Ex Storm now Cowboys lock Dallas Johnson admitted it was tough playing against his former teammates however it did not stop the veteran, churn out a 52 tackle game. Star Halfback Jonathan Thurston marshaled his team around the park and Matt Bowen was at his electrifying best.
While Cameron Smith single handily kept Melbourne in the game when his 30th minute 40/20, set up a Gareth Widdop try to send the dominant Cowboys into the break with only a slender 10-6 lead.
However injuries to Dane Nielsen, Sika Manu and Kevin Proctor shortly after the intermission meant only one fresh man occupied the Melbourne bench. Lock Ryan Hinchcliffe played the final 30 minutes at left centre and was tormented by Cowboys duo Tarik Sims and Will Tupou.The Cowboys ran riot over a dreary Storm team that succumbed to submission in the final 25 minutes with completed doubles to Graham and Bowen and a Sims try.
Despite the lopsided scoreline Melbourne hung in the contest for almost 60 minutes and grinded out the middle portion of the match. A trait that lesser sides such as the Panthers or Warriors can't exhibit. Halfback Cooper Cronk expressed after the match that this game was important for the club and the young players to experience in order to progress in there development.
The Storm now head home for another Monday night clash when they tussle the undefeated Canterbury Bulldogs while the Cowboys will look to back up against the struggling Eels at Parramatta Stadium on Saturday evening.
Player Statistics. Top Tacklers: Dallas Johnson (nqc) 51, Cameron Smith (melb) 49, Todd Lowrie (melb) 32. Metres Gained: Ashley Graham (nqc) 171, Matthew Bowen (nqc) 153, Kalifa Faifai-Loa (nqc) 138. Kick Metres: Jonathan Thurston (nqc) 393, Cooper Cronk (melb) 385, Cameron Smith (melb) 175.
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