Error riddled Panthers held scoreless by the Storm

The Penrith Panthers have been dealt a stinging 20-0 defeat at home in front of 11,849 fans by the Melbourne Storm on Saturday night, while the Queensland Maroons and the Storm also left the match with a problem of their own as Cooper Cronk was pulled from the field and went straight up the tunnel with a torn meniscus in the second half.

After completing a routine attacking play untouched Cronk played on with what was obviously a knee complaint.

The early reports have the trainers believing Cronk will be right to line up for State of Origin II in Melbourne on June 17.

The Panther's showed no promise in attack through their first full game without Matt Moylan this season.

The completion rate of the home side's also rated as one of the worst throughout the NRL this year as they completed a mere 19 of 36 sets compared to the Storm's 30 from 37.

Blake Green was the best on field as he bagged a first half try scoring double. Green's first try was gifted as Cronk's low flying kick in the fifth minute deflected off Sika Manu's head and sat up for the five-eight to collect and put down under the posts.

The try was converted and the score was 10-0 ten minutes later when Billy Slater's replacement Cameron Munster fended off a Peter Wallace tackle in a strong move to power the ball down over the line.

Green's next points came from another poor Panthers defensive display when he ran straight at the line from 10m out after only one pass wide pass from Cameron Smith at dummy half.

Jamie Soward's kicking game and leadership were sorely missed and Ivan Cleary will be grateful of the bye they have next weekend and will hope to get Soward and Josh Mansour back for their round 15 clash with the Canterbury Bulldogs at ANZ Stadium.

The Storm will be back in Melbourne next Monday night as they will host the Parramatta Eels at AAMI Park, just two days prior to the second instalment of the 2015 State of Origin series at the MCG.

Match Details

Penrith Panthers 0 Melbourne Storm 20
Venue: Pepper Stadium
Crowd: 11849
Halftime Score: Penrith Panthers 0 Melbourne Storm 18

PENRITH PANTHERS (0)

MELBOURNE STORM (20)
Tries: Blake Green (2), Cameron Munster
Conversions: Cameron Smith (3/3)
Penalty Goals: Cameron Smith (1/1)

LeagueUnlimited.com Players of the Match:

3 points - Blake Green
2 points - Cameron Smith
1 point - Cooper Cronk

LeagueUnlimited.com Live Commentary

Welcome to League Unlimited's coverage of the Round 13 matchup between the Penrith Panthers and Melbourne Storm. Both teams have surprised with mass changes to the team sheets. The Panthers have sent the versatile Tyrone Peachy to 5/8 covering for the injured Jamie Soward. Adam Docker has been rushed into the starting side with Nigel Plum out and Lewis Brown demoted to the bench. Sam Anderson joins the bench as 19th man. For the Storm Jordan McLean returns unexpectedly from injury and will start in the front row. Tim Glasby is moved to the second row. Tohu Harris goes to the centres covering for the omitted Kurt Mann. Richard Kennar will debut replacing the injured Marika Koribete on the wing with Christian Welch also to debut in the 18 jumper from the bench. Stay tuned for kick off!

There is of course the omission of the injured Billy Slater and Cameron Munster will once again take his place. Richard Kennar becomes only the third Victorian to play for the Melbourne Storm tonight.

Both teams are on the field. Kick off moments away.

Penrith have first use of the ball and make it 45m up the field with a Wallace clearing kick.

2: The Storm make it halfway and Cooper Cronk puts up a torpedo. Will Chambers contests the ball and is ruled offside. Replays show he was indeed onside. Penalty to the Panthers.

3: Segeyaro looks dangerous in his first run and the forwards made great metres of the back of it. Wallace chips to the right wing on fifth tackle and Munster is there to take a confident catch in goal.

4: Melbourne Storm receive a penalty 60m out. Penrith had ill-discipline play in the ruck to be charged with the penalty.

5: Storm attempt a sweep down the right hand side of the park and in an attempted tackle from Isaah Yeo the ball is knocked into touch. Melbourne receive another set of six 30m out.

5: Melbourne are targeting Penrith's left side defence but there are no weaknesses as yet.

