STORM PUT COWBOYS’ BIG MEN TO SHAME
MELBOURNE have a psychological hold over the Cowboys after the Storm last night mauled North Queensland’s monster pack to claim bragging rights 30-14 in the grand final rematch.
Not even the return of Michael Morgan from injury could help his side snap the dominance of a Storm side which franked last year’s 34-6 grand-final rout with their seventh consecutive defeat of the Cowboys.
North Queensland have now gone a staggering 909 days without beating the Storm – and the inquisition must begin with a Cowboys forward pack that was tactically beaten and battered.
Such was the clinical nature of Melbourne’s victory, champion skipper Cameron Smith was given an early shower as the Cowboys slumped to their second consecutive defeat.
The Cowboys were considered raging favourites for this year’s premiership on the strength of their big boppers Matt Scott, Jason Taumalolo and Jordan McLean.
But the Storm proved energy and hunger can trump sheer size, belting the Cowboys in midfield to emphatically atone for last week’s shock home loss to the Wests Tigers.
MELBOURNE 30 (N AsofaSolomona, W Chambers, J Stimson, C Welch tries; C Smith 6, B Croft goals) d NORTH QUEENSLAND 14 (C Hess 2 tries; J Thurston 3 goals) at AAMI Park. Crowd: 12,866.