Melbourne Storm might have lost the courtroom battle for Origin star Zac Lomax, but it exacted swift revenge on the Parramatta Eels, scoring 52 unanswered points in a thumping 52-4 season opening win at AAMI Park on Thursday night.
Watch every game of every round of the Premiership Season LIVE with no ad-breaks during play on FOX LEAGUE, available on Kayo Sports | New to Kayo? Join now and get your first month for just $1.
WHAT’S GAMBLING REALLY COSTING YOU? Set a deposit limit. For Free and confidential support call 1800 858 858 or visit gamblinghelponline.org.au.
Storm captain Harry Grant produced two Houdini-like acts out of dummy half to lay the foundations for victory.
Grant blasted a strong Eels start to the game to smithereens when he found a gaping hole in the defence to score a 30-metre try straight from dummy half.
The 28-year-old hooker rubbed salt into the Eels wounds when he scored again from dummy half, this time from much closer to the line, but it extinguished whatever slim hopes the visitors had coming out of the sheds after half-time.
Entering a new era without Ryan Papenhuyzen, Nelson Asofa-Solomona and Jonah Pezet and uncovering reinforcements for the injured Xavier Coates, Shawn Blore and Eliesa Katoa, the new-look Storm did not miss a beat from the team that made it all the way to the grand final last season.
In fact, it was the razzle dazzle Storm, when Papenhuyzen’s replacement, the supremely talented fullback Sua Faalogo, put in a chip and chase to bring up the 40 for Storm.
Faalogo, long time touted as Papenhuyzen’s successor, scored two tries and dazzled for 173 metres, bettered only by forward Stefano Utoikamanu, who racked up 242 run metres.
Joe Chan stands over ex-teammate Pezet! | 00:26
The Storm’s spine of Grant, Cameron Munster and Jahrome Hughes ran amok, while centre Moses Leo had eight tackle breaks in an impressive showing.
The Eels were all the rage after an impressive preseason, but were powerless to stop the Storm run on in the second half.
It was a case of deja vu as the Eels were pummelled 56-18 by the Storm in their season opener last season.
The win kept Craig Bellamy’s perfect round one record as coach alive and extended Storm’s round one win streak to 24.
The victory might have come at a toll for Storm with Alec Macdonald knocked out just seconds into the contest and Grant (lower leg) and promising debutant forward Cooper Clarke (ribs) suffering knocks late in the game.
Eels centre Bailey Simonsson was so out of answers that he resorted to an undisciplined professional foul late that landed him in the sin bin, paving the way for Storm to hit 50.
BIG HITS
Brutal start
The spite of a modern day rivalry reignited when Eels forward J’Maine Hopgood led with a shoulder, which knocked out Macdonald just seconds into the contest.
Hopgood was sent to the bin for 10 and Macdonald took no further part in the game, which was a blow for a player who had bided his time as an interchange utility in recent years.
“It’s direct shoulder contact to the head,” Referee Todd Smith said.
It was the 12-man Eels who opened the scoring through winger Sean Russell, but that was their only joy on the night.
Alec MacDonald of the Storm leaves the field with trainers. (Photo by Daniel Pockett/Getty Images)Source: Getty Images
Storm warning
Storm hit back fast when a looping pass from halfback Hughes to flying winger Will Warbrick had the Storm on level terms.
Following Grant’s long range try, Eels centre Brian Kelly walked a fine line with a tackle that caught Faalogo on the chin, drawing a penalty.
Storm centre Jack Howarth scored from the ensuing set to put his side up 18-4 and it was threatening to get ugly.
Joe Chan, stepping into the second row role vacated by the season-long injured Eliesa Katoa, had 181 run metres and 27 tackles, capping a fine performance with a try.
Chan was a much-needed presence with his energy and physicality crucial with Katoa sidelined.
The Storm were lining up for tries in the second half with Leo and Ativalu Lisati, who racked up 42 tackles, getting in on the act, while Nick Meaney scored eight goals.
It was a statement win. (Photo by Daniel Pockett/Getty Images)Source: Getty Images
Big call on Grant’s masterclass
Harry Grant starred for the Storm before hobbling off with what was later reported to be a bad case of the cramps.
It was welcome news for Melbourne given the way Grant played, with Fox League commentator Andrew Voss going as far as to claim he was “better than Cameron Smith at his best”.
“And I don’t say that lightly,” he added.
“The Harry Grant running game tonight is different from the Cameron Smith running game.”
Grant finished the game with 63 run metres, seven tackle busts and two linebreaks and was at his scheming best, picking his moments to expose a tired and disorganised Parramatta defence as was the case when he scored a sensational solo try in the first half.
“He is just destroying them,” Michael Ennis said in commentary when Grant burrowed over for his second try.
“It has been an 11 out of 10… the Melbourne captain has made a Round 1 statement to the rest of the competition.”
Lomax’s manager: Rugby is a real option | 01:19
One image sums up Eels nightmare
If there was one photo that summed up Parramatta’s tough night it came late in the first half when Joe Chan forced an error out of former teammate Jonah Pezet.
Chan, leaning over Pezet, screamed in his direction and the ex-Storm playmaker was unable to make much noise in his first game for the Eels, primarily because he and his teammates just couldn’t hold onto the ball.
Parramatta finished the game with a 66 per cent completion rate, making 14 errors in what was the heaviest defeat of Jason Ryles’ short coaching career.
Chan and the Storm had the last laugh.Source: FOX SPORTS
Follow all the live updates from Storm vs Eels below! Can’t see the blog? Click here!