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Melbourne Storm | Storm shutout Panthers to keep the title race alive

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The Panthers were held scoreless for the first time in seven years as a relentless defensive performance helped the Storm to a 16-0 win and kept the minor premiership race alive.

Penrith had fifty-five percent of possession and extra than 50 tackles inside 20 meters of Melbourne's strive line however failed to rate a factor for the first time in a healthy on the grounds that the Storm shut them out 20-0 in 2015.

It was once Melbourne's 1/3 consecutive win, whilst the Panthers have now misplaced two of their ultimate three video games to provide North Queensland hope of snatching the JJ Galatian Shield when the pinnacle two aspects meet in the ultimate spherical at QCB Stadium.

The premiers went into the fit barring suspended stars Nathan Cleary and James Fisher-Harris and the injured trio of Jarome Luai, Dylan Edwards, and Taylan May, and misplaced Liam Martin with an ankle injury.

However, the Storm has additionally been hit difficult by way of injures and had been besides superstar halfback Jahrome Hughes (shoulder) and strike second-rower Felise Kaufusi following the demise of his father.

The selection to go Cameron Munster from five-eighth to fullback proved a masterstroke as the celebrity playmaker carried the ball 194 meters from 17 runs, which covered a line break, a line smash aid, and eight address breaks.

However, it used to be in defense that the Storm had been most astounding and hooker Harry Grant completed with sixty-two tackles observed via second-rowers Tui Kamikamica (53) and Kenny Bromwich (43), lock Brandon Smith (39), interchange ahead Josh King (38) and prop Jesse Bromwich (36).

The win places Melbourne into the fourth location and they will stay in the pinnacle 4 if South Sydney beat Parramatta on Friday night. 

Match snapshot

• It took till nearly halfway via the first 1/2 for the opening strive however it was once well worth the wait as Cameron Munster and Kenny Bromwich blended to ship Justin Olam racing down the left facet touchline.
• The PNG superstar then kicked in-field at the back of the Penrite defense and the ball bounced up flawlessly for five-eighth Nick Meaney to a rating in the seventeenth minute.
• Brandon Smith, who began at lock in a late exchange earlier than kick-off, scored two minutes later when he stepped out of tried tackles with the aid of Moses Leota and Liam Martin earlier than swerving around fullback, Charlie Staines.
• The Storm's win used to be constructed on defense, with Olam producing an attempt saving address on Penrith winger Brian Too in the twenty-seventh minute.
• Prop Nelson Asofa-Solomona pressured a knock-on with the aid of Viliame Kikau over the attempted line as Melbourne held out the premiers for three consecutive sets.
• David Nofoaluma, who is on mortgage from Wests Tigers, scored his first Storm strive in the thirty-first minute after Jesse Bromwich offloaded and a catch-and-pass motion from brother Kenny created an area for the Samoan winger.
• Trailing 16-0 at halftime, matters went from horrific to worse for the Panthers when second-rower Liam Martin went down with ankle damage in the 51st minute and wished to assist to go away the field.
• NSW hooker Api Koroisau appeared sure to rating however used to be stripped of the ball over the try line by means of Meaney and Penrith teaching Ivan Cleary to shift Stephen Crichton to fullback in a bid to spark his team's attack. 

Play of the game

Justin Olam created the opening try for Nick Meaney with a perfectly placed kick after a long run down the sideline and almost laid on another for Cameron Munster in a similar fashion but his work without the ball was just as influential.

With the Storm leading 12-0 in the 25th minute, the Panthers had their best scoring opportunity as Brian Too set sail for the try-line but the bustling second-rower launched himself and knocked the NSW Origin winger over the sideline. 

What they said

"I felt that there was some combination issues tonight which when you play a team with a defensive unit that was totally committed it shows. It was a good lesson for our younger guys. I was just disappointed with the way they scored the points in the first half," - Panthers coach Ivan Cleary.

"I thought that was our best performance for a long time. When Penrith attacked our line, that is as good as we have defended for a year or two, I reckon. I think we will probably look at our opposition on what we think is the best way to use Munster and the best way to use Nick. He is certainly a different character, Munster, but he is a great guy to have around your club and he is obviously one hell of a player. The other big thing about him is he is such a competitor; he competes in everything at training and everything in games. I think he really enjoys fullback and the freedom that brings but he is just happy to play a role that is best for the team,"- Storm coach Craig Bellamy.

What's next

The Panthers face the Rabbitohs at Accor Stadium subsequent Thursday night time earlier than taking on the Warriors and Cowboys, whilst the Storm journey to Brisbane to meet the Broncos subsequent Friday in advance fits in opposition to the Roosters and Eels.

Penrith fullback Dylan Edwards (shoulder and sternum) may also be handy after being a late withdrawal from the Melbourne conflict however the premiers have a new damage issue after Liam Martin used to be assisted from the area in the 2nd half.

Martin used to be on crutches and watched the ultimate 25 minutes of the fit from the bench after twisting his left ankle awkwardly.

The Panthers continue to be except suspended stars Nathan Cleary and James Fisher-Harris, whilst NSW Origin five-eighth Jarome Luai is now not due again from knee harm till the finals.

Storm instruct Craig Bellamy will be hoping halfback Jahrome Hughes is returned quickly after struggling a shoulder damage ultimate weekend however Cooper Johns has been doing a desirable job as his replacement.

Maroons second-rower Felise Kaufusi may additionally be on hand after lacking the day trip in opposition to Penrith following the demise of his father, Taniela, until now this week.