Melbourne Storm cruised to a dominant 32-14 win against the Titans after a great performance from Cameron Munster.
The Maroons star was switched from full-back in a late change from Craig Bellamy, which proved to be a masterstroke after the playmaker scored his second career hat-trick.
Harry Grant’s vision opened the scoring for Melbourne, finding winger Xavier Coates in space to score untouched.
MATCH CENTRE: Melbourne Storm vs Gold Coast Titans, live scores, teams
Moments later, Munster scored their first, flying high to curl in a Jahrome Hughes kick as the Storm piled on the points.
“That’s ominous,” Dan Ginnane said as Melbourne built a 10-point lead.
But Holbrook’s men were able to hit back with two quickfire tries to Beau Fermor and Herman Ese’ese.
“What is happening?” Dan Ginnane said.
“It hasn’t been great, but it’s been strong and powerful for the Titans,” Shane Flanagan said.
But just before the break, Munster crossed again, dancing past Gold Coast’s left-back defence.
After the break, AJ Brimson curled a spot-kick for Brian Kelly to cross, but their joy would end there, with Munster scoring their third to assert dominance.
“He makes it look effortless, the second hat-trick of his career and timely,” Dan Ginnane said.
Youngster Tonumaipea also scored a late try at the back of a scrum after a 1,483-day hiatus from the NRL.
Jahrome Hughes also remained sidelined after the break after suffering a shoulder injury.
Party wrap
MINUTE 63
Cameron Munster scored again to complete an impressive hat-trick.
The Storm fullback held on to the ball, dancing past Titans defenders to score his third try of the game.
“He makes it look effortless, the second hat-trick of his career and timely,” Dan Ginnane said.
44TH MINUTE
AJ Brimson provided a spot kick to open the scoring in the second half, finding Brian Kelly.
Jahrome Hughes was ruled out after the break with a shoulder injury, with Tyran Wishart coming into the halves.
“All of a sudden, the Titans are up,” Dan Ginnane said.
30TH MINUTE
Titans forward Herman Ese’ese scored his side’s second try, charging onto AJ Brimson’s short ball to spark a comeback.
“What is happening?” Dan Ginnane said.
“It hasn’t been great, but it’s been strong and powerful,” Shane Flanagan said.
But Storm gun Cameron Munster stopped Holbrook’s side in their tracks, cutting in to score his second.
15TH MINUTE
Having made a late change at fullback, Cameron Munster crossed for his side’s second try of the night to make it 10-0.
Half-back Jahrome Hughes took a cross-field shot and found Munster flying high to score untouched.
“I think he’ll like the challenge of defending,” Shane Flanagan said.
“This is ominous,” said Dan Ginnane.
Moments later, backrower Kenny Bromwich crossed for a four-pointer before Titans gun Beau Fermor scored first for the Titans.
10TH MINUTE
Storm debutant David Nofoaluma came desperately close to scoring just seven minutes into the Titans game, before returning Xavier Coates crossed.
After arriving in Melbourne last week, the 28-year-old almost opened his goalscoring account for his new club.
Gold Coast winger Jojo Fifita slipped through the veteran’s hands to dislodge the ball.
But, just moments later, Harry Grant saw winger Xavier Coates in space find his man to score untouched.
“Finally Melbourne has it,” Dan Ginnane said.
“Very good Harry Grant, I knew I had him,” said Shane Flanagan.
PRE-Match PREPARATION
Craig Bellamy is set to unleash his new look backline against a struggling Titans outfit.
Youngster Tonumaipea returns to the NRL after a 1,483-day break, having last played in the first-grade competition for the Gold Coast in 2020.
Meanwhile, mid-season recruit David Nofoaluma will make his debut for his new club on the wing, alongside late switch Cameron Munster from the halves.
Cooper Johns has been placed at five-eighth, while Tyran Wishart has been benched.
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MATCH CENTRE: Melbourne Storm vs Gold Coast Titans, live scores, teams
Holbrook’s Titans have struggled so far in 2022, but the Gold Coast side will look to young gun Jayden Campbell to spark from the back.
AJ Brimson also forms a new half with Tanah Boyd, who will play in the number 7 shirt.
As it stands, the Titans are bottom of the competition ladder with just three wins in 2022, and another defeat at the hands of the Storm could see them further adrift of the pack.
15th-ranked The Tigers face the 14th-ranked Knights, and with a win they could close a two-win gap in the wooden spoon race.
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