S29E025 Preview – Panthers problems

Penrith have lost their last two and come to Melbourne having slipped from the top of the ladder for the first time since they got there in March.

Back when Penrith were shit — zero finals wins from 2005 to 2014, they would often come to Melbourne for an annual flogging. They won just once against the Storm from 2006 through to a breakthrough win in 2013. The following March they showed up at AAMI Park.1

Both teams had won their round 1 matches in contrasting styles to start the 2014 season. Penrith had thrashed the Knights 30–8, while Melbourne won a round 1 classic 23–22 in golden point at Manly on the back of a first career field goal from Cameron Smith.

In that match Smith had equalled Matt Geyer’s record of 262 Storm appearances, running out against the Panthers in this match for his first of many appearance records. It would be a double celebration for Melbourne with Billy Slater lining up for his 250th match.2 Melbourne’s home opener also the first time two Victorians had lined up for the club at AAMI Park with both Mahe Fonua and Young Tonumaipea starting in the backline.

This was my first home match back at AAMI Park after returning to live in Victoria, additionally it was AusGP weekend in Melbourne and the timing of this match with a Saturday 5:30pm kickoff wasn’t ideal with rain threatening and then falling across the city.3

The pink Panthers harried Melbourne early, forcing a returning Cooper Cronk4 to submit on a final tackle play at midfield in the opening minute. On the back of a penalty, the Panthers had the first chance of a deep attack, and another penalty for offside extended their possession even longer. Melbourne’s defence were up to the task — Sisa Waqa sliding across with Mahe Fonua to put Josh Mansour into touch.

Penrith probably shaded this match in the first ten minutes, but on the back of Melbourne’s first penalty in the ninth minute, the Storm went on the attack. They went straight to work and Cronk bamboozled the Panthers on the right edge, sending Kevin Proctor over through a hole to score and put the home team up 4–0.

In almost no time it was 8–0. A runaround play with Cronk, Proctor and Slater set up Fonua again down the right edge. The centre falling over the line as Melbourne were targeting what they saw as a weakness on that edge. Smith again missed the conversion attempt in the damp conditions.

Not everything was going Melbourne’s way though. Matt Moylan put Josh Mansour over in the corner, but Waqa and Fonua were able to hold him up — but on the other side of the field, James Segeyaro and Peter Wallace combined with Moylan to put Kevin Naiqama over to score in the corner. Weight of possession the key for the visitors with Wallace able to convert to make it 8–6 on the scoreboard.

A high tackle penalty on Wallace against Slater gave the Storm a chance to hit straight back — again it was down the right edge. This time it was Tohu Harris using his passing game with Slater to put Fonua on the outside of his opposite number, the centre passing early enough to give Waqa clear passage to the corner. Smith hit the post this time to keep Penrith in it at 12–6.

With not much doing for the visitors in the 34th minute, a bomb from Wallace was mishandled by Slater to hand attacking position over to the Panthers. They hardly needed a second invitation — on their first play they shifted to their right where Tonumaipea was AWOL and Will Chambers was unable to defend a two-man overlap. Naiqama grabbed his second try to bring the visitors back to within two points.

Naiqama could have had a hat-trick but for a called forward pass too during the first half. Seconds before the break a penalty to the Storm gave Smith a fourth chance to kick from out wide on the right — this time the skipper slotting the goal for a 14–10 Storm lead. The stats would suggest that Melbourne were sure things — the men in purple had won 27 out of 27 matches in which they had a halftime lead at AAMI Park.

With the rain still falling, Penrith tried to use their speed against the Storm defence. It was their offloads though that broke the resolve of the Melbourne defensive structure — a play that featured multiple offloads led to Mansour spinning out of a tackle to score in the corner. Melbourne had handed over possession at midfield through a Jordan McLean dropped ball, but it was speed and offloads that hurt. Penrith had tied it up at 14–all.

In his milestone match, Slater was put in the naughty corner in the 58th minute — a professional foul called against the fullback after he stopped a Segeyaro line break. He tried to argue the toss with Ashley Klein, but that was never going to work. Penrith took the shot at goal with Wallace making it a 16–14 scoreline with 21 minutes remaining.

During the man advantage for the Panthers, Melbourne mostly bossed the match without their fullback. Ben Hampton moved to the back and was able to defuse a few kicks, while Smith and the Storm forwards were able to control possession and take time off the clock. Just before Slater’s return, Smith converted a penalty goal after Klein blew his whistle too early as Fonua looked to have scored a try.

