NRL TEAMS - 2024 Round 3
7 hours ago | LeagueUnlimited Media
A dominating 22-8 win for the Canberra Raiders over the Melbourne Storm made a bold statement for their premiership winning capability.
Coming off a 16 point win against the competition leading Cronulla Sharks last Saturday, tonight they took down the premiership leading Storm with a brutal effort in defence.
The home side's defence, showing a similar resolve to what Melbourne have displayed all year, had the strong 15,707 GIO Stadium crowd in full voice for the entire game.
Melbourne had over 45 tackles inside Canberra's defensive 20 metre zone and only earned one try.
It did not come at the expense of their attack as the Raiders are the only team to have scored more than 20 points on the Storm this season.
The Storm could not contain Joey Leilua and only a laceration to his leg in the final minutes of the game stopped the hulking centre and forced him to the bench.
The former Newcastle Knight recorded two tries, 11 tackle breaks, two line breaks and two offloads.
Leilua recorded the fastest try in the NRL this season, scoring inside the first minute and just seconds before what Kevin Naqiama's effort was for the Wests Tigers against the Gold Coast Titans earlier this round.
Elliot Whitehead charged into defenders on the right edge at halfway, an offload got Leilua into the backfield, he passed for Blake Austin, Austin charged up to ten metres out of the Melbourne line and another offload back to Leilua allowed him to put on the first four points.
An individual effort landed Leilua his second try in the 23rd minute. A grapple tackle from Jesse Bromwich, which might be an issue for Bromwich with the match review committee, fired up Leilua as he beat the defensive line and then fullback Cameron Munster from ten metres out.
The Storm responded to the quick start in the 11th minute as Cronk declined his kick and pass options at the Raiders try line to run hard for his 11th try of the season. A Cameron Smith penalty goal sent Melbourne to an 8-6 lead 17 minutes in.
Next week the Raiders face the Parramatta Eels at home again on Sunday. Melbourne travel to Sydney to continue their rivalry with the Manly Sea Eagles on Saturday evening at Brookvale Oval.
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