Melbourne Storm defeat Parramatta Eels 16-10
The 16-10 win moves Melbourne into second spot for now but there are still major questions over their attack with Storm fans hoping to see their re-signed playmaker back in time for the finals.
Cameron Munster set up the first try of the night with a perfect kick for Eli Katoa and then set up the high-flying Xavier Coates for the winner with another kick that saw the winger sail over Zac Lomax to cross with 11 minutes to go.
But they clearly missed the reigning Dally M Medal winner on the right edge, with Tyran Wishart not having much of an impact.
Jonah Pezet came on with 12 minutes to go and could be an option given he's a traditional halfback which would allow Wishart to go back to the bench and carve up against tiring forwards.
While the attack wasn't at its clinical best, Craig Bellamy would have been thrilled with Stefano Utoikamanu who had his best game for the club, with the recruit busting four tackles in a crucial run a couple of plays before Coates scored the winner.
BLUE AND GOLD STANDARD
Honourable losses late in the season don't often mean much, but it's a slightly different story for the Eels who have come a long way in 2025 under new coach Jason Ryles.
While finals are out of the question, you only have to go back to their round one loss in Melbourne to see how far they've come under the rookie coach who has made sweeping changes to the team that will help them in the long run.
The Storm put 56 points on them in round one but struggled to break them down in greasy conditions, with Parramatta's defence backing up their effort against Brisbane last week.
Their attack wasn't as crisp as we've seen this year but the past couple of weeks will give Ryles the confidence that his side has the temperament and the game plan to match it with the top teams.
RYAN WHERE?
Ryan Papenhuyzen celebrated his return from a calf injury with a couple of threatening early carries, but it wasn't a happy comeback for the man who has been linked with a move to a rival code.
In his first game in a month, the Storm fullback missed three shots at goal, including a conversion attempt from next to the posts that struck both uprights.
He sprayed a long-range penalty goal and then missed another shot that would have given them the lead late on, with Nick Meaney replacing him to slot a tricky conversion to give them a crucial six-point lead.
GUESSING GAME
Only Charlie Guymer will know if he got the ball down for Parramatta's second try, because fans are none the wiser despite 20 replays which showed us nothing.
Guymer threw a pass that was knocked down by Coates and brilliantly regathered to score what looked like a try which was awarded by the referee.
The Bunker spent a couple of minutes looking at a stack of angles that never showed the ball on the ground, but the on-field decision was supported and thankfully didn't decide the game. NRL
Superstar prop Payne Haas could be a shock withdrawal for the Broncos' clash with the Rabbitohs after being struck down by illness, in what could be a double blow for the side after the loss of another forward. NRL
Amid claims of declining standards after their fourth-straight loss to start the year, players and staff at the Raiders have come together for an honesty session in a bid to address their issues and save their NRLW season.
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Sydney Morning Herald
31 minutes ago
- Sydney Morning Herald
All-out attack is the key to beating the Storm. The Broncos have the men to do it
If the Broncos win tonight, they're a big chance of making the top four. It will all come down to Penrith; in rounds 24 (Storm), 25 (Raiders) and 26 (Bulldogs), the premiers play the top three teams. The joker up Penrith's sleeve is the point they earned from a draw earlier in the season. The Storm will put a lot of energy into their defence, whereas the Broncos will put a lot of energy into their attack. It's a case of contrasting styles, but if it sticks for the Broncos, they are so dangerous. Reece Walsh sums up Brisbane; if it sticks for him, they're hard to beat. For mine, the Storm are still the favourites to win the competition. Even if Jahrome Hughes can't return for the finals, they can still win it. There are question marks over Nelson Asofa-Solomona, whether he can get himself back in shape and into the team. They really missed him last year in the grand final against Penrith. There are great match-ups all over the field. The five-eighths, Munster and Mam, are great runners of the ball. Munster will want a big game against the Broncos, and I reckon Ezra's getting better each week. Then there's Harry Grant versus the Broncos ruck defence. Harry is in incredible form; he's a run threat, and his pass selection close to the line is just top-notch. The Brisbane markers and ruck defence will have to be on because if they're not, Harry will carve them up. The other big match-up I can't wait for is between the NSW front-rowers, Payne Haas and Stefano Utoikamanu. Will they be the Samoan two props at the end of the year? Both are huge men, are great attacking forwards with huge frames, both fit and fast. These clashes will shake the stadium. There will be nothing in it. The Storm's bench looks a bit stronger, and they're so tough to beat down there in Melbourne. Joey's tip: Storm by four First try scorer: Grant Anderson Man of the match: Cameron Munster Walker v Katoa is a peek into the future for Origin Sam