MANLY SEA EAGLES 30 MELBOURNE STORM 4
STEPHEN IBBETSON, 4 Pines Park, Saturday

AN EARLY try double from the formidable Haumole Olakau’atu emphatically put the brakes on Melbourne’s recent revival.

Storm had won five of their last six to move back into the play-off picture yet were twelve points down in as many minutes, and 24-0 behind by half-time, against a Manly side with top-four designs.

Olakau’atu, who was controversially dropped by New South Wales but surely must now start the Origin decider, did much of the damage.

Twice he ran the perfect line to slice through Melbourne’s tryline defence and put his side in command.

Then from the kick-off after the second try, his venomous carry knocked Moses Leo clean out.

Storm couldn’t recover, with further first-half tries coming from Jason Saab – via a high Jamal Fogarty bomb – and Tolutau Koula finishing a slick move.

Will Warbrick’s dive into the corner, followed by Joey Walsh’s sin bin for a hip-drop, gave Melbourne a sniff but the only points in the next ten minutes were from a Fogarty penalty.

Ben Trbojevic scooted over for Manly’s final try and Storm finished with Trent Toelau in the bin for repeated ruck infringements.

However a suspected ACL injury for Luke Brooks took much of the shine off this result.

SEA EAGLES: 1 Tom Trbojevic, 2 Jason Saab, 3 Tolutau Koula, 4 Josh Feledy, 5 Lehi Hopoate, 6 Luke Brooks, 7 Jamal Fogarty, 8 Taniela Paseka, 9 Jake Simpkin, 10 Simione Laifai, 11 Haumole Olakau’atu, 12 Ben Trbojevic, 13 Jake Trbojevic. Subs: 10 Ethan Bullemor, 14 Joey Walsh, 15 Nathan Brown, 17 Aaron Schoupp, 18 Blake Wilson (not used), 20 Hugo Hart (not used)

Tries: Olakau’atu (6, 11), Saab (30), Koula (35), B Trbojevic (68); Goals: Fogerty 5/6; Sin bin: Walsh (57) – dangerous tackle

STORM: 1 Sualauvi Faalogo, 2 Will Warbrick, 4 Joe Chan, 19 Siulagi Tuimalatu-Brown, 5 Moses Leo, 6 Cameron Munster, 7 Tyran Wishart, 8 Stefano Utoikamanu, 9 Harry Grant, 10 Josh King, 11 Cooper Clarke, 12 Ativalu Lisati, 13 Trent Loiero. Subs: 14 Trent Toelau, 15 Jack Hetherington, 16 Josiah Pahulu (not used), 17 Alec MacDonald, 18 Shawn Blore, 21 Stanley Huen

Tries: Warbrick (50); Goals: Faalogo 0/1; Sin bin: Toelau (73) – professional foul

SCORING SEQUENCE: 6-0, 12-0, 18-0, 24-0; 24-4, 26-4, 30-4

Rugby Leaguer & League Express Men of the Match
Sea Eagles: Haumole Olakau’atu; Storm: Harry Grant

Penalty count: 5-1; Half-time: 24-0; Referee: Ashley Klein; Attendance: 17,221