Traditionally, the Melbourne Storm and the Parramatta Eels have always put on entertaining clashes, certainly in recent years and tonight was no different.
With several records on the line ahead of the clash; like the Storm winning every round one game since 2003 when Craig Bellamy took over or the Eels not dropping out of the eight since 2015. There was plenty at stake.
It would be the Eels to open the scoring with a penalty goal from Mitch Moses.
In the end, some slick hands and ball movement would see the first try scored to Eels centre Will Penisini.
Having initially left the field to get a dislocated finger looked at, Cam Munster returned in the second half to the surprise of many.
The Storm would hit back and take the lead when Josh King offloaded to Nick Meaney as he sliced through to score.
The Eels then retook the lead when Josh Hodgson feigned right, left and then fired a perfect pass for Junior Paulo cross.
The Storm quickly hit back as some good lead-up play by Munster eventually saw veteran back Young Tonumaipea score.
There were chances for both sides in regular time to win the game but neither side was able to ice a victory so we entered golden point.
As they went tit-for-tat, it was eventually Grant’s heroics that saw the Storm as he bustled past defenders, reached out and planted the ball down from dummy half.
Eels coach Brad Arthur was left to rue his side’s inability to ice the game when it mattered.
There were some big moments at the back end that we didn’t get right,” Arthur said.
“We just needed to ice a couple of moments in the game.”
As the Storm dealt with a few injurie and reshuffles, Bellamy admits that the game was a tough one.
“It was a very busy coach’s box, deciding who was going where, we had a few guys playing out of position so that was tough going,” Bellamy said.
NRL News Player of the Game
3. Harry Grant (MEL)
2. J’Maine Hopgood (PAR)
1. Cam Munster (MEL)
