Storm gets a scare at its second home
Titans take game to wire against understrength host
THE Storm made it a perfect 10 wins out of its last 10 games to leave a gallant Titans finals hopes on the ropes in a thriller at Sunshine Coast Stadium.
The Titans had one last play in the dying seconds that threatened to snatch what would have been a try for the ages but an errant pass by Phil Sami went over the sideline.
Melbourne’s 20-14 win at Sunshine Coast Stadium in front of a 7630strong crowd was an error-riddled performance without its four Maroons representatives but when it needed an injection their big-game players Jahrome Hughes, Nicho Hynes and Brandon Smith provided the required spark.
The Titans, without Origin stars AJ Brimson, Moe Fotuaika, David Fifita and Tino Fa’asuamaleaui, were able to lift to the level required to match Melbourne and were the better side for much of the second half.
Gold Coast backline debutants Jayden Campbell, son of Preston, and Greg Marzhew had outstanding debuts as prop Jaimin Jolliffe had the best game of his career.
Once again Melbourne got the job done while under strength and while away from its home base, but it was made to work for it by a Titans side that refused to die.
The Titans, trailing 16-4 at halftime, came storming back into it in the second half with a magic Ash Taylor grubber setting up Patrick Herbert and Jarrod Wallace crashing over from close range.
Reimis Smith was sent to the sin bin for a dangerous tackle on Jolliffe in the 67th minute as the Gold Coast showed ticker and skill to go within a whisker of scoring with Brian Kelly losing the ball on the line.
Earlier, Hughes sliced through to set up Reimis Smith for a try and Brandon Smith scored one himself
and set up local Sunshine Coast product Trent Loiero in the first half.
A member of the crowd raced onto the field after the Titans had scored in the second half to narrow Mel
bourne’s lead to 20-14 and was escorted from the field by multiple security guards.
The Storm’s game went downhill from that moment as the Titans roar
ed back into it. STORM STREAK
The Storm is on track for another top two finish and can lay claim to being one of the great clubs in Australian sport of any era. The ‘next man up’ mentality is more than a mantra. It is a way of life at Melbourne.
The Storm has been without Ryan Papenhuyzen, Cameron Munster and Harry Grant for the last month due to injury, and with the latter two now Origin, but have not missed a beat.
Hynes, Hughes and Brandon Smith have lifted in their absence and ensured Melbourne’s continued success. On this occasion they were off their game but still able to get the job done.
The unfolding COVID-19 crisis in Melbourne will likely keep the Storm in camp at Twin Waters on the Sunshine Coast for several more weeks.
HISTORIC TITANS DEBUT
The Titans made history with debutant fullback Jayden Campbell joining his illustrious father Preston in club colours, the first father-son duo to play for the club.
The 21-year-old had a nervous start with a drop from a bomb but hit back in style to chime into the backline and create a try for fellow debutant Greg Marzhew, the hulking winger who was once a professional hip-hop dancer. Marzhew made a bone-rattling and try saving tackle on Justin Olam in an impressive all-round debut.
Campbell showed the elusiveness and zip that has made him a star in the Intrust Super Cup but it was his crunching tackle on Hynes to save a try at the death that showed he is made of the right stuff.
Both debutants ran for over 150m to suggest they will have long and successful careers.