“I know that’s a common cliché, but is he then meant to run through, but if he does, he’s a chance of taking people out.
“Do we expect him to get all the way behind the ball? But then we’ve got nobody to run it. I don’t know. It’s a split second thing. I’m calling the ball to take the field-goal, Moses is there to take a run, and he didn’t move.
Did Harry Grant play for a penalty by running into Moses Leota?Credit: Nine
“At the end of the day, we did enough bad things to ourselves and lost that game.”
Grant hoped the call did not take the focus off what was another ding-dong battle between last year’s grand finalists, and what could easily be a sneak preview of what is to come on the first Sunday in October.
He even wondered if Penrith had done something similar with positioning players in front of Cleary when setting up for field-goals if you went back through the tapes.
“That’s the rules within the game – even the Penrith boys were aware of it in the game, and when it happened,” Grant said.
Harry Grant scores the match-winner.Credit: Gregg Porteous/NRL Images
“Hats off to the officials for policing it the same way. [But] even the players on the field knew they weren’t allowed to be in that position, and were saying, ‘get out of the road’.
“Everyone understands you’re not allowed to be in that position. It’s a hard one, but it’s what has been policed throughout the season.
“Penrith have played in a fair few contests where they have kicked field-goals. Maybe we need to have a look at their set-ups. Have they got no-one in front of Nathan?”
The Panthers finished the first-half with a perfect completion rate to lead 12-4, but the Storm came out with more energy after the break, Xavier Coates jagged a second try, then set up Joe Chan when leaping through the air – again.
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If Coates is being paid around $500,000 this year, surely his next deal is closer to $750,000 or $800,000. Few wingers are more lethal in the air.
Panthers backrower Liam Martin required a pain-killing injection after receiving a knock to his shoulder, but finished the game, while Dylan Edwards had an off night, succumbing to the constant pressure from the Storm, and dropping the ball twice in the final ten minutes.
Storm star Cameron Munster was excellent at fullback, his first game in the custodian role since round seven, 2023, and starting half Jonah Pezet grew with confidence the longer the night went.
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