‘Smoke and mirrors’ Storm star roars back; Turbo meets his ‘kryptonite’: Three Big Hits
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The Storm are into another preliminary final as they dominated a shell-shocked Manly side 40-12 on the back of a masterclass from Ryan Papenhuyzen.
Here are the key takeaways from the match.
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PAPENHUYZEN IS BACK. PERIOD.
If Ryan Papenhuyzen returned to form last week he announced himself as well and truly back after a starring display against the Sea Eagles.
The Melbourne fullback outpointed his more fancied rival Tom Trbojevic to finish with 125 metres, two tackle busts, a linebreak, two tries, seven goals and a two-point field goal to help lead his side to the preliminary final.
The game was on a knife’s edge at 18-6 with Manly mounting a comeback before Papenhuyzen scored a try on either side of halftime to put the result beyond doubt.
His second try was a thing of beauty as Papenhuyzen turned Trbojevic inside out before scooting over to make it 30-6.
“Papenhuyzen with it swerving and he twisted and turned the Manly defence inside out,” Voss said.
“It was like smoke and mirrors. The Papenhuyzen alarm again.
“Manly was absolutely bamboozled.
“He has got two tries and four goals. He is back. The hat-trick last week and the Clive Churchill Medal winner form last year now with 18 points.”
Braith Anasta announced that Papenhuyzen was well and truly back to his formidable best after his second try.
“Where’s the roadrunner? There he is he is flying,” Anasta said.
“Left foot, right foot, swerving. They can’t stop him. He is way too quick.
“He is in open space and he is too elusive.
“He is back in some great form.
“The Storm have got too much class, too much speed and that’s Papenhuyzen’s second try of the night.
“The Storm have put in a five star performance tonight.”
Corey Parker noted the Storm just have too much class as Papenhuyzen took the game away from Manly in the championship minutes before and after the break.
“What statement from the Melbourne Storm either side of halftime,” Parker said.
“Papenhuyzen scored the try before halftime and then opened the scoring in the second half.”
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TOMMY TURBO FINALLY GOES MISSING AS STORM SUFFOCATE MANLY
All the talk going into the match was could the Storm stop the red hot form of Manly fullback Tom Trbojevic and they well and truly answered the call.
Trbojevic was well below his best particularly with his involvement to finish with 118 metres, a tackle bust, an offload, an error, a penalty conceded and a missed tackle in by far his worst performance in a long time.
Trbojevic has just 27 metres in the second half as the Storm suffocated him out of the contest.
Andrew Voss noted the lack of involvement from Trbojevic in the first period of the second half which highlighted how well Melbourne’s plan had worked.
“Melbourne have the kryptonite on Tom Trbojevic,” Voss said.
“The second half has been going 20 minutes and Tom had one run for six metres.
“That is extraordinary stuff.
“He has been frustrated by his own team I think as well, but Melbourne came with a plan.”
Matty Johns believes it was the indecisiveness of Manly’s players that cost Trbojevic any chance of getting into the game.
“Everything Melbourne do is deliberate,” Johns said.
“You can see them working for points on the field. There is plenty of ball movement but it is controlled that’s the difference and they rebuild their sets of six.
“Everything Manly do is indecisive. A little bit here and a little bit there. This is the reason Tom can’t find his way in this game.
“He is floating around but there is no visual opportunity and there is no momentum.”
MANLY’S TOUGH ROAD TO GF AFTER RIGHT EDGE BLOWN AWAY
Manly had to be perfect to beat a superb Storm outfit and they were anything but with their right edge defence torn to shreds by a ruthless Melbourne outfit.
Matty Johns believes the loser of the clash between the Storm and Manly faces an uphill battle to make the final.
“I believe the loser of this game will struggle to make the grand final because they will have to likely play the Panthers in a preliminary final,” Johns said.
“The right side for Manly struggled.
“Lots of errors. Lots of indecisiveness and that’s with the football and without it. It is a big problem.”
Cooper Cronk noted the ease at which Manly’s right edge was blown away by the Storm in a worrying sign for their chances of progressing further next week.
“It was Deja vu for Manly’s right edge,” Cronk said.
“They get off the line OK but you cannot be passive and start hesitating close to your line with the power running of Kenny Bromwich.
“Watch Morgan Harper. Jason Saab disconnected and another try for the Storm.
“Inexperience showed for Manly.
“You saw Harper drop the ball and it leads to the first try to Lumelume.
“Manly were in it but their errors were just crucial at bad times.
“The right edge again Harper, Olakua’atu and Saab. Really passive and allowing the Storm to dictate terms.
“It was three tries in 14 minutes and another strip and a captain’s challenge led to the next try.”
Greg Alexander believes it was Manly’s errors that were punished so ruthlessly by the Storm that cost them any chance of an upset.
“Des Hasler spoke about possession is key and their discipline and it was poor in Round 21 well it started off exactly like that,” Alexander said.
“Morgan Harper dropping a pass from Daly Cherry-Evans, the Storm scoring in the fourth minute and then right on the stroke of halftime, Harper dropping a lofted pass Cherry-Evans and Papenhuyzen scoring the fourth try for the Storm.
“There was a couple of plays whether it was kicks from Munster or Hughes that you thought Manly are not on because there was no pressure on the kicker.
“They were shell-shocked. It was 16-0 after 15 minutes and they didn’t really recover.
“They spent a couple of sets down the other end of the field and came up with their own try through Jason Saab but then gave up another one.
“They were punished heavily because of the errors. They made four in the first half and the Storm scored on the back of each of the errors made.”
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