With scores level with ten minutes remaining, this match got a little weird. It’s hard to do it justice, but the replay helps:

Hampton coaxed a knock-on out of Jamal Idris with a kick, but the Storm couldn’t break the deadlock with a try, instead taking an early field goal from Cronk who was positioned just 15m out directly in front of the sticks. The attempt only just clearing the black dot. With rain now pouring down the Panthers got the ball down the other end and set up for a Wallace field goal, only to have it blocked by Kenny Bromwich and the ball knocked on by Segeyaro as he tried to recover it within sight of the Storm try line.

Melbourne though gave the ball straight back with Sisa Waqa dropping the ball on the first play and Penrith had a chance to level yet again — this time Wallace was positioned back enough to clear the rushing defence to lock the scores at 17–all with 80 seconds left.

Then came a Cameron Smith special from the restart — screwing the ball along the turf to find touch 25m out from the Panthers line. Melbourne got the ball back with 69 seconds remaining from a scrum win. Protecting the Steeden at all costs — Cronk got in position early and from 20m out was able to put Melbourne back in front and should have also received a penalty as the defenders hit his standing foot. That would have been game over, but with the clock stopped with 26 seconds remaining, there was another restart and a penalty for the visitors for offside as the Storm fumbled the ball. From 41m out, wide on the right, Wallace had a chance to win the game, but his kick fell short and wide for Slater to boot the ball into the Yarra.

No Storm tries in the second half, two field goals. Just Melbourne 2014 areas. If you have a peek at the stats, you can see why Jesse Bromwich was eventually awarded the Storm’s Player of the Year Award that year.

Melbourne – 18 (Proctor 10', Fonua 14', Waqa 30' tries; Smith 2/5 goals; Cronk 75', 80' field goals)

Penrith – 17 (Naiqama 26', 35', Mansour 44' tries; Wallace 2/5 goals; Wallace 79' field goal)

Dally M votes: Jesse Bromwich (3), James Segeyaro (2), Cooper Cronk (1)

• Melbourne have won two of their three previous matches played on 20 August, including a 28–24 win over the Panthers in 2001.

• This is the sixth straight season Melbourne have played Penrith in August, but the first time the match will be played in Victoria. Melbourne have won four out of the five previous matches, with this the third year in a row that the match is scheduled for a Thursday night.

• Penrith have won just four out of their 22 trips to Victoria, including just once at AAMI Park from 10 previous matches.

• Including weeks off earned during finals, the Storm have won their last 11 games immediately following a bye.

• Melbourne have lost 11 of their round 25 matches, only winning 13 in seasons that have featured 25 or more rounds.

• The Storm have won 18 consecutive Thursday night matches at AAMI Park, winning 39 of 47 matches played on that day of the week.

• With four losses at AAMI Park this season, a loss in this match would equal Melbourne’s high of five losses at the venue in one yet set in 2014 (from 13 matches) and 2015 (from 12 matches).

• This match is Ivan Cleary’s 500th NRL match as a head coach — he has a 18-1-21 record in 40 previous matches against Melbourne as coach of the Warriors and Panthers.

• Brian To’o has 99 career NRL tries in 152 matches — he’s scored 12 tries in 15 matches against Melbourne.

• Since the start of the 2021 season, Melbourne have won 17 of 30 matches officiated by Grant Atkins. This will be the first time he has controlled a Storm versus Panthers match since round 3 of the 2021 season, a 12–10 Panthers win at Penrith.

Birthdays:

• 20 August: Brett Finch ⚡️115; Dean Ieremia ⚡️213

• 22 August: Matt King ⚡️069; Robbie Rochow ⚡️122

Blast from the past:

Titans chief accuses Storm of ‘bullying’ tactics over Turner (The Age/Stathi Paxinos)

18 August 2006

Melbourne Storm was yesterday branded as a bully by the Gold Coast Titans for its “reprehensible and disrespectful” actions in trying to re-sign Steve Turner after he had agreed to join the NRL newcomers.

Titans chief executive Michael Searle came out swinging yesterday, saying the club was not “like the Gold Coast of old” and that the classy Storm winger would not be released from his obligations with the new franchise that he agreed to join in June — a stance that has become more pertinent as speculation emerged that fellow signings Brian Carney and Luke O'Dwyer were wavering.

Searle yesterday met NRL chief executive David Gallop to shore up his club’s position.

“I was quite clear with (Storm chief executive) Brian Waldron on Tuesday that we had an agreement with Steve and they decided to proceed with complete ignorance to that advice,” said Searle.

“The Storm’s tactics were bullying, they were very bullying on Tuesday, to sign an agreement with the knowledge he had already come to terms with us.

“The Gold Coast of old may have rolled over, but this organisation won’t. We feel the efforts in the Melbourne Storm to secure Steven’s services… to be reprehensible. It’s disrespectful to the Gold Coast Titans administration and its fans. A deal’s a deal.”

Gallop said the NRL supported the Titans’ position with the agreement — “while not formalised in a playing contract, it was clearly a done deal.” He said Waldron had indicated the Storm wanted “a couple of days to see whether a resolution agreeable to all parties can be reached.”

