MELBOURNE STORM 14 PENRITH PANTHERS 22
CALLUM WALKER, AAMI Park, Thursday

PENRITH winger Brian To’o broke the 100-try barrier to move second in the club’s all-time try-scoring charts as the Panthers proved far too good for a Melbourne side that now cannot reach the NRL finals.

For the first time in 24 years, the Storm will not be represented in the play-off series after falling to defeat at AAMI Park, despite the fact that the Panthers were reduced to eleven men at one stage.

The ever-impressive To’o notched his 100th Penrith try in the opening three minutes and crossed again twice before the half-hour, overtaking Ryan Girdler and Greg Alexander to move into second on the all-time try-scoring chart behind Rhys Wesser (113).

Credit to Melbourne, they did come out fighting in the second half after obviously having a rocket delivered by head coach Craig Bellamy following a 22-0 half-time deficit.

But it proved too little, too late as Penrith moved back into top spot – at least until Sunday when Sydney Roosters play Wests Tigers – even if their ill-discipline was at time rife.

Liam Martin, Lindsay Smith and Jack Cogger all spent time in the sin bin – as did Melbourne’s Oryn Keeley – but the Storm failed to capitalise as the Panthers hung on in rainswept conditions.

Alec MacDonald, Harry Grant and Jack Howarth returned for Melbourne with Davvy Moale and Manaia Waitere dropping out of the Storm squad.

Meanwhile, for Penrith, Casey McLean and Luke Garner came in for Jaxen Edgar and Paul Alamoti.

The writing was on the wall early for the hosts when To’o was on the receiving end of a wonderful Smith pass after Nathan Cleary’s kick was palmed back.

The Panthers began to turn the screw, although it did take until the midway point in the first half for neat hands to hand Liam Henry enough space to crash over. Cleary made it 12-0 with the boot.

And Cleary was on target again moments later as To’o intercepted from halfway and outpaced livewire Sualavui Faalogo on his way to the line.

Things went from bad to worse for the Storm with Keeley earning a yellow card for a professional foul following a number of indiscretions.

To’o continued to be in the thick of the action, producing a wild finish in such bad conditions to get on the end of a bullet Cleary pass for four more points. This time Cleary couldn’t convert, but the Panthers still led 22-0.

The Panthers were pegged back to twelve men shortly before half-time when Martin knocked Faalogo off the ball, before Grant knocked on chasing his own kick on the hooter.

With Bellamy’s words still ringing in their ears, Melbourne hit four minutes after the resumption with Tyran Wishart dancing through the Penrith defence as Smith sat in the sin bin for a professional foul.

Jack Howarth put the cat amongst the pigeons on 55 minutes to reduce the deficit to twelve at 22-10.

And when Jack Cogger headed to the sin bin for a shoulder charge on the hour, the Storm struck again, Siulagi Tuimalatiu-Brown crossing in the next set.

However, Nick Meaney’s wayward conversions meant the hosts still had to score two tries to win – and Penrith weren’t about to let their grip go.

GAMESTAR: Brian To’o registered a hat-trick to break the 100-try barrier.

GAMEBREAKER: A 22-0 half-time lead proved too much for Melbourne to recover.

MATCHFACTS

STORM
1 Sualauvi Faalogo
2 Siulagi Tuimalatu-Brown
3 Jack Howarth
4 Nick Meaney
5 Moses Leo
6 Cameron Munster
14 Tyran Wishart
8 Stefano Utoikamanu
9 Harry Grant
10 Josh King
11 Shawn Blore
12 Oryn Keeley
13 Trent Loiero
Subs
7 Trent Toelau (not used)
15 Alec MacDonald
16 Angus Hinchey
17 Cooper Clarke
18 Joe Chan (not used)
21 Jack Hetherington (not used)

Tries: Wishart (44), Howarth (56), Tuimalatu-Brown (62)
Goals: Meaney 1/3
Sin bin: Keeley (26) – professional foul

PANTHERS
1 Dylan Edwards
2 Thomas Jenkins
3 Izack Tago
4 Casey McLean
5 Brian To’o
6 Jack Cogger
7 Nathan Cleary
8 Moses Leota
9 Freddy Lussick
10 Liam Henry
11 Isaiah Papali’i
12 Liam Martin
13 Lindsay Smith
Subs
14 Billy Scott
15 Scott Sorensen
16 Luron Patea (not used)
17 Billy Phillips
18 Jack Cole (not used)
21 Luke Garner

Tries: To’o (3, 24, 30), Henry (20)
Goals: Cleary 3/4
Sin bin: Martin (37) – late tackle, Smith (43) – professional foul, Cogger (61) – shoulder charge

SCORING SEQUENCE: 0-6, 0-12, 0-18, 0-22; 6-22, 10-22, 14-22

Rugby Leaguer & League Express Men of the Match
Storm: Tyran Wishart; Panthers: Brian To’o

Penalty count: 10-4
Half-time: 0-22
Referee: Grant Atkins
Attendance: 17,880