Walker and Isaiya Katoa are genuine halfbacks and will be playing against each other in Origin in four or five years. I can see a Maroons pairing of Tom Dearden and Sam Walker complementing each other's game; that would be a really good combination. Katoa and Walker are different players and body shapes. Katoa is 93 kg, Walker is just 78kg wringing wet - he looks like a heavyweight jockey. Walker's a throwback to the early 1990s halfback; he looks like Aflie Langer and plays what he sees, without a safety net. With Sam, you've got to take the good with the bad. He's going to make some terrible errors, but on the flipside, he's going to come up with some breathtaking, attacking brilliance. Katoa is so different. He likes set plays, and he does them better than anyone. He's fairly calculated, the way he plays the percentages, and has got more of a running game than Walker. He's also a better defender, just with that bigger body. Here's how I compare them in key areas: Passing game: Katoa 9/10, Walker 7 Long kicking: Katoa 8, Walker 7 Short kicking game: Katoa 7, Walker 10 Creativity: Katoa 7, Walker, 10 Defence: Katoa 9, Walker 7 Run threat: Katoa 7, Walker 7 Entertainment value: Katoa 9, Walker 10 I would pay money each week to watch these two play. Walker warms my old halfback heart. Watching him play, he's so creative. When Walker makes an error, he's got a 'I don't give a rat's arse' attitude that's similar to James Maloney. He's a great halfback test case for young coaches. His dad, Ben, coached him through the juniors and let him play, let him make errors, let him try things. That's where you learn your hardest lessons, by making mistakes on the field. In contrast, Izzy [Katoa] is just an incredible halfback. He's my favourite player to watch at the moment. A big Sorry to Cody Walker there, he'd been that player for me for a long time. Katoa's passing and pass selection are on a whole other planet; it's the best in the game. The Dolphins are such an attacking threat, and a big reason is how straight Katoa plays, which frees up the likes of Hamiso Tabuai-Fidow and Jake Averillo. I predict Katoa and Walker will play a lot of rep footy against each other in Origin, but also for Australia and Tonga. We're very lucky to get to watch these two halfbacks. Ban the third-man-in legs tackle When the third man in the tackle dives at the legs from an unseen position, it's an absolute cheap shot. All teams are guilty of the cannonball tackle; I'm not just picking on Felise Kaufusi and the Dolphins. But Kaufusi's tackle broke the leg of Warriors back-rower Jacob Laban, who is out for the rest of the year. If two players are in the tackle, and the key here is if momentum has stopped, the third person can't come in. Loading Back when I was playing, the name of the game was to get the attacker to the ground as quickly as possible. Now it's the opposite; trying to hold them up, squeeze them tight and then let the third man sweep the leg. I know every team does it, but it's so dangerous, and the margin for error is so small. They say you have to tackle above the knees, but it's easy to get it wrong. It's led to attackers, when they get into contact, to turn around to look out for that third defender coming in. That's brought into play the crusher tackle. They need to eliminate that third man in. I hate it.
The Age
31 minutes ago
- The Age
All-out attack is the key to beating the Storm. The Broncos have the men to do it
If the Broncos win tonight, they're a big chance of making the top four. It will all come down to Penrith; in rounds 24 (Storm), 25 (Raiders) and 26 (Bulldogs), the premiers play the top three teams. The joker up Penrith's sleeve is the point they earned from a draw earlier in the season. The Storm will put a lot of energy into their defence, whereas the Broncos will put a lot of energy into their attack. It's a case of contrasting styles, but if it sticks for the Broncos, they are so dangerous. Reece Walsh sums up Brisbane; if it sticks for him, they're hard to beat. For mine, the Storm are still the favourites to win the competition. Even if Jahrome Hughes can't return for the finals, they can still win it. There are question marks over Nelson Asofa-Solomona, whether he can get himself back in shape and into the team. They really missed him last year in the grand final against Penrith. There are great match-ups all over the field. The five-eighths, Munster and Mam, are great runners of the ball. Munster will want a big game against the Broncos, and I reckon Ezra's getting better each week. Then there's Harry Grant versus the Broncos ruck defence. Harry is in incredible form; he's a run threat, and his pass selection close to the line is just top-notch. The Brisbane markers and ruck defence will have to be on because if they're not, Harry will carve them up. The other big match-up I can't wait for is between the NSW front-rowers, Payne Haas and Stefano Utoikamanu. Will they be the Samoan two props at the end of the year? Both are huge men, are great attacking forwards with huge frames, both fit and fast. These clashes will shake the stadium. There will be nothing in it. The Storm's bench looks a bit stronger, and they're so tough to beat down there in Melbourne. Joey's tip: Storm by four First try scorer: Grant Anderson Man of the match: Cameron Munster Walker v Katoa is a peek into the future for Origin Sam Walker and Isaiya Katoa are genuine halfbacks and will be playing against each