Bellamy mulls Munster to fullback full time as Storm nil Panthers

Craig Bellamy has publicly floated moving Cameron Munster to fullback full time until the end of the year after another superb performance from his star man in the Storm’s 16-0 win away at Penrith.

Melbourne put on a defensive masterclass to nil the Panthers, turning them away time and again to secure a vital 16-0 win that keeps the Storm firmly ensconced in the top four, and after the game, Bellamy told the media conference that it might make sense for the club to switch their star man to the back until Ryan Papenhuyzen returns next year.

“With Papenhuyzen out for the season, we just think mixing it up a little bit is the right thing for the team at the moment, and whatever we decide later in the year, both him and Nick (Meaney) will have had a bit of practice in those positions,” he said.

“We weren’t quite sure which way we were going to go. We trained both of them there, I think we’ll look at it on our opposition and what is the best way to use Munster and the best way to use Nick and their strengths.

“I’m not sure that we’ll stick to Munster at fullback all the time, but we’ll need to have a chat about that with the leaders, the halves and see what the coaches think, then we’ll go from there.

“I haven’t spoken to him too closely about it but he usually says ‘wherever you think I can fit best in the team, I’m willing to do that’. Whatever the team needs, he’s quite happy to do.

“I think he enjoys playing fullback because it gives him a little more freedom, but he’s happy to play a role that he thinks is good for the team. That shows how much he’s matured over the last couple of years as well.”

Melbourne’s defence was outstanding, with central line speed forcing the Panthers wide and then scrambling fast to squeeze the space.

Penrith accumulated set after set in good ball, but failed to make inroads: they had over 50 tackles in the Storm red zone for zero tries off a 60/40 possession split. They threw everything, but left with nothing.

Though the Panthers were missing several through suspension and injury, this was nevertheless the best performance the Storm have put in for a long time. Not since beating the Roosters at the SCG in early June have Bellamy’s men looked so effective.

“I thought it was our best performance for a long time,” said Bellamy. “We made it a bit hard for ourselves at the start of the second half but with the way that Penrith attacked our line, I think that’s as good as we’ve defended for a year or two I reckon.

“That was one thing that we’ve wanted to improve on from last week so I think the boys have done a great job.”

Though Meaney returned to the team, he unexpectedly lined up at five eighth with Munster maintained at fullback. For all Munster’s excellence in attack, his ability to sweep up kicks, organise the men in front of him and lead from the back was to the fore tonight.

Nelson Asofa-Solomona, too, was superb. The Kiwi began the night as a front-rower, but shifted to an edge and ended up pumping out 66 minutes – 50% up on his usual shift – with 17 runs and 23 tackles.

Penrith have been imperious this year, especially at home, but any side missing as many key players are they are is likely to struggle.

Nathan Cleary and Jarome Luai are out until the finals and the Panthers will have time to adapt, but the loss of two of their set starters, Dylan Edwards and Taylan May, as well as their pack leader, James Fisher-Harris, was ultimately insurmountable.

On a poor night for the Panthers, key back-rower Liam Martin also left the ground on crutches after appearing to roll an ankle, an injury that could see him miss the rest of the regular season.

Ivan Cleary will not appreciate the nil and might question his halfbacks for next week’s clash with Souths. Jaeman Salmon and Sean O’Sullivan posed a question that was too easily answered.

Api Koroisau and Isaah Yeo were at their usual best and the Panthers still won the yardage battle by over 300m, but they couldn’t create all the play on their own.

“They were desperate tonight, probably more than we were,” said Cleary.

“There was some combination issues tonight, which when you play a good team with a good defensive unit that is totally committed, then it shows up there.

“It’s disappointing the way that they scored their points in the first half, because then it’s harder when you’re chasing the little opportunities that you get. It’s a good lesson for our younger guys.”

The first fifteen minutes was a finals preview, with some of the most grinding footy seen all year. There were two errors – in consecutive plays – but aside from that, there was barely a stoppage and, after a quarter hour, it began to show.

Koroisau burst the game open through the middle and almost got Izack Tago over, but a superb Munster tackle intervened. Within seconds, the Storm were in at the other end as Justin Olam raced away in his own half, kicked inside and found an onrushing Meaney.

The grind was clearly fatiguing the middle forwards. Brandon Smith, 40m out, was running across the line and spotted Moses Leota slowing. He slipped through the gap, around fullback Staines and over for another.

Penrith didn’t take it lying down. They might have scored off a scrum base play, only for Olam to spectacularly tackle Brian To’o into touch, and moments later, the Panthers thought they had scored via Viliame Kikau, only for the bunker to call a knock on.

Melbourne finished the half stronger. David Nofoaluma grabbed his first try in Storm colours to take the lead to 16-0, and it might have been more.

Xavier Coates nearly pulled off the putdown of the year but failed to hold on, before Munster was shuffled off course en route to another Olam inside kick by Sunia Turuva.