Storm back on point in Eagles win
MELBOURNE coach Craig Bellamy is confident the club’s depth can handle its injury woes after Nelson Asofa-Solomona (calf) and Marion Seve (knee) both failed to finish in its 30-6 win over Manly.
In front of 2910 fans at a socially-distanced Sunshine Coast Stadium, Storm centre Justin Olam crossed for a hattrick in a welcome turnaround from last week’s scoreless result against Parramatta.
The return of the two Camerons — Smith and Munster — steered Melbourne to its 24point victory, marking up its 16th win in a row at a Queensland venue.
The Storm’s left edge of Olam and Josh Addo-Carr was particularly dangerous putting on 20 points alone between them.
The loss has all but dashed Manly’s finals hopes, who now sits six points outside the top eight with four games to go.
Storm forward Christian Welch faces a nervous wait at the judiciary after making contact with his knees to Manly’s Curtis Sironen’s head.
INJURY BLOW
STORM suffered another injury setback, with boom forward Asofa-Solomona copping a calf injury.
Melbourne also lost outside back Marion Seve with a suspected anterior cruciate ligament injury.
The 25-year-old was carried from the field in the first half after suffering the injury in a bruising tackle by Manly fullback Tevita Funa.
If confirmed, it will be a six to nine month recovery.
“It has been a (challenge) but that’s part of our game,” Bellamy said. “The guys who have come in have done a really good job and it’s just about trying to get that mix right.”
The pair will join Brandon Smith, Kenny Bromwich, Dale Finucane and Suliasi Vunivalu in Melbourne’s casualty ward.