Cameron Munster shows flashes of brilliance on return as Storm sink Eels (2024)

Cameron Munster has got through his return match unscathed, as Melbourne took a step closer to another minor premiership with a 32-14 win over Parramatta.

Playing for the first time since tearing a groin two months ago, Munster came off the bench for the Storm but still played 52 minutes at five-eighth.

The Queenslander finished Friday night at Parramatta Stadium with a solid hit out, but Melbourne will mostly just be relieved to have their main man back.

Melbourne were well below their best, while the Eels spent large periods of the game camped on the visitors' tryline after leading 8-6 early.

The Storm did not play the ball inside the attacking 20-metre zone until the 47th minute, and had two plays in total there for the match.

In contrast, the Eels spent large portions of the match camped on Melbourne's line, and had 41 plays in the attacking red-zone.

But there is a reason why the Storm are now six points clear at the top of the ladder after seven straight wins, and Parramatta are battling to fight off the wooden spoon.

The Storm's first two tries were both direct results of Eels errors, with Melbourne scoring inside the next two plays.

Another try came largely as a result of a Will Warbrick linebreak from within his own end, with the winger breaking Parramatta's back early in the second half.

Playing their first-choice spine for the first time since round nine, Melbourne gave clear reminders why they are the strongest threat to a Penrith four-peat.

Fullback Ryan Papenhuyzen was dangerous, breaking downfield in the lead up to Melbourne's first try and scoring one late himself back through the middle.

Halfback Jahrome Hughes had a role in three linebreaks as he worked over Parramatta's edges, and threw a smart pass back to Warbrick for his four-pointer.

Even hooker Harry Grant scored a try, when Eel Shaun Lane spilled a ball straight into his hands and he went 40 metres untouched.

The Storm also appear to have more strike than in recent years, with Eliesa Katoa again good on the right edge.

But an apparent leg injury to his back-row partner Shawn Blore was the only concern for the Storm, after he left the field in the second half.

Parramatta remain two points ahead of Wests Tigers at the bottom of the ladder, with the same number of wins.

With next year's coach Jason Ryles in full planning mode, there were glimpses of promise early in the way the Eels were able to take a lead.

Dylan Brown put a lofted cut-out ball on a dime for Sean Russell to score one try, while a Shaun Lane offload helped Jake Tago cross.

But for those passages it would have been tough viewing for Ryles, as the Eels slumped to a sixth straight loss.

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The Eels fire up big time and drive Loiero back into the in-goal from the kick-off! That was awesome.

Parramatta build some pressure after a penalty against Blore and a nice kick from Asi that forces a drop out. But Matterson goes for a low percentage kick that amounts to nothing and the Storm survive.

Melbourne make a bust down the right edge as the seconds run down, Warbrick bursts into space and he gets tracked down by Hands only for Tago to slow down the ruck to the extent he's penalised and sin-binned. That is absolutely brutal for the Eels, a correct call to be sure - it just undoes much of their good work.

Meaney takes the penalty from the sideline and nails it. Storm lead 14-8.

Nothing flash from the Storm that half - they still haven't had a tackle inside Parramatta's half - but they'll still go in up 12-8. They're' kind of in cruise control and while the Eels are toiling hard it remains to be seen if they can keep it up.

They almost made a meal of it but the Warriors have kept their nerve and their NRL finals hopes alive with a 28-16 win over Wests Tigers in Auckland.

The Warriors dominated the first half and flattered their bottom-placed opponents by only leading 14-0 at the break on Friday night.

The Tigers, having been completely out of the game, scored back to back tries to get back into the contest, before prop Addin Fonua-Blake and Dallin Watene-Zelezniak sealed the deal for the hosts with late four-pointers.

The Warriors jumped into 12th, two wins outside the eight, but looked on track to shoot themselves in the foot again, after a hot-and-cold season in which they've been equal parts brilliant and dreadful.

The hosts got out to a fast start, their experienced forwards making light work of the young Tigers pack.

But despite dominating territory and possession, the Warriors were wasteful in attack and were only ahead by four points half an hour into the match.

Mitchell Barnett and Fonua-Blake were among the best on field for the Warriors.

Fonua-Blake, who finished the game with 7 tackle busts and 207 running metres, gave the Warriors an early platform after breaking through the Tigers' line in the opening minutes.

After a series of repeat attacking sets, Kurt Capewell skipped past a diving Starford To'a to open the scoring before winger Edward Kosi claimed his side's second.

Warriors five-eighth Chanel Harris-Tevita continued his horror run with the boot, missing both conversion attempts from the sideline after missing the easiest of levellers against Canberra last weekend.

But after Ali Leiataua dotted next to the posts, a smiling Harris-Tavita duly converted to get the monkey off his back.

The 25-year-old went on to sink another two conversions and a penalty goal, with each successful attempt greeted with raucous cheers from the Mt Smart Stadium faithful.

Tigers' captain Api Koirosau again put in a monumental performance in a losing team, busting a lung to get in position to score a consolation try in the final minute.

Their first season under coach Benji Marshall effectively over, the Tigers have little left to play for but to gain experience for their promising young spine of Jahream Bula, Lachlan Galvin and Tallyn Da Silva.

Marshall will miss teenage winger Luke Laulilli who was withdrawn early after sustaining a grade one HIA after a head clash.

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