The Melbourne Storm produced the performance of their inaugural Knock-On Effect NSW Cup campaign, dismantling the Sydney Roosters 60-6 in a stunning Round 13.
The Storm came in as heavy underdogs, sitting last on the ladder after six consecutive defeats, while the Roosters entered the night in fourth spot and fresh off the bye. But from the opening exchanges, it was clear this would be a night to remember in Melbourne.
Angus Hinchey set the tone early, barging through Roosters defenders to score the opening try inside the first 15 minutes. The try came directly off the back of Roosters errors with Josh Durkin converting to make it 6-0.
Hayden Watson then announced himself in emphatic fashion, kicking ahead and winning the race to the Steeden to score his first NSW Cup try. Durkin converted again, and the Storm led 12-0.
Gabriel Satrick, who had dropped back to NSW Cup level after making his NRL debut last week, made the most of his opportunity with a slippery solo effort to score the Storm's third four-pointer before Lockyer-Azile Foliola sliced through to round out a sensational first half. The Storm led 24-0 at half-time.
The Roosters showed some fight in the second half, with Benaiah Ioelu touching down early in the second stanza to trim the deficit to 18 points. However, the Storm hit straight back through Josiah Pahulu, and any chance of a Roosters revival was emphatically snuffed out.
Joseph Leledamu added another, Watson added his second, and Siulagi Tuimalatu-Brown crossed in the corner as the Storm's lead ballooned beyond 42 points. Amaziah Murgha finished the afternoon with back-to-back tries to seal the historic 60-6 victory; a 10-try haul that will go down as one of the most comprehensive performances in the club's short NSW Cup history.
Talking Points
- Hayden Watson was the standout performer, finishing with two tries and causing havoc with his footwork, kicking game and speed. The former Australian Schoolboys representative has made a seamless transition from SG Ball level and looks set for a big future at Melbourne.
- Gabriel Satrick was equally impressive, his slippery running game breaching the Roosters defensive line and laying the platform for his halves partners.
Angus Hinchey was a workhorse from the front row all the way to the back end of the game, finishing with a try and consistently putting in strong defensive and attacking minutes in jersey number 13. - Ball control was the Roosters' undoing. Three of the Storm's first-half tries came directly off Roosters errors, with handling mistakes in good field position repeatedly gifting the hosts prime attacking opportunities.
Key Moment
With just under 19 minutes gone in the first half and the Storm leading 12-0, Satrick broke through the defensive line with a slick solo run from close range, weaving through the Roosters' markers. It was the try that effectively ended the contest, extending the lead to 18-points and leaving the visitors with a mountain to climb.
What's next?
The Storm will face the Newcastle Knights at home in Round 14 as they look to build on this momentum and continue their push up the table. The Roosters, meanwhile, will need to regroup quickly ahead of a Round 14 clash against the North Sydney Bears.
