Storm dampen Panthers run for the top

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Penrith Panthers v Melbourne Storm

It was a Thursday night thriller between a top-of-the-table clash which saw the Melbourne Storm hold out against the Penrith Panthers, 24-22 at BlueBet Stadium.

In a game that gave us plenty of headlines, from brain explosions in play, players on reports, a sin bin, HIA's and what will be the talk of the town, Nathan Cleary left the field injured, clutching his left shoulder.

The Panthers were showing uncharacteristic nerves early on in the game, as Daine Laurie made an error in the play of the ball in their quarter. The play for the scrum was an easy set move left, and Grant Anderson went over to start his team's scoring account for the night in the 6th minute.

Melbourne kept the heat on the Panthers, marched back u the field, and set themselves up again in the Panthers red zone with a shoulder charge from Nathan Cleary on Nelson Asofa-Solomoma. In the next play, a bomb by Jahrome Hughes sees Will Warbrick leap high and tap the ball back to the ever-ready Eliesa Katoa for a try. Meaneys' kick put the game at 10-0 in the 15th minute.

But a turning point was Daine Laurie making a 40-meter break to breathe life into the Panthers attack after the kickoff. With an error in their subsequent attack, it looked like it wouldn't be the Panthers night, but Will Warbrick fumbled trying to get out, which gave Penrith another chance. And it was all they needed as a combination of Issah Yeo and Lindsay Smith took on the broken Strom defensive line for Smith to score a timely try. A rare miss at goal by Cleary and the game was 10-4 at 24 minutes.

Panthers showed class and ruthlessness by hitting back straight away; Casey McLean made a break, and a broken lazy Strom defensive line failed to kill a loose kick behind their line, which Izack Tago took full advantage of, and Cleary savoured a chance to put the conversion over, and we were deadlocked at the 25 minute.

The back end of the first half is a dangerous time for teams locked up. And the Strom applied enough pressure to unhinge the Panthers defence with another Warbrick tap to katoa combo. Off the back of a Cameron Munster kick, Warbrick was too good, and Melbourne was looking good to go to the sheds 16-10.

But the end of the half is a dangerous place; with the ball going dead in goal off the Panthers, Ryan Papenhuyzen thought he would kick instead of a tap from the 20-meter line. In a move sure to make coach Craig Bellamys heart stop, Grant Anderson was offside. Referee Ashley Klien gave Penrith a penalty and two easy points for halftime to be 16-12 for the Storm.

Penrith had their tails up early in the half and set the pace early after a break by Issah Yeo, who got the ball down their left edge. Casey McLean put in a cheeky grubber behind the line, and Dylan Edwards snagged a good try. And the Panthers were in front 18-16 at the 49th minute.

There were scenes at BlueBet as Nelson Asofa-Solomona managed to get two high shots off in one tackle, one on Daine Laurie and one on Munster. With both those players going off for HIAs Ref Ashley Klen gave NAS 10 in the bin. The Panthers took quick advantage of their overlap, and in no time, Casey McLean went over, and the game was 22-16 after 57 minutes.

It was quality footy on display as Tyran Wishart entered the fray and immediately gave the Storm the lift they needed. Wishart took on the Penrith line, and it seemed to rattle them. In a simple play in the 62nd minute, Wishart threw a big dummy, and the Penrith middle fell for it as he waltzed over. The game was 22 points all and setting up for a finish.

The 66th minute and a hush came over the stadium as Nathan Cleary came up from a tackle clutching his left shoulder, and there were some long faces as the gun halfback came off the field, ending his night.

A succession of penalties on both sides eventually came to a head as James Fisher-Harris hit Jahrome Hughes after he passed the ball. It was a gift of two points, and Meaney slotted it to edge the game out just a little for the Strom, 24-22.

In the last 10 minutes, the teams threw everything they had left at each other, but the clock ran out, and the Strom came away with a win despite much adversity.

There was a lack of polish in the Panthers tonight, with Ckeary even showing nerves. They had some big performances from Issah Yeo, Lindsay Smith, Jarome Luai and Casey McLean. Cleary was still prominent in keeping his team in the game, and we can only hope he'll be there come finals.

Harry Grant was great up front, and Trent Loiero and Eliesa Katoa chimed in well. Jahrmoe Hughes and Munster were great in attack, and Will Warbrick showed his athleticism all game.

The game pretty much handed Melbourne Storm the Minor Premiership, and the team seemed to have come out of the game without any injuries as they prepare to host the Dolphins at AAMI Park next week.

The Panthers will have a nervous wait to see the issue with Nathan Cleary's shoulder, and it's a damn shame as the kid was playing some good footy up until his injury.