Junior Rep Report: Rounds 18 & 19

Round 18 vs Manly Sea Eagles

It wasn't to be for Melbourne Storm in Round 18 of the Jersey Flegg competition, going down 20-16 to the Manly Sea Eagles at 4 Pines Park.

Despite scoring more tries than the home side, missed conversions would ultimately prove costly with Manly able to grind out the four-point win.

The Sea Eagles flew out of the gates in the opening minutes, Alton Naiyep scoring under the posts for an early lead in the first minute of play.

Despite the early try, Storm quickly found a response, winger Oscar Amosa diving over in the corner to make the score 6-4.

Manly’s strong start to the contest continued, scoring back-to-back tries in the 10th and 16th minute to jump out to a 18-4 lead.

Storm centre Siulagi Pio then turned momentum in his side’s favour, bumping off two defenders and breaking through the tackle to score in the 21st minute and start a strong passage of play from the visitors.

In a big blow for Storm, young hooker Gabriel Satrick was forced off for a HIA, with Brayden Seu-Easthope entering the fray in his absence.

Similar to how Manly started the first half, this time it was Storm who got the jump, scoring in the first set from the kick off after Matthew Hill backed himself and raced away to score and cut the Sea Eagles lead back to six-points.

After a gruelling 30 minutes of play in the second half, neither side were able to capitalise on their chances and fatigue quickly set in for both teams.

The standoff was broken in the 66th minute when Manly were granted a penalty for an illegal strip and played it safe by giving themselves the extra two points to lead by eight-points.

Similar to his earlier effort, Matthew Hill added yet another try to his remarkable 2024 campaign, this time combining with winger Brad Avery and running 50 metres to score, with the fulltime score reading 20-16.

The Storm will look to bounce back this week against the Rabbitohs at Coogee Oval on Sunday.

Round 19 vs South Sydney Rabbitohs

Melbourne Storm returned to the winners circle after prevailing 22-14 over the South Sydney Rabbitohs at Coogee Oval in Round 19 of the Jersey Flegg competition.

With the stakes high as both teams battled away for an important two competition points, it was an action packed contest right from the kick off.

Storm hooker Braydon Seu-Easthope caught the Rabbitohs off guard in the first minute, sprinting from dummy half and passing to Ioane Lui who then executed a brilliant flick pass to De’Ontae Perese for an early Storm try.

Seu-Easthope then got on the try scorers sheet in the eighth minute, making the most of a quick play the ball and backing himself to the tryline to give the Storm a commanding 10-0 lead.

The Rabbitohs responded with tries in the 12th and 23rd minute of the game, both executed by winger Dane Towns to make the scoreline read 10-8.

Matthew Hill was sin binned in the 27th minute for a professional foul but Storm defended well despite being down a man to ensure they went into the sheds leading by two-points.

Storm came out of the break firing, Angus Hinchey beating four defenders and bulldozing his way to the try line in the 40th minute to make it 16-8.

Dane Towns then went over again to seal his hattrick for the home side, cutting Storm's lead down to two-points once again.

However, Nicholas Stonestreet sealed victory for Storm after cashing in off the back of a delayed offload from Matthew Hill in the 63rd minute to ensure Storm left Sydney with the two competition points.

Storm will look to carry the momentum into next weekend when they travel to face the Raiders on Saturday.

Written by Emily Mattocks

Originally published on melbournestorm.com.au