The Storm have climbed back into the top four and made a big statement in the process following a stunning 48-2 victory over the Raiders at AAMI Park on Sunday afternoon.
With star trio Jahrome Hughes, Harry Grant and Cameron Munster controlling proceedings with an up-tempo style of play, the Raiders could only manage two points to start the match via a penalty goal before the Storm ran in nine tries.
The frustration ultimately got the better of the visitors when they went down to 11 men with Jordan Rapana and Matt Timoko sent to the bin in the final 10 minutes of the match summing up the afternoon for Ricky Stuart's side.
While the Raiders usually find a way to get it done at AAMI Park, having not lost at Melbourne's home ground since 2018, missed tackles (56) and errors (12) made for a day to forget as they slipped further down the ladder into sixth with a points differential of -120.
The Raiders came out firing and marched the ball downfield to open the scoring in the fifth minute through a penalty goal thanks to a Christian Welch offside penalty but it was all one-way traffic after that.
Trent Loiero try 47th minute
Welch quickly made amends, charging through a flat-footed Joe Tapine and Josh Papali'i from close range to cross for his first try since 2021 and open the scoring for the home side.
The Storm looked to extend the lead in the 18th minute through Young Tonumaipea but Raiders winger Nick Cotric came up with a superb try-saver to hold up the centre just short of the line.
Melbourne had all the momentum and on the back of a set restart, it was a Nelson Asofa-Solomona offload which opened up the right edge to send Marion Seve over in the corner.
With Melbourne's spine beginning to take control and errors creeping into the Raiders' game the home side ran in two more tries before halftime through Reimis Smith and Eliesa Katoa to extend the lead out to 20-2.
The second half started the same way the first had ended for the Raiders with errors cruelling any chance they had of wrestling back momentum and Grant haunted the visitors, setting up Trent Loiero from close range in the 47th minute.
Grant bagged one of his own seven minutes later, scooting from dummy-half to find Meaney in support before getting the ball back on the inside and streaming downfield to stretch Melbourne's lead out to 30 points.
Cameron Munster try 64th minute
Munster got in on the action in the 64th minute, palming off Raiders defenders before crossing the stripe, before things went from bad to worse when Rapana (professional foul) and centre Timoko (dangerous tackle) were sent to the bin
The Storm ran in two more late tries through Meaney and Tonumaipea to ice a 48-2 statement victory and left plenty to ponder for the Green Machine and their premiership chances with three weeks left until the finals.
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Match Snapshot
- Raiders fullback Jordan Rapana was sent to the sin bin in the 70th minute for a professional foul.
- Raiders centre Matt Timoko was sent to the bin and placed on report in the 78th minute for dangerous contact.
- Ethan Strange made his NRL debut for the Raiders at centre and came up with 80 run metres and two tackle breaks.
- Storm fullback Nick Meaney had a day out in the No. 1 jersey with a try, two assists, 171 run metres and ten tackle breaks.
- Both sides came up with 12 errors but Raiders completed at just 68 per cent (22 of 32 sets) and the Storm 78 per cent (37 of 47 sets).
- Entering the fray 21 minutes into the match, Storm hooker Harry Grant was immense for the home side with one try, one assist, 118 run metres and four tackle breaks.
- The Storm have won eight of their past nine games in Melbourne.
- Harry Grant has scored six tries in his past five games in Melbourne.
Play of the Game
Harry Grant continued his try-scoring run at home with his trademark craft around the ruck, The elusive No. 9 capitalised on a quick play the ball and retreating defenders, scooting from dummy half before finding Nick Meaney on the short side and trailing in support to get the ball back to score Melbourne's sixth try of the night.
Harry Grant try 54th minute
What They Said
"We weren't that great with the ball to be honest, we made a lot of errors in the first half but I just thought we built our game on our defence and that's a bit of old school Melbourne Storm. I knew it was the best preparation we'd had for a couple of months probably. We had some real intent and discipline in our training sessions and put a line on things early in the week. We know if we do certain things at training it usually comes out in the game...I knew we hadn't been training the way we should or could have. I think we set a couple of standards this week and today." - Storm coach Craig Bellamy
"It wasn't tough at all it was just embarrassing. I'm absolutely embarrassed. I don't think I can say much more than that to be honest. We went away after 20 minutes. We weren't prepared to fight today for the 80 and they were. We were fighting for a top four spot today and delivered up that crap." - Raiders coach Ricky Stuart
NRL Press Conference: Storm v Raiders - Round 24, 2023
What's Next
The Raiders return home to host the Bulldogs on Sunday at GIO Stadium while the Storm head to Wollongong to meet with the Dragons on Saturday night.