Melbourne half Jahrome Hughes was the difference in a 30-24 win over the gallant Dolphins at Lang Park where Tevita Pangai Junior’s return to the NRL produced fireworks.
Pangai was put on report for a late shot on prop Christian Welch, which should lead to a fine, and was involved in a fiery scuffle after a monster hit on lock Trent Loiero.
Storm coach Craig Bellamy has now won his past 12 NRL games head-to-head against Dolphins mentor Wayne Bennett.
Both sides shone with the ball and scored three tries each in the first half for an 18-all scoreline.
Hughes was sensational for the NRL competition leaders, starting and finishing a try just before the break with a crafty kick for winger Will Warbrick.
The Storm No.7 was at it again after the break with a pinpoint bomb for Warbrick to score, before putting Josh King over under the sticks.
Dolphins winger Jamayne Isaako than snaffled a Hughes cross-field kick to race 98m in an individual cracker to narrow the visitors’ lead to eight.
Isaako landed a penalty and went within a metre of scoring at the death, held out by desperate Storm defence.
The Dolphins had a worrying start to the match when winger Jack Bostock landed heavily on his head while tackling opposite number Warbrick. The 20-year-old, who didn’t move for 20 seconds, was ruled out of the match with concussion.
The Dolphins, after rearranging their left edge, stayed composed and half Isaiya Katoa put prop Kenny Bromwich over against his old club.
Ryan Papenhuyzen, back after a five-week absence with an ankle injury, finished off a 70m raid to return serve in style for Melbourne.
Magic hands by the Dolphins trio of Herbie Farnworth, Kenny Bromwich and Ray Stone after a Katoa bomb led to Euan Aitken scoring in the corner.
The Storm had success down the Dolphins’ patchwork left side with another long-range try, this time to No.6 Tyran Wishart.
Dolphins fullback Trai Fuller, who was magnificent, dazzled his way over in what was a tit-for-tat extravaganza.
Pangai Jnr came on in the 26th minute for his first NRL game in 10 months and made an impact with his offloads and strong carries, despite being put on report
Loiero was put on report for a crusher tackle on Farnworth.
The Dolphins, who went into the match in fourth position, fought hard after losing Bostock and showed once again they are a force to be reckoned with in the NRL title race.
AAP
Key events
FULLTIME: Storm 30 def Dolphins 24
The Dolphins get some second phase going and launch a final, desperate raid – Fuller slides through a tackle, throws a great pass out to Isaako and he goes for the line only for Papenhuyzen and a few Storm cover defenders to cover him. Turnover.
But then a steal! The Phins are still alive! They throw it around, there’s space out there, Nikorima takes them on, throws it out the back to Nicholls, he offloads to Kerr……but he can’t get it away! He’s just a metre out from the line but that’s fulltime. An outstanding game of football, Storm hang on for a 30-24 victory.
77th minute: Dolphins penalty goal
The Dolphins test the Storm on both sides of the field, but can’t crack them. Averillo puts a kick in, Fa’alogo picks it up and he looks to have found space only to be pulled up for an obstruction. Phins take the two, it’s 30-24 to the Storm with two minutes left. Don’t go anywhere!
75th minute: Storm error
Hughes floats a beautiful pass out to Warbrick who has nothing but open field in front of him but the Kiwi puts it down cold. The Dolphins remain a live but they need a try on this set.
71st minute: Dolphins no try
Lemuelu flies through to claim a kick over Papenhuyzen and reaches out to score and keep this game alive! He’s hurt himself as well, he stretched out and seems to have banged his shoulder. To add insult to injury, they’ve disallowed the try because Lemuelu lost the ball as he went to score. Tough beat.
57th minute: DOLPHINS TRY
Another try and you won’t believe it, it was a great try. Hughes swings a kick out wide towards Anderson but Isaako latches onto it and goes 100 metres to score despite a valiant chase from Papenhuyzen. The Phins really needed that one, they’re back in touch with this game. The kick swings across the face, but the Dolphins have narrowed the gap to 30-22.