But Waldron, who trumpeted Turner’s re-signing to the media on Wednesday, went quiet yesterday, saying he wanted to “let the dust settle” before re-entering talks with the Titans and Turner’s management next week.

Searle admitted Turner had asked to be allowed to back out of his Gold Coast deal last week, but the request was denied.

Do you remember:

The previous match between Melbourne and Penrith on 20 August was back in 2001 and marked the NRL debut of Fijian winger Semi Tadulala. Wearing jersey number 19, it wasn’t the best of first impressions as he spilled a bomb on his third touch to hand Matthew Rieck a try and the last-placed Panthers an early lead. Tadulala was then denied a try after a cut-out pass from Scott Hill was called forward by the officials.

Tadulala wouldn’t make another NRL appearance until well into the 2002 season, biding his time with the Norths Devils in Queensland Cup. His second NRL match in round 18 did see him score his maiden try, scoring the opening effort against the Roosters at Olympic Park in a big 48–10 win for the Storm.5

1. Sualauvi Fa’alogo

2. Siulagi Tuimalatu-Brown

3. Jack Howarth (50th NRL match)6

4. Nick Meaney

5. Moses Leo

6. Cameron Munster

7. Trent Toelau

8. Stefano Utoikamanu

9. Harry Grant ©

10. Josh King

11. Shawn Blore

12. Oryn Keeley

13. Trent Loiero

14. Tyran Wishart

15. Alec MacDonald

16. Angus Hinchey

17. Cooper Clarke

18. Joe Chan

19. Manaia Waitere

20. Davvy Moale

21. Jack Hetherington

22. Hayden Watson

Referee: Grant Atkins (Bunker: Wyatt Raymond)
Forecast: Possible showers 11–18°C

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Melbourne Storm versus Penrith Panthers
— AAMI Park, 7:50pm Thursday 20 August 2026

Need we remember what happened last time?

Surely Melbourne won’t give up 50 points to the Panthers this time around, even if the Storm aren’t playing finals football…

Harry Grant’s hamstring has enough awareness to return this week after missing the last two matches. His return sees a reshuffle with Tyran Wishart named on the bench and Trent Toelau listed at halfback. Youngster Hayden Watson is the odd man out, put on the reserves list after he was seen in the no touching role at training.

Alec MacDonald resumes after missing the trip to Perth with a concussion, while Jack Howarth might be back if his body is allowed to run around for his 50th NRL appearance. Cooper Clarke is in the middles rotation where he belongs after Shawn Blore took the blunt edge forward role again. With Blore off to the Broncos next year, maybe it was worthwhile to test out someone who will be around in 2027 to give that position a trial over the next three weeks. Speaking of people who won’t be around in 2027 — Davvy Moale was named in the reserves, but will be off to Broadmeadows on Friday, while Jack Hetherington has been named back on the bench in place of Manaia Waitere.

For the Prefects, Casey McLean returns in place of an injured Paul Alamoti, which probably sees their back five at full strength outside the Head Boy and Jack Cogger. Penrith’s only real missing piece at the moment is Isaah Yeo who is out until sometime when the Storm are on September holidays.

Since we last saw the Panthers in early April, they’ve actually lost six matches — including their last two against the Warriors and Roosters. They have actually looked human, or at least unable to use their own version of Vlandysball tactics against teams that have the ability to harass and shut down space and time for their playmakers. Watching the Roosters match last week was a throwback to 2018–2019 style rugby league. Which means there’s going to be a response from the men in pink with the whistle.

So you would hope that Melbourne could put together one great 80 minutes performance at AAMI Park to see out this cursed season on a high note. But it does feel like a bit of copium. Penrith will bounce back from their bad fortnight. How well they bounce back will be up to Melbourne. If the Storm can restrict the Panthers in similar ways to the Wahs and Chooks… well…

It’s also the final home matches at Seabrook Reserve for the Storm in the Jersey Flegg Cup and the NSW Cup this week. Both teams have had a bit of a struggle this season with positive results in obtaining wins, but the player development pathways remain strong.

On Friday afternoon (3pm kickoff) the Under-21s will be up against the third-placed Panthers, a team they lost 34–26 against back in April. A seventh win for the season could jump Melbourne up a couple of spots up the ladder, but the Panthers are only third on points differential having the same number of wins as both the Dragons and Bulldogs.

Following that match (4:45pm kickoff), the NSW Cup team will take the field up against the second-placed Panthers. The Storm are pretty much locked into 13th place on the ladder in their first season back in this competition, with six wins from their 20 matches. A win for Penrith will take them temporarily back to the top of the ladder, while Melbourne will play current leaders the North Sydney Bears next weekend.