Vunivalu strikes 2 in Storm big win
Ablistering opening 20 minutes starring Suliasi Vunivalu has laid the platform for Melbourne’s emphatic 40-14 NRL win over Newcastle at AAMI Park. Melbourne coach Craig Bellamy laid down the law midweek about their stuttering attack after two successive losses and the Storm responded in style on Friday night.
The Fijian winger scored twice in their seven try romp.
As well as three early tries, the defending champions completed 13 from 13 sets and had 82 per cent of possession.
With Ryley Jacks taking over the halfback duties from the axed Brodie Croft, the Storm looked more composed and skipper Cameron Smith had one of his best matches of the season.
EARLY LEAD
They took an 18-8 lead into the break as the visitors finally found their feet, with second-rower Lachlan Fitzgibbon and Ken Sio collecting tries to close out the half.
Newcastle halfback Mitchell Pearce again underlined his NSW Origin credentials with a hand in both tries - the second including a long bullet pass to Sio that caught the Storm defence short. Melbourne’s wingers Josh Addo-Carr and Vunivalu were in the thick of the action, both scoring a try in each half to bookend a try by prop Tim Glasby. Addo-Carr’s second came in the 47th minute when the Knights were a man down after Fitzgibbon was sin-binned following repeated penalties as the Storm attacked the tryline.
LUCKY BOUNCE
Vunivalu twice had the benefit of a lucky bounce from kicks - the second rebounding off Pearce’s head in his tries. The Knights, who sat two places ahead of Melbourne in seventh heading into the match, continued to toil hard, with Kalyn Ponga again among their best.
However, the young fullback was given a reality check as he was racing to the tryline when a flying cover tackle from Billy Slater brought him down and knocked the ball from his arms.
Melbourne finished the night the way they started with Felise Kaufusi crossing before big-name recruit Sam Kasiano scored his first four-pointer in Storm colours.