other in Origin in four or five years. I can see a Maroons pairing of Tom Dearden and Sam Walker complementing each other's game; that would be a really good combination. Katoa and Walker are different players and body shapes. Katoa is 93 kg, Walker is just 78kg wringing wet - he looks like a heavyweight jockey. Walker's a throwback to the early 1990s halfback; he looks like Aflie Langer and plays what he sees, without a safety net. With Sam, you've got to take the good with the bad. He's going to make some terrible errors, but on the flipside, he's going to come up with some breathtaking, attacking brilliance. Katoa is so different. He likes set plays, and he does them better than anyone. He's fairly calculated, the way he plays the percentages, and has got more of a running game than Walker. He's also a better defender, just with that bigger body. Here's how I compare them in key areas: Passing game: Katoa 9/10, Walker 7 Long kicking: Katoa 8, Walker 7 Short kicking game: Katoa 7, Walker 10 Creativity: Katoa 7, Walker, 10 Defence: Katoa 9, Walker 7 Run threat: Katoa 7, Walker 7 Entertainment value: Katoa 9, Walker 10 I would pay money each week to watch these two play. Walker warms my old halfback heart. Watching him play, he's so creative. When Walker makes an error, he's got a 'I don't give a rat's arse' attitude that's similar to James Maloney. He's a great halfback test case for young coaches. His dad, Ben, coached him through the juniors and let him play, let him make errors, let him try things. That's where you learn your hardest lessons, by making mistakes on the field. In contrast, Izzy [Katoa] is just an incredible halfback. He's my favourite player to watch at the moment. A big Sorry to Cody Walker there, he'd been that player for me for a long time. Katoa's passing and pass selection are on a whole other planet; it's the best in the game. The Dolphins are such an attacking threat, and a big reason is how straight Katoa plays, which frees up the likes of Hamiso Tabuai-Fidow and Jake Averillo. I predict Katoa and Walker will play a lot of rep footy against each other in Origin, but also for Australia and Tonga. We're very lucky to get to watch these two halfbacks. Ban the third-man-in legs tackle When the third man in the tackle dives at the legs from an unseen position, it's an absolute cheap shot. All teams are guilty of the cannonball tackle; I'm not just picking on Felise Kaufusi and the Dolphins. But Kaufusi's tackle broke the leg of Warriors back-rower Jacob Laban, who is out for the rest of the year. If two players are in the tackle, and the key here is if momentum has stopped, the third person can't come in. Loading Back when I was playing, the name of the game was to get the attacker to the ground as quickly as possible. Now it's the opposite; trying to hold them up, squeeze them tight and then let the third man sweep the leg. I know every team does it, but it's so dangerous, and the margin for error is so small. They say you have to tackle above the knees, but it's easy to get it wrong. It's led to attackers, when they get into contact, to turn around to look out for that third defender coming in. That's brought into play the crusher tackle. They need to eliminate that third man in. I hate it.
The Advertiser
an hour ago
- The Advertiser
Pezet eyes week-to-week NRL in Storm spine squeeze
Jonah Pezet says he wants to chase the opportunity to play in the NRL every week, but insists a loan deal away from Melbourne is not yet at the front of his mind. Melbourne's half-in-waiting for several years, Pezet has been named to come off the bench against Brisbane on Thursday night with Jahrome Hughes injured. Pezet is signed with the Storm until the end of 2029, but is believed to have a clause in his contract that allowed him to speak to rivals if Hughes re-signed. Hughes did so last week, extending his time in purple until 2030. The other factor is the future of Cameron Munster, who is contracted until the end of 2027 but been linked to potential Perth interest. Both Pezet and Munster share a manager in Braith Anasta, while a loan deal could potentially buy time for Munster to decide his future beyond his current deal. "I'd be lying if I said I didn't want to play NRL every week," Pezet said. "As a kid you grow up and that's what you want to do. So of course I want to chase those opportunities. "But I'm just focused on putting my best foot forward every week, so that's when Belza (coach Craig Bellamy) picks me in the team." Melbourne hooker Harry Grant this week backed the idea of loans, speaking of the good it did him at Wests Tigers while stuck behind Cameron Smith in 2020. Asked whether a loan deal could be an option for him, Pezet said it was not something he wanted to be considering. "I think I'll leave that up to Braith and everyone at the club ... they'll sort it all out," Pezet said. "With Hughesy going down there's an opportunity there, and I'll keep putting my best foot forward so that when the time comes I'm ready for that wherever it might be. "Obviously the best footy I play, the more NRL I'm going to get, so that's what I'm focused on." The Storm have stuck with Tyran Wishart as Hughes' replacement at No.7, after the reigning Dally M Medallist dislocated his shoulder last month. Bellamy on Wednesday left the door open for Hughes to return before finals, with the 22-year-old avoiding surgery and back training away from the main squad. Melbourne have not got a specific