Brilliant Cameron Munster scores STUNNING try and inspires Melbourne to 34-18 win over Cronulla as Storm stop high-flying Sharks in thrilling contest
- Melbourne Storm beat Cronulla 34-18 in thrilling contest at AAMI Park
- Cameron Munster shone, scoring a try and setting up three more
- Sharks lost Dale Finucane to HIA just eight minutes into the game
- Storm overtook Cronulla in second place on the NRL ladder behind Penrith
Some Cameron Munster magic has helped Melbourne secure a sparkling 34-18 win over Cronulla with the playmaker proving why he’s on every NRL club’s wishlist.
In a high quality match on Saturday night at AAMI Park fitting of two of the top three teams in the NRL, the Storm scored five tries to three with Munster collecting one while playing a starring role in three others.
The Sharks’ cause wasn’t helped by losing skipper Dale Finucane just eight minutes into his first meeting against his former club after failing a HIA.
The Storm climbed up to second on the NRL ladder following a 34-18 win over Cronulla
Melbourne were missing their captain with Jesse Bromwich and his brother Kenny both out with COVID-19.
Justin Olam scored the first of his two tries in the 19th minute when Munster fired a long ball out to winger Nick Meaney, who passed back inside for the Melbourne centre.
The Sharks hit back with ease through their own centre Siosifa Talakai, whose silky hands also set up two second-half tries for Ronaldo Mulitalo.
Munster’s individual brilliance was on show when he threw three dummies and stepped in and around the Sharks defence from 40 metres out to touch down.
Cameron Munster starred for Melbourne as he delivered a vintage performance
The Storm five-eight scored a brilliant try and set up three more scores for his team
His skills will surely leave Dolphins coach Wayne Bennett salivating at the prospect of luring the five-eighth north.
The Storm led 12-8 at halftime but Sharks coach Craig Fitzgibbon could have hardly asked for more with his team completing at close to 100 per cent and making just two errors.
Melbourne immediately made life difficult when they got a scrum off the second-half kick-off with Munster sending the ball bouncing between defenders and into touch.
The Sharks suffered their second win of the season but proved they are the real deal
Cronulla lost Dale Finucane to a HIA just eight minutes into the game at AAMI Park
Locking the scrum, hooker Harry Grant picked the the ball up at the back and off-loaded to halfback Jahrome Hughes, who found Olam for his second try.
Mulitalo scored in the 46th and 60th minutes, which again closed the margin to six points but that was as close as the visitors got.
Another big Munster dummy allowed Ryan Papenhuyzen to dot down before Grant burrowed over from dummy-half for their fifth and final try of the night.
On a sour note for the Storm, Felise Kaufusi was twice put on report, firstly for a late tackle and then a crusher.