5: TRY MELBOURNE STORM
Scored by Blake Green. Kick to come.
Cooper Cronk kicks to low to the left corner and it hits Sika Manu in the head. The ball bounces towards the post and Blake Green is the first to the loose ball, diving over under the posts. Penrith were unlucky to concede points there.

7: SUCCESSFUL CONVERSION MELBOURNE STORM
Conversion attempt by Cameron Smith successful.
Easy attempt close to goal successful from Smith.

8: Respectable first set after points and Penrith have to work the ball up from 10m out.

9: The Panthers get down field and Wallace's fifth tackle bomb is taken well by Fonua.

9: Smith looks for touch on fifth tackle but it falls slightly short of the line 10m out. DWZ will return the ball.

10: Craig Bellamy will be slightly upset as the Storm give away a soft penalty to a struggling Penrith. This will get the Panthers close to halfway.

11: UNFORCED ERROR PENRITH PANTHERS
Adam Docker makes an unforced error.
In a great position to put some pressure on Docker drops the ball on a simple hit up.

12: UNFORCED ERROR MELBOURNE STORM
Tim Glasby makes an unforced error.
Going down the left channel Cooper Cronk throws a late and difficult to catch pass to Glasby and he could not be expected to hold onto the ball so close to the Penrith defensive line.

14: Part of Penrith's game plan must be to force plenty of their own offloads, it's making them look dangerous. Attacking the right side it's Tohu Harris in the centres that smashes Whare and the ball goes into touch from an attempted pass before the tackle.

14: Penalty to the Storm. A high tackle will mean Melbourne can advance the ball up to 30m from the Penrith try line.

15: TRY MELBOURNE STORM
Scored by Cameron Munster. Kick to come.
A soft try conceded by the Panthers. Cameron Munster receives the ball on a second man play, strongly fends off a normally defensively strong Peter Wallace one-on-one and is able to place the ball down away from the chasing DWZ in the corner.

17: SUCCESSFUL CONVERSION MELBOURNE STORM
Conversion attempt by Cameron Smith successful.
A left hand sideline conversion stays straight and goes through.

19: 50m come from the Storm's set and DWZ receives the ball 20m out to run the ball back.

20: UNFORCED ERROR PENRITH PANTHERS
Waqa Blake makes an unforced error.
A bad error once again from the Panthers. A play the ball from Blake is lazy and pulled up. Storm get the scrum and will attack from 30m out.

21: Cameron Smith attempts a grubber kick on tackle four and Segeyaro gets a foot to deflect the ball back down field. Segeyaro sprints and is first to the ball. He falls on it and earns a penalty from a Storm player holding on too long. Here come the Panthers.

22: The Panthers attack with purpose down the right channel and one of the passes that shuffles the ball to the winger is ruled forward. The Storm are the third best defensive team in the comp and they muscled up there.

23: Penrith are turned around once again by Melbourne, a Cronk kicks sees the Panthers return the ball from deep into their own half.

24: An offside penalty is ruled on the Storm and Penrith are given easy meters once again. Bromwich is also penalised for stopping play.

25: Makeshift five-eighth Tyrone Peachy had the ball on a loose play on fifth tackle and he's able to guide a grubber kick in goal for the Storm to push dead for a goal line dropout. After 25 minutes maybe now the home side can build some pressure.

26: Once again the Panthers attempt to go through the Storm's left side defence. The Storm break it up on fifth tackle once again but Glasby is pulled into touch straight away. Penrith get another set of six. Bellamy is clearly swearing in his box.

28: Wallace goes dangerously close to knocking on and that leaves Peachy to execute the fifth tackle play. He chooses to kick another grubber and Will Chambers is not able to return the ball from the in goal. Another dropout from Melbourne awaits.

29: Smith hooks his dropout right and Lewis Brown takes the ball. He's got four Melbourne players guiding him over the nearby sideline. That's one of the strangest plays we'll see from a dropout.

31: Melbourne make only 35m in their set and look to be tired after a fair bit of defence. Cronk goes for an uncharacteristic chip and chase on fifth tackle and it is well covered by the Panthers.

