This makes the Melbourne Storm our first ever NRL Grand Finalists! They got there in dramatic fashion with a 22-14 upset win over the Cronulla Sharks on Friday night. On its face, this win is a significant and transformational victory for the club. They are on a quest for atonement after their last premiership success in 2020, which was preceded by the legendary Cameron Smith’s retirement. The team’s new big four was absolutely overwhelming in this key showdown. Key performers Cameron Munster and Jahrome Hughes were instrumental in clinching the championship.
Right from the start, Melbourne used their high octane offense to test the Shark’s defensive line and keep the attack under constant pressure. The Storm’s hooker had the play of the game just minutes from the end of the contest, a literal game-changer. He sent the ball left, putting Xavier Coates over, winning the game for Melbourne and breaking the hearts of Sharks fans everywhere.
Hughes, who came back only 22 days after fracturing his forearm, proved the strength of his resiliency. He overcame a personal challenge from second-row Jesse Colquhoun and then raced 30 yards to dive for a crucial try. Those efforts were made easier by the greatly improved Munster and Ryan Papenhuyzen, who was a threat with every touch.
In a pivotal moment, Jahrome Hughes caught the defense sleeping with a quick swing pass to Nick Meaney. This quick thinking got Will Warbrick away for Melbourne’s first try and the lead. Munster really opened the floodgates with an early defensive score that changed momentum going forward. Papenhuyzen then displayed his remarkable pace by diving on an opposing loose ball for a try at 16-8, allowing the Storm to take control of the contest.
As hard as the Sharks tried, their doggedness never prevented Melbourne from once again winning a battle of firepower. From there, Stefano Utoikamanu kept his hot hand going by powering through a defender then offloading to Munster for yet another try. The attacking threat shown by the Storm really showed their potential heading into the Grand Final.
Looking forward again, today, we congratulated the Melbourne Storm on their impending Grand Final appearance this Sunday at Suncorp Stadium. They will have to get past the Brisbane Broncos or the four-time defending champions Penrith Panthers. The anticipation builds as this new era of Storm players strives to secure a premiership title and carve their own legacy in the club’s history.
