Storm grind out victory over Panthers
TOM SMITH AAMI Park, Friday
MELBOURNE STORM 8
PENRITH PANTHERS 0
MELBOURNE’S fanatical defence held the all-conquering Panthers at bay to claim a hardearned season-opening win.
Storm centre Reimis Smith scored the only try of the game in the 50th minute before his team withstood a mountain of pressure to cling on for the result.
Melbourne are the only side to keep Penrith scoreless through Ivan Cleary’s second stint at the club — a nearimpossible feat they’ve now achieved twice.
Both teams struggled to click with ball in hand, thanks to hot and humid conditions in the Victorian capital, as well as the usual early-season cobwebs.