The Storm bounced back from a horror performance against the Broncos to book a spot in a preliminary final with a 18-13 win over the Roosters.
Cameron Munster, who was his own harshest critic last week, delivered when it mattered most, while rugby union convert Will Warbrick came up with a moment he’ll remember for the rest of his life.
Nick Meaney was unbreakable at the back and Tyran Wishart did an admirable job filling in for the injured Jahrome Hughes.
Read on for the Storm’ Player Ratings from week two of the finals!
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1. NICK MEANEY – 9
Made up for an uncharacteristic game last week with being one of the Storm’s best. Was heavily involved, took some big carries and was incredibly safe under the high ball all night. Finished with a team-high of 148 running metres.
2. WILL WARBRICK –8.5
Had a pretty quiet night by his lofty standards… until he outleapt Junior Pauga in the final two minutes to score the matchwinner. A huge play from a guy in his rookie NRL season — and one he’ll remember forever.
3. MARION SEVE – 8
Scored a try and came up with a crunching one-on-one tackle on Fletcher Baker in the first half. Finished with 119 running metres, a linebreak, four tackle busts and 14 tackles — two misses — to go with his four-pointer.
4. JUSTIN OLAM –7
Recalled in the centres and made the most of his opportunity. Got some space in the first five minutes down left edge and came up with a crucial tackle on James Tedesco five metres out from the Storm line.
Storm strike off BLATANT KNOCK ON | 00:44
5. REIMIS SMITH – 6.5
Was brought in for the injured Xavier Coates and was important in the effort areas, showing the desperation to dive on a few live balls.
6. CAMERON MUNSTER – 9
Actively looked to get involved and threatened a number of times. Produced some pinpoint kicks — including the one that set up the matchwinning try — as well as a big one-on-one tackle on Sam Walker and a try-saver on Victor Radley. It wasn’t his best game but when it was time to deliver the killer blow he did.
21. TYRAN WISHART – 8
Wishart, who has spent most of the year playing hooker, had the very big shoes of Jahrome Hughes to fill and did it well. Had a statement start to the game as he threw a dummy and ran through two Roosters players to score the opening try. Came up with some big tackles on the Storm’s line, but couldn’t stop a burrowing Brandon Smith out of dummy-half. Had a howler of a field-goal attempt but it didn’t matter in the end.
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8. TUI KAMIKAMICA – 6.5
A fairly quiet night from the Storm’s big man. Copped a falcon in Wishart’s field goal attempt and just seconds later copped a head knock in a tackle and was forced from the field early for a HIA.
19. BRONSON GARLICK – 6
Had a simple job — take the sting out of the game before Harry Grant came on and he did exactly that. Made 13 tackles with zero misses and took a few runs in his 25-minute stint.
16. NELSON ASOFA-SOLOMONA – 7
Promoted to the starting side before kick-off to take on the Roosters’ pack and was “superb” in defence in his first 16-minute stint, according to Fox League’s Greg Alexander, who highlighted Asofoa-Solomona’s “low, driving tackles.” Came back on in the 53rd minute and notched up some important metres.
11. TRENT LOIERO – 8
The underrated second-rower threatened the Roosters’ line a couple of times and almost scored at one point. Finished with 100 running metres, two tackle busts and 18 tackles — one miss.
12. ELIESA KATOA – 7
Busy in defence with 29 tackles and was able to force a Roosters error, also got an offload away in the lead-up to Marion Seve’s try.
13. JOSH KING – 6.5
Usually very reliable, but Josh King came up with a couple of errors in the first half. He did make up for one though by forcing a Roosters knock-on in the following set. Made an equal team-high of 32 tackles, but did miss four.
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INTERCHANGE BENCH:
9. HARRY GRANT – 8
Came on in the 16th minute and was busy from the get go. Was lucky to get away with a knock-on and then when the Storm got down the other end of the field Grant set up Marion Seve’s try. Had some frantic moments but was a threat out of dummy-half getting two linebreak assists and 66 running metres, while also remaining rock-solid in defence with 32 tackles — one miss.
10. CHRISTIAN WELCH – 8
Coach Craig Bellamy dropped his skipper to the bench in what Fox League’s Corey Parker was a “bold move” but it ended up being the right move. Welch’s fresh legs were injected in the 22nd minute, he came up with an intercept and ran 50 metres in a rare attacking moment for the 29-year-old. Finished with 131 metres and 12 tackles — one miss.
15. TOM EISENHUTH – 6.5
An unexpected recipient of a linebreak on the stat sheet but workhorse Tom Eisenhuth backed up Harry Grant’s run out of dummy half and was there on hand for the offload.
17. TARIQ SIMS – 7
Reliable as always, finishing with 44 metres from seven runs and 22 tackles with just one miss in his 34-minute stint off the bench.
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