting as it gives the Aotearoa squad plenty of time to contemplate their 16 match losing streak against the Victorians.