Warriors v Storm match report: Cameron Munster on report for second time in a week for kicking
For the first time this season, Melbourne Storm are top of the table. But their star No.6 continues to walk a tightrope with officials after another piece of indiscipline.
Cameron Munster is playing with fire after he was placed on report for the second time this week for lashing out with a boot as Melbourne jumped to the top of the table with a 42-16 win over the Warriors.
The Maroons star was slapped with a $1150 fine for kicking Liam Martin in the State of Origin opener on Wednesday, but he clearly hasnтАЩt learnt his lesson after he was put on report for a similar incident on Roger Tuivasa-Sheck.
The pair hugged it out moments after the toe poke, but Munster needs to address the tactic immediately given he was sin-binned for a more aggressive kick on Roosters centre Joseph Manu in the 2018 Grand Final.
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Munster is a passionate player who often lets his emotions do the talking, but another brain snap could come back to bite him if heтАЩs not careful.
тАЬHe has to rein it in a lot because you just canтАЩt do that,тАЭ Craig Bellamy said, admitting he hadnтАЩt seen the incident.
тАЬIтАЩd have to have a look at it, but he just needs to cut that out of his game. We donтАЩt want that in his game and he doesnтАЩt want that in his game.
тАЬIтАЩd have to have a look at it, but it probably wasnтАЩt the smartest thing if thatтАЩs what heтАЩs done.тАЭ
WISH GRANTED
He was kept quiet behind a well-beaten pack in the Origin opener, but Harry Grant showed why he is the best hooker in the competition and the reason why Melbourne should be favourites to defend their title.
In his first club game since Round 9, the crafty rake came on after 21 minutes and made an instant impact when he darted from dummy-half to help set up the StormтАЩs first try.
He was at it again five minutes later when he played short to Brandon Smith to send his partner-in-crime over for a gift four points. He then grubbered through to set up Jahrome Hughes for the first try of the second half and also burrowed over for his own meat pie in the closing stages.
GrantтАЩs one-two punch with Smith is the most damaging combination in the game and a reason why theyтАЩve scored the most points through 14 rounds in the NRL era, although the latter is on report for a high shot on Josh Curran.
тАЬI thought he (Grant) was outstanding,тАЭ Bellamy said.
тАЬIтАЩm really happy with both those guys.тАЭ
INJURY CRISIS
Chanel Harris-Tavita dished out one of his trademark big hits to stop Brandon Smith in his tracks, but the Warriors halfback wonтАЩt get the chance to unleash more monster shots after he suffered a suspected season-ending pec injury.
The playmaker missed the start of the year with a foot injury and had looked good since his return, but he wonтАЩt play again in 2021 which could see Reece Walsh move to the halves when he returns from suspension.
тАЬItтАЩs been an unhappy year for him. ItтАЩs disappointing,тАЭ Nathan Brown said.
In further bad news, Wayde Egan was sent to hospital after a nasty head clash late in the game.
тАЬHeтАЩs not very stable and heтАЩs very blurred. HeтАЩs not in a very good way,тАЭ his coach said.
NO KEN-FUSION
The Wests Tigers announced that Ken Maumalo would join the club effective immediately, so itтАЩs no surprise there were a few raised eyebrows when the hulking winger was named to start for the Warriors on Sunday.
HeтАЩs technically not due at his new club until Monday, but Tigers officials would have been praying that he didnтАЩt get injured. Fittingly, he bid farewell to the Warriors with three spectacular tries in the left corner.
тАЬHe held himself quite well and did a good job. HeтАЩs a good fella,тАЭ Brown said.