plan for Pezet off the bench, who has had limited football in the past 16 months with an ACL rupture and subsequent setback. Pezet was brought on at halfback late in last week's win over Parramatta, with Wishart shifting to lock. "I'm definitely confident in my own ability to go out there and play 80 minutes of footy in the halfback position," Pezet said. "But that's not what's best for the team at the moment." Jonah Pezet says he wants to chase the opportunity to play in the NRL every week, but insists a loan deal away from Melbourne is not yet at the front of his mind. Melbourne's half-in-waiting for several years, Pezet has been named to come off the bench against Brisbane on Thursday night with Jahrome Hughes injured. Pezet is signed with the Storm until the end of 2029, but is believed to have a clause in his contract that allowed him to speak to rivals if Hughes re-signed. Hughes did so last week, extending his time in purple until 2030. The other factor is the future of Cameron Munster, who is contracted until the end of 2027 but been linked to potential Perth interest. Both Pezet and Munster share a manager in Braith Anasta, while a loan deal could potentially buy time for Munster to decide his future beyond his current deal. "I'd be lying if I said I didn't want to play NRL every week," Pezet said. "As a kid you grow up and that's what you want to do. So of course I want to chase those opportunities. "But I'm just focused on putting my best foot forward every week, so that's when Belza (coach Craig Bellamy) picks me in the team." Melbourne hooker Harry Grant this week backed the idea of loans, speaking of the good it did him at Wests Tigers while stuck behind Cameron Smith in 2020. Asked whether a loan deal could be an option for him, Pezet said it was not something he wanted to be considering. "I think I'll leave that up to Braith and everyone at the club ... they'll sort it all out," Pezet said. "With Hughesy going down there's an opportunity there, and I'll keep putting my best foot forward so that when the time comes I'm ready for that wherever it might be. "Obviously the best footy I play, the more NRL I'm going to get, so that's what I'm focused on." The Storm have stuck with Tyran Wishart as Hughes' replacement at No.7, after the reigning Dally M Medallist dislocated his shoulder last month. Bellamy on Wednesday left the door open for Hughes to return before finals, with the 22-year-old avoiding surgery and back training away from the main squad. Melbourne have not got a specific plan for Pezet off the bench, who has had limited football in the past 16 months with an ACL rupture and subsequent setback. Pezet was brought on at halfback late in last week's win over Parramatta, with Wishart shifting to lock. "I'm definitely confident in my own ability to go out there and play 80 minutes of footy in the halfback position," Pezet said. "But that's not what's best for the team at the moment." Jonah Pezet says he wants to chase the opportunity to play in the NRL every week, but insists a loan deal away from Melbourne is not yet at the front of his mind. Melbourne's half-in-waiting for several years, Pezet has been named to come off the bench against Brisbane on Thursday night with Jahrome Hughes injured. Pezet is signed with the Storm until the end of 2029, but is believed to have a clause in his contract that allowed him to speak to rivals if Hughes re-signed. Hughes did so last week, extending his time in purple until 2030. The other factor is the future of Cameron Munster, who is contracted until the end of 2027 but been linked to potential Perth interest. Both Pezet and Munster share a manager in Braith Anasta, while a loan deal could potentially buy time for Munster to decide his future beyond his current deal. "I'd be lying if I said I didn't want to play NRL every week," Pezet said. "As a kid you grow up and that's what you want to do. So of course I want to chase those opportunities. "But I'm just focused on putting my best foot forward every week, so that's when Belza (coach Craig Bellamy) picks me in the team." Melbourne hooker Harry Grant this week backed the idea of loans, speaking of the good it did him at Wests Tigers while stuck behind Cameron Smith in 2020. Asked whether a loan deal could be an option for him, Pezet said it was not something he wanted to be considering. "I think I'll leave that up to Braith and everyone at the club ... they'll sort it all out," Pezet said. "With Hughesy going down there's an opportunity there, and I'll keep putting my best foot forward so that when the time comes I'm ready for that wherever it might be. "Obviously the best footy I play, the more NRL I'm going to get, so that's what I'm focused on." The Storm have stuck with Tyran Wishart as Hughes' replacement at No.7, after the reigning Dally M Medallist dislocated his shoulder last month. Bellamy on Wednesday left the door open for Hughes to return before finals, with the 22-year-old avoiding surgery and back training away from the main squad. Melbourne have not got a specific plan for Pezet off the bench, who has had limited football in the past 16 months with an ACL rupture and subsequent setback. Pezet was brought on at halfback late in last week's win over Parramatta, with Wishart shifting to lock. "I'm definitely confident in my own ability to go out there and play 80 minutes of footy in the halfback position," Pezet said. "But that's not what's best for the team at the moment."