52nd minute: STORM TRY
It’s Hughes again, he puts King through a yawning gap and the big man cruises over to score next to the posts. Melbourne starting to run away with it now. Meaney converts and the Storm lead 30-18.
49th minute: Storm penalty goal
Pangai Junior hits Anderson with a big tackle and he’s been penalised for offside. He’s been good, TPJ – given the Phins a real injection of energy – but the Storm are now on the attack.
Another penalty for a late tackle gives Melbourne a fresh set. They’re right in front, so they’ll take the two.
42nd minute: STORM TRY
Didn’t take long – Hughes puts a kick up for Warbrick and he flies high to claim the ball and score. Super take from the big winger who’s had a real return to form tonight. Meaney’s kick is wide, Storm lead 22-18.
Second half is underway
Here we go – got a feeling there will be plenty more points to come in the second stanza.
HALFTIME: Dolphins 18 Storm 18
The Dolphins get a penalty right on halfway and Isaako goes for a long, long range goal. It goes just wide, but that’ll take us to the break. Awesome half of footy!
36th minute: STORM TRY
These tries, bloody hell! Another beauty, this time from the Storm. Hughes puts a kick in behind Farnworth, Warbrick gets a dream bounce and he feeds Hughes back on the inside to score. This is awesome, it’s all tries, no tackling, just vibes. Meaney converts and it’s 18-all.
29th minute: DOLPHINS TRY
Man, they just keep coming. Garlick gets pinged for a forward pass two tackles after the kick off and straight from the scrum the Dolphins sweep left, the Storm are back on their heels and Fuller slices through to score! Isaako converts and the Dolphins are up 18-12.
26th minute: STORM TRY
Some good footy being played out there tonight. This time the Storm strike from deep in their own half – Hughes puts Warbrick away, he brushes past Farnworth and he’s got Wishart backing up to score under the posts. Meaney converts and we’re back square.
25th minute: Dolphins challenge
A pass goes behind Anderson, but Isaako knocks it on as he attempts to gather it in. The Dolphins challenge and they’ll win it, because Anderson got a slight hand to it. Pangai Jnr has just come on to officially begin his club debut.
21st minute: DOLPHINS TRY
Katoa puts up a cross kick, Farnworth catches it, gets it out to Bromwich and the Storm look to have wrapped it up before a late offload finds Stone who puts Aitken over in the corner! Well done from the Phins to stay alive on the play. Isaako nails it from touch and the Phins lead 12-6.
17th minute: Dolphins no try
Nikorima puts in an early kick, the bounce beats Papenhuyzen and Nikorima himself trails through to score….but a replay shows Jake Averillo knocked on in the lead-up. Storm take the 20 metre restart.
16th minute: Storm error
Blore puts Wishart away with a good offload, he tries a tricky pass to Anderson but he can’t gather it in. Phins on the attack.
12th minute: STORM TRY
A pass from dummy half goes to ground on Melbourne’s 30, Wishart picks up the scraps and veers wide. Then Howarth and Anderson link up, Howarth finds some space, links with Anderson again and he’s got Papenhuyzen in support to score! Great ad-lib footy from Melbourne and a good sign early for Papenhuyzen, that’s the classic support play he’s so well known for. Meaney converts and it’s 6-all.
8th minute: DOLPHINS TRY
Katoa throws a beautiful short ball to Kenny Bromwich and the veteran is over! The big man doesn’t get too many but he’s been in excellent form of late and that was a really nice line out on the edge. Isaako converts and the Phins lead 6-0.
6th minute: Storm drop out
A good run from Nicholls earns a six again for the Dolphins to put them in good field position – Aitken nearly gets over, only to be rounded up by Meaney. Then a Nikorima grubber gets them a repeat set and a crusher tackle from Kamikamica helps them build a little more pressure.
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