33: Isaah Yeo goes barnstorming down the right side and gets the offload away whilst two defenders were on him. Waqa Blake has 10m to go and Munster expertly stops the big Blake with help from his winger to bring a tackle short of the line. Blake looses the ball in the tackle.

34: On the return set the Panthers are carrying the ball up strongly. They earn a penalty and Segeyaro makes 25m from a quick tap. Half breaks are being made almost every second play something must give.

35: UNFORCED ERROR PENRITH PANTHERS
Tyrone Peachey makes an unforced error.
A frantic quick pass is knocked on. The adlib football is strong for the Panthers but as soon as they try to run set pieces they fall part.

37: UNFORCED ERROR PENRITH PANTHERS
Waqa Blake makes an unforced error.
The ball comes loose from Waqa Blake on the kick return. The video referee reviews the play looking for a penalty but the play was all legal. Storm will attack from 20m out.

37: TRY MELBOURNE STORM
Scored by Blake Green. Kick to come.
It's another fairly soft try conceded by the Panthers. Blake Green notches up a first half double as he receives a pass from Cameron Smith out of dummy half. He runs straight towards the line faking to consider passing the ball further down the backline and he goes over with little contact.

38: SUCCESSFUL CONVERSION MELBOURNE STORM
Conversion attempt by Cameron Smith successful.
From halfway between the sideline and the mid field Smith lands the kick from the left.

40: Storm gain an easy 70m on the first set after points and Mahe Fonua goes very close to retrieving a fifth tackle kick and making it to the try line.

40: With that play the hooter goes and halftime is upon us. The Storm have been clinical despite the missing starters from their side. They haven't been sharp in attack, it's their effort that's got them an 18 point half time lead. The Panthers are struggling to break the Storm line when it's set. It looks like the only points the Panthers can score tonight will come from adlib football due to the missing Matt Moylan and Jamie Soward. The second half will commence in approximately 10-15 minutes.

40: The players are returning to the field. The Melbourne Storm will receive the ball from the kick off.

41: A great 70m are made up field from the Storm's first set of the half. DWZ fields a bomb uncontested on his try line.

43: A grubber towards David Simmons just pulls up in the right spot and it forces the Panthers to knock it dead for a goal line dropout.

44: UNFORCED ERROR MELBOURNE STORM
Mahe Fonua makes an unforced error.
Fonua is passed the ball from Chambers and the simple pass is left behind by Fonua 10m out from the line.

44: UNFORCED ERROR PENRITH PANTHERS
Dallin Watene Zelezniak makes an unforced error.
An offload inside their own half from the Cartwright is dropped by DWZ. These errors are killing the Panthers.

47: SUCCESSFUL PENALTY GOAL MELBOURNE STORM
Penalty goal attempt by Cameron Smith successful.
There is a penalty awarded to the Storm. Jesse Bromwich is lifted slightly by Bryce Cartwright and he comes down in a dangerous position. Captain Cameron Smith elects for the Penalty Goal from 20m out right in front and he converts.

49: This set from the Storm after points seems like they are content on protecting rather than building on this lead. They ruck it up 50m and kick long into touch.

51: On the Panther's last tackle Smith rushes from dummy half to stop Segeyaro and he gets shrugged away. Attempting to take advantage Segeyaro puts in a small grubber kick from 40m out but the Storm recover. A penalty is soon rewarded to the Storm and they enter the Panthers half with a full set of six.

52: Fifth tackle sees Blake Green kick a grubber at the uprights and he makes contact with them and the ball. Cronk comes racing to plant the ball down but it's just raked away in time. Line dropout coming up.

54: David Simmons comes off his wing to smack Tohu Harris stopping the Storm's most likely scoring play of the set. Another Blake Green kick is this time in the air towards the right and DWZ takes the catch and is buried in the in goal. The Storm are building plenty of pressure in a clinical manner.

55: Blake Green thows a pass and is intercepted by Tyrone Peachy. Peachy runs 85m before Cronk runs him down. Desperate rushing defence from the Storm slows the resulting Panthers plays down and on fifth tackle the Penrith have no shape and drop the ball forward. Storm pick it up and start to ruck it up field.

