Masterful Melbourne hammer bumbling Broncos

v BYE

Almost all were predicting a tight game. Most considered Golden Point. Yet, a masterclass from Melbourne in both defence and attack secured a massive 48-6 win over a disappointing Brisbane side in front of over 44,000 fans.

It shaped as a tight, low-scoring encounter, yet the first half contradicted both of those perceptions of this contest. Brisbane appeared likely to strike first, dominating field possession early with a string of penalties. However, Melbourne's defence stood tall and this clinical display on their line was rewarded shortly after when Cooper Cronk put Kevin Proctor over in Melbourne's first real chance at Brisbane's line.

There was a suspect forward pass in between, yet the Storm went back to back in the 16th minute with Ryan Morgan barging over. However they weren't done with yet, with Suliasi Vunivalu planting a Cronk grubber in the corner in the 21st minute.

Just when you thought that Melbourne had given Brisbane a chance with an error on the half way line, Vunivalu would clean up a Brisbane chip and from there Cheyse Blair would cross over in a well-executed short side play.

Melbourne's kicking game was proving pivotal in their early lead, with Smith and Cronk dominating field possession accordingly, and it would be another pinpoint perfect kick from the Maestro Cronk which would be snatched by Vunivalu to give Melbourne a 30-0 lead. However, luckily for the Broncos, they possess one of the great speedsters of the game in James Roberts. And off the scrum, Roberts would scream through to give Brisbane their only points of the first half. It remained to be seen whether this would make a difference in the overall scheme of things, or whether Melbourne had learnt from their close call against the Tigers.

By the end of the first half, however, it was all Cooper Cronk who had set up 4 tries and displayed a perfect kicking game in a dominant one-man performance. 

Brisbane started the second half in a better way, but couldn't capitalise on a chance early on off a Finucane penalty. Melbourne, however, would strike first and in turn diminish any sniff of an upset. There was half a chance off a Green kick and Koroibete would snatch it and score his first of the night. Brisbane were given a chance to strike back off back to back penalties, but a poor error from Corey Parker left a whole set of six begging. Vunivalu had been great all game but made it hard for himself, dropping a sliding kick in the 53rd minute to give Brisbane a chance to hit back.

Andrew McCullough would sneak in a grubber to earn Brisbane a repeat set and would camp themselves on Melbourne's line for another 3 sets. McCullough again put in a perfectly executed kick, this time for Milford who pounced only to drop it. Cronk's kicking game remained vital for Melbourne, with an inch perfect kick slowing things down in the 60th minute and giving Brisbane a scrum on their own try line. And Melbourne were rewarded for their clinical defence with Vunivalu snatching another bomb and claiming his third in the 65th minute. It would only get worse for Brisbane and it did. A dropped ball on the 20 metre line was scooped up by Cheyse Blair who would dummy and stroll over for his second. Smith and Cronk then got a deserved break from the field, with Melbourne bypassing a chance to hit 50 with a penalty goal and taking the tap from a handy penalty. Without their influential cogs in attack they were unable to capitalise late. In the end, however, despite a 50-50 split of possession, Melbourne ran away for a massive 48-6 win. 

Both sides have the bye next week, but look out, because of all teams, Melbourne face Newcastle in the Hunter on a Sunday afternoon in Round 19 whilst Brisbane travel to ANZ Stadium to battle Souths on a Saturday night.