The Melbourne Storm continued their impressive run with a thrilling 34-30 win against the Sydney Roosters. They paid a dear price for that victory. When star halfback Jahrome Hughes dislocated his shoulder in-game, it left many questioning the Storm’s premiership chances. The Storm’s coach, Craig Bellamy, confirmed Hughes’s injury, stating that he would undergo further evaluation to determine if there were any fractures involved.
This match at AAMI Park proved just how good Storm’s resilience is. They were able to keep calm despite the absence of Hughes in those final minutes of the game. With time running out, they prepared for a desperate dash to the line to steal a top-four finish. Perilous matchups against outfits such as Parramatta, Brisbane, and Penrith were looming on the horizon.
A Hard-Fought Victory
Melbourne’s Harry Grant was the architect of the most significant win of his fledgling career, scoring a killer try early in the first half. He then took full advantage of a mix-up between Roosters’ defenders Smith and Salesi Foketi, using their subsequent collision to score. Grant’s poise under pressure and exciting speed from the dummy half helped shape the Storm’s attack. He really rose to the occasion, particularly with Hughes out of the lineup.
Meaney’s overall game was excellent, that conversion was a big moment to take the Storm to 28-24. He wasn’t done, his one-man crusade continued as he rushed for a touchdown to cut the lead to 34-30 with five minutes left.
“It was a different Storm-Roosters game than normal but you have to play the conditions,” – Trent Robinson
Even in defeat, I think most people would agree that Roosters coach Trent Robinson was right to praise the ferocity of that contest. He pointed out how both sides had chances to take command but that at the end of the day, it was all about those big moments.
Challenges Ahead
Melbourne’s run of injuries and difficult schedule catches up to them. In spite of this inherent challenge, they are focused on having a solid finish to the regular season. Bellamy expressed his concern for Hughes’s dislocated shoulder. He cautioned that until more tests are done, the team won’t know the complete seriousness of the injury.
“He’s gone to hospital. The doctor’s gone with him. It’s dislocated and they couldn’t get it in here. Whether he’s got a crack in it as well, we might not know until tomorrow,” – Craig Bellamy
Robinson was pleased his team made some good ball sets down the stretch. They have failed to take advantage of those moments. “We had our opportunities and it came down to moments,” he remarked, underscoring a sense of frustration over not finishing the game stronger.
The Road Ahead
Melbourne seeks to improve on its top-four finish. To do so, they’ll need to focus on a daunting slate full of serious competition in the past few weeks. Players such as Ryan Papenhuyzen and Cameron Munster helped fill the void, proving that heart and spirit can go a long way in hard-fought matches.
As Melbourne prepares for their next matches, they will need to find ways to adapt without Hughes while continuing to build on their recent performance. Victory over the roosters would ignite their momentum. The ever-present injury clouds will always hang over any team’s premiership hopes.
