Easts Tigers recorded an important victory while the Sunshine Coast lost in Round 24 of Intrust Super Cup action.
Tigers prolific attack too much for Dolphins
Storm contracted five-eighth Shaun Nona played a key role for the Easts Tigers, who made it back-to-back wins after outscoring the Redcliffe Dolphins 32-22 on the weekend.
The Tigers named six Storm players in their starting line-up, including Mahe Fonua, Richie Kennar, Shaun Nona, Francis Tualau, Christian Welch and Dayne Weston.
The visitors were first to make an impact on the scoreboard with Richie Kennar crossing the white chalk in the 12th minute following a series of compact passes out of the backline. Fellow Storm outside back Mahe Fonua was next to score for the Tigers, with the lively Victorian the beneficiary of some resistance from Donald Malone, who staved off two defenders to keep the ball alive.
Further tries from Storm’s Shaun Nona and Dayne Weston put the match beyond reach for the Dolphins, who despite scoring the last two tries of the match, couldn’t match the attacking ferocity of the Tigers.
Nona, who put in a match of the match performance, scored four of his six attempts on goal.
Easts Tigers 32
Tries: Mahe Fonua, Richard Kennar, Shaun Nona, Brentt Warr, Jake Foster, Dayne Weston
Goals: Shaun Nona 4
Defeated.
Redcliffe Dolphins 22
Tries: Marlon Doak 3, Aaron Whitchurch
Goals: Luke Capewell 3
at Dolphin Oval.
Redcliffe Dolphins: 1. Marlon Doak 2. Josh Beehag 3. Tom Opacic 4. Aaron Whitchurch 5. Curtis Johnston 6. John Brady 7. Luke Capewell (c) 8. Charlie Faingaa 9. Darcy Etrich 10. Jon Green 11. Nick Ritter 12. Harley Aiono 13. Tyson Cleal 14. Shane Pumipi 15. Joe Bradley 16. Tristan Lumley 17. Taylor Brown
Easts Tigers: 1. Donald Malone 2. Michael Kai 3. Shane Neumann 4. Mahe Fonua 5. Richie Kennar 6. Shaun Nona 19. Brentt Warr 8. Liam McDonald 9. Tommy Butterfield (c) 10. Francis Tualau 11. Christian Welch 12. Jake Foster 13. Troy Giess 14. Mathew Pitman 15. Matthew Zgrajewski 16. Dayne Weston 17. Billy Walters
Storm take on the Cowboys at AAMI Park this Saturday from 7:30pm. Get your tickets!
Blackhawks survive Falcons early enslaught
An impressive performance from Storm’s Ben Hampton wasn’t enough to stop the Sunshine Coast Falcons falling to the ladder leading Townsville Blackhawks, who edged the hosts 20-13 at Sunshine Coast Stadium.
An upset appeared to be on the cards when the hosts took a 7-6 lead into halftime, following a try from Jacob Samoa and a successful attempt on goal from David Oakes. Storm playmaker Hampton asserted his influence on the match in attack, scoring a try of his own, while also converting a field goal.
Three consecutive tries after the main break led to the Falcons untimely undoing, with the Blackhawks finishing strongly to claim victory.
Townsville Blackhawks 20
Tries: Zac Santo, Anthony Mitchell, Kelepi Tanginoa, Rhyse Martin
Goals: Robert Lui 2
Defeated.
Sunshine Coast Falcons 13
Tries: Ben Hampton, Jacob Samoa
Goals: David Oakes 2, Ben Hampton
at Sunshine Coast Stadium.
Sunshine Coast Falcons: 1. Sam Wright 2. Rowan Klein 3. Sam Young 4. Hymel Hunt 5. Travis Robinson 6. Ben Hampton 7. David Oakes 17. Jye Ballinger 20. Jon Platt 10. Ryan Hansen 11. Paul Ivan 12. Jacob Samoa 13. Tom Murphy (c) 14. Jay Lobwein 16. Mboya Adams 18. Tom Learoyd-Lahrs 19. Jaz Nahu-Main
Townsville Blackhawks: 18. Lenny Magey 2. Zac Santo 3. Tom Humble 4. Rhys Matsen 5. Samsen O’Neill 6. Robert Lui 7. Michael Parker-Walshe 8. Ricky Thorby 9. Anthony Mitchell 10. Daniel Beasley (c) 11. Noel Underwood 12. Kelepi Tanginoa 13. Neville Costigan 14. Ray Thompson 15. Corey Jensen 16. Lorenzo Ma’afu 17. Rhyse Martin
The views expressed in this article are solely of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of Melbourne Storm Rugby League Club.
