SLUGGISH STORM TURNS ON JETS
COMPLACENCY was always going to be Melbourne’s biggest challenge on Friday night in taking on the lowly Brisbane Broncos at Suncorp Stadium and the first half proved so.
The Storm was well below its best in the wet conditions, prop Nelson Asofa-Solomona spilling two balls and giving away a penalty that would have sent coach Craig Bellamy into meltdown.
But when it switched on the Storm cruised to a 46-8 win.
Jahrome Hughes’s try was special and it edged further ahead in the 45th minute through Kenny Bromwich.
From there the Storm controlled the contest.
Young prop Tino Fa’asuamaleaui, Hughes and Josh AddoCarr bagged doubles as the Storm racked up its ninth win of the year.
The Broncos did discover some spirit but still copped a hiding, though, remarkably, this was an improvement.
For 40 minutes they went toe-to-toe with the Storm.
But then they crumbled. The Broncos’ defence was split too easily and they lacked a killer blow with the ball to prove they are a long way off being a contender.
Anthony Milford’s move to fullback could not have started any worse.
The Broncos’ $1m man was “nutmegged” in his first involvement, which saw AddoCarr score after 90 seconds.
Winger Herbie Farnworth crossed to level scores and the Broncos looked a far different team to the outfit flogged 48-0 by the Tigers last week.
Despite its sloppy start, the Storm took a 14-8 lead into the break on the back of a fabulous individual try from halfback Hughes.
Seibold waited, and waited, and waited before deciding to give young gun Tom Dearden a crack at halfback.
On the basis of the performance, Dearden should have been in the team weeks ago.
He was impressive, barking orders at the Broncos and pulling off some big defensive plays.
At only 19, he has plenty of improvement in him.
Seibold showed too much faith in the misfiring Brodie Croft-Milford combination, with a wayward Croft pass pounced on by Addo-Carr summing up his form.