Just as he did in Queensland’s State of Origin series-clinching win, Cameron Munster showed true leadership to get Melbourne past a spirited Parramatta side at CommBank Stadium on Thursday night.
In his first match since the funeral of his father, the star five-eighth stepped up in the absence of injured halfback Jahrome Hughes as the Storm scrapped and scraped their way past Jason Ryles’ rapidly improving Eels 16-10.
On paper, it should have been a mismatch but Parra fought their more-fancied opponents all the way and with a bit of luck, could have duplicated last week’s surprise win over the Broncos in Brisbane.
It took a superb “hanger” from the team that emanates from AFL heartland to clinch the win with Xavier Coates climbing high into the night sky to expertly mark a Munster kick to break Parra’s hearts.
1. Storm strong with or without Hughes
Nobody expected the Storm to fall in a heap with Hughes out with his dislocated shoulder.
But it’s clearly going to be tougher when you don’t have the reigning Dally M Medal winner in your side.
His replacement at halfback, Tyran Wishart, is a different kind of player so it was up to Munster and hooker Harry Grant to shoulder more of the organisational load.
It was looking dicey for the third-placed title contenders for the entire 80 minutes against a team that is sitting 14th on the NRL ladder but playing like a playoff contender.
With the scores tied at 10-10 and 10 minutes on the clock, Munster used the momentum created by a barnstorming Stefano Utoikamanu run to present the perfect kick for Coates to use all his extraordinary athleticism to outleap opposing winger Zac Lomax for the match-winning try.
The win keeps Melbourne hot on the heels of the Bulldogs and competition leaders Canberra heading into the final five rounds as the three sides battle it out to finish in the top two in order to not only get a second chance in the playoffs but home-ground advantage in round one.
2. Eels becoming real deal
They were humiliated 56-18 at the start of the year by Melbourne, trailing by 40 at half-time in Jason Ryles’ first game as coach.
Parramatta have come a long way and have more than earned the respect of the Storm, who had to bring their A game to CommBank Stadium to get the upper hand over the NRL’s most improved outfit of the past couple of months.
And with Mitchell Moses calling the shots, the Eels not only more than held their own for extended periods, they were arguably the better side.
But they don’t have the overall class and experience that the Storm possess and they made a couple of rushed passes down the stretch which swung the pendulum ever so slightly back towards their opponents, who took full advantage.
Every year there’s a team that finishes well short of the finals who wouldn’t look out of place in the post-season action – this time around it’s the Eels.
Cameron Munster. (Photo by Cameron Spencer/Getty Images)
3. Bellamy can’t bear to watch nail-biter
In the opening round, the Eels conceded eight tries in the first half against Melbourne.
They showed hat far they have come when they were able to withstand five straight sets on the goal line midway through the first half.
Ultimately they cracked when a Munster kick found Eliesa Katoa flying high to open the scoring but the Eels of round one would have conceded three tries under that weight of possession.
They responded when Josh Addo-Carr sped onto a set-up pass from Sean Russell but the Storm took a 10-4 advantage into the sheds after Parra’s goal-line defence opened up so wide that Tui Kamikamica could pilot his gigantic frame through to the stripe.
The unlikely figure of young Eels forward Charlie Guymer reduced the gap to two points six minutes into the second term when he regathered a deflected pass and then just managed to ground the ball on a blade of grass despite Papenhuyzen’s despairing efforts to hold him up.
Munster conceded a dopey escort penalty to allow Parra to square true ledger at 10-10.
A missed Papenhuyzen penalty goal and an elementary fumble from rookie forward Ativalu Lisati was enough to send Craig Bellamy marching out of the coach’s box to vent his pent-up rage.
He finished the game with a slightly calmer disposition but even after Coates’ hanger, the Eels went perilously close to forcing extra time in the frenetic final stages.
4. Papenhuyzen could adapt to rugby
There’s never a guarantee when a league player switches codes that they will be a success.
Papenhuyzen is reportedly interested in considering the option of trying his hand at rugby after meeting R360 officials last weekend to get the lowdown on plans for the breakaway competition.
He has a limited rugby background from his high school days but the 27-year-old could adapt.
A similar kind of player to Mat Rogers, who made a successful transition more than a quarter of a century ago, although he had a more extensive union background.
Papenhuyzen is also not the biggest player but such are his acceleration and evasion skills at fullback, it wouldn’t matter if he was the wearing No.1 or No.15 jersey.
Kicking in general play from the back would be an area he would have to improve if he hopped codes but it remains to be seen whether he has genuine interest or his agent is trying to drive up his asking price for the Storm to keep him around after next season or a team like the Perth Bears to get his signature on a contract.
5. Foxx a feelgood story
Josh Addo-Carr’s career was on shaky ground at the end of last season when Canterbury ripped up his contract.
The veteran winger looked like a lost Dog at Belmore, one that was pining for his previous club, the Storm, where he won two premierships.
At 29, he was facing the prospect of making a swift exit from the NRL if he didn’t clean up his act.
Parra offered him just a one-season deal with an option in the club’s favour if he earned it.
And he’s certainly done that and it wouldn’t be a surprise if the Eels extend his tenure even longer.
Now 30, the Foxx has not any of his blinding speed, particularly off the mark.
Addo-Carr had only a minute advantage over the cover defence on the way to the corner in the first half but he turned that into four points in a split-second.
He did likewise the previous round against Brisbane and now has 11 tries for the season in just 17 appearances.
The more games he gets with Moses setting up Parra’s attack will lead to an even better strike rate.
The Kick: Mitch the better boot
Unless his calf is still not fully healed, Moses should be taking Parra’s kicks at goal.
He allowed Sean Russell to take the goal-kicking duties earlier this year when he was making a return from foot surgery.
And now he’s taking a back seat to Zac Lomax, who has a booming boot but lacks Moses’ accuracy, missing two kicks from out wide that hooked a long way away from the sticks.
When it comes to career strike rate, Moses is one percentage point higher than Lomax at 77%.
A similar question could be asked of the Storm with Papenhuyzen shanking an easy early conversion off the upright, botching a longer-range attempt from right in front after the half-time siren and another gettable penalty midway through the second half.
Nick Meaney is a reliable kicker although Papenhuyzen has a better record.
But this was not his night and luckily for him, his struggles at getting two-pointers did not cost them the two competition points.