56: Cooper Cronk is down in back play getting attention from the trainer. He was noticeably hurt before running down Peachy.

57: Segeyaro creates a half chance during the Panthers set. He passes to Wallace and quick carless passing has resulted in a forward pass.

58: The Panthers completion rate tonight is 10 from 24 sets which is horrendous.

58: Cooper Cronk has come from the field and goes straight up the tunnel. He is walking unassisted, no clue yet of what the knee injury may be.

60: Another error comes from the Panthers set. David Simmons drops the ball trying to break free from a soft tackle. The previous worst completion rate of the 2015 NRL season was the Titans at 16 from 31 sets. The Panthers are now 10 from 25.

61: Cameron Smith takes over the fifth tackle duties from the injured Cronk and his grubber is picked up by DWZ 2m out.

62: The Panthers attempt a kick from the right side of the field, inside their own half, and they gift possession back to the Storm. More pressure and frustration is clearly resulting.

63: On fifth tackle Blake Green comes up with his first poor kick of the night, it goes straight to a Penrith defender just outside of his line.

64: The Panthers have imploded. Wallace uses his fifth tackle kick from the halfway line to put a chip kick in and while Cameron Smith jumps to catch the ball he is tackled in mid air. The sprinklers might as well go on at the Panthers attacking half.

66: The Storm haven't look the slightest bit dangerous since Cooper Cronk left the field. Blake Green's kick along the ground goes dead and the Panthers will get a seven tackle set starting on the 20m line.

68: UNFORCED ERROR PENRITH PANTHERS
Isaah Yeo makes an unforced error.
Cooper Cronk Update: He has suffered a meniscus tear and the Storm trainer thinks Cronk will have no problem taking the field for the QLD Maroons for State of Origin 2. Meanwhile Isaah Yeo drops a Lewis Brown pass.

68: Looking for a hat-trick Blake Green charges at the line and it's referred to the video referee. With three Panthers trying to stop him there's no way he should have the opportunity to score but they did just deny him.

68: The Panthers will start another seven tackle set from 20m out.

69: Wallace goes high on a good fifth tackle option. His bomb is fielded well by Mahe Fonua 20m out.

70: Not one of the best sets from the Storm just now. Green needs a long kick to attempt to peg Penrith in their half.

73: Bryace Cartwright is showing his potential by pulling three Storm players and getting an offload to a running Tyrone Peachy. Peachy kicks forward, is pulled down and the ball is forced dead by Melbourne. Goal line dropout ahead.

73: Tohu Harris concedes a penalty on his line, holding on too long. Six more.

73: Back to back penalties here, Smith was standing in the way of the play the ball. Just tired play there.

74: Another shocking pass from Lewis Brown. The Melbourne player jumps up in front of Waqa Blake and Brown then throws the ball straight to him.

74: The Storm knock the ball on so now the Panthers will attack from 20m away.

75: DWZ looks groggy with trainer Ronnie Palmer but he takes his spot in the line. Cartwright put a grubber kick in which rolled over the dead ball line.

75: Adam Docker is off the field after suffering a head knock earlier in the match.

76: Messy play from the Storm on fifth tackle sees the Panthers eventually pick the ball up comfortably on their own 10m line.

77: UNFORCED ERROR PENRITH PANTHERS
Peter Wallace makes an unforced error.
James Segeyaro provides another offload and Peter Wallace drops the ball unsuspecting the pass.

78: UNFORCED ERROR MELBOURNE STORM
Tim Glasby makes an unforced error.
He drops the ball falling to the ground in the tackle.

79: UNFORCED ERROR MELBOURNE STORM
Will Chambers makes an unforced error.
Wallace throws a long ball and it goes directly to Will Chambers. He drops a sitter and then the Panthers knock on immediately after. Penrith will get the feed 25m out from the Storm's line.

79: The Panthers kick on tackle one from the scrum and it results in nothing.

80: With that it concludes this match between the Penrith Panthers and the Melbourne Storm. The Panther's couldn't get any points for their home fans but it looks like there will be more struggles ahead as long as Moylan and Soward are out injured. Stay tuned for a full match report from the match. Thank you for joining the live update tonight. Congratulations Storm fans!