Melbourne Storm have produced an impressive defensive display on the way to a 16-0 victory over Penrith, which keeps them firmly in the hunt for yet another top-four finish.
The Storm was constantly able to repel wave after wave of attack with disciplined sliding defence, before punishing their opposition on the counter from long-range.
After an absorbing opening where both sides were physical with their tackling, Melbourne found the first points of the night thanks to a short-side raid from deep in their own half which caught the Panthers cold.
The left-side shift orchestrated by Harry Grant and Cameron Munster, who utilised their advantage in numbers to strip Penrith in defence and break away down the touchline. Justin Olam’s measured kick bouncing perfectly for Nick Meaney to score.
Olam setup special 🙌 #NRLPanthersStorm pic.twitter.com/smUivjwi0A
— NRL (@NRL) August 11, 2022
Brandon Smith then made it back-to-back four-pointers when he slipped through the middle and slid in under the posts for an eye-catching solo try.
Penrith nearly hit back when Api Koroisau isolated Cooper Johns in the defensive line, only for Viliame Kikau to knock the ball on over the line.
It proved to be a costly mistake from the second-rower, with Melbourne going straight up the other end and scoring through David Nofoaluma who claimed his first try in Storm colours.
Nofoaluma coming through 😯 #NRLPanthersStorm pic.twitter.com/BkjSHSQCcc
— NRL (@NRL) August 11, 2022
The absence of Dylan Edwards at the back was glaring with the home side going into the interval 16-0 down. It was the first time the Panthers had been kept scoreless in a half of footy for three years.
It didn’t get any better for Ivan Cleary’s men either, when Liam Martin limped off with an ankle injury.
The Panthers did lift their intensity though, but were unable to crack Melbourne’s defence.
Their goal-line defence was particularly impressive with Penrith registering over 50 tackles in the opposition 20m zone, without being able to score a try.
Penrith dominated territory to the tune of 72%, yet just couldn’t break the Storm as they were unable to convert their vast territorial advantage into points.
Nathan Cleary, Jarome Luai and Edwards' absence proving to be too big of a hurdle, as the Panthers were kept scoreless in a game for the first time since 2015.
