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Melbourne has saved its impeccable round-one file alive with an epic 16-12 golden-point win over Parramatta to begin the NRL season.
Decimated by accidents and with Cameron Munster enjoying on after a compound dislocation of his finger, Harry Grant darted over from dummy half to win the sport for Storm within the 84th minute on Thursday.
It got here on a brutal evening for Melbourne, with Munster pressured from the sector within the first half earlier than returning and Xavier Coates later succumbing to a collarbone harm.
The win maintains Storm’s unbeaten streak in round-one matches, with Melbourne final crushed on the opening weekend of the season in 2001.
However for a number of phases on Thursday evening, that run appeared over.
It trailed 6-Zero at halftime and went behind 12-6 halfway by means of the second, because the Eels loved the vast majority of early ball within the match.
Then when Storm wanted him most, it was Munster who stood up.
After making a defensive lapse within the lead as much as Parramatta’s go-ahead strive, the injured five-eighth dummyed and skipped his manner throughout the sector to place over Younger Tonumaipea.
Nick Meaney iced the conversion with 16 minutes to play, creating the 12-12 impasse that might stay till the top of regulation time.
Melbourne’s win comes with Ryan Papenhuyzen unlikely to play within the opening eight rounds of the season, as he battles to get better from his fractured kneecap.
Justin Olam, Tariq Sims, Tui Kamikamica and George Jennings are amongst different injured troops.
Parramatta was additionally lacking a number of of its grand ultimate stars, however can be left to rue not with the ability to ice the match.
The Eels have been on high when Clint Gutherson put Will Penisni over for the primary strive of the season when the Eels skipper busted by means of a deal with and located his middle unmarked.
With scores stage at 6-6, it appeared as if Josh Hodgson could be the hero for the Eels within the first sport for his new membership and off the again of an ACL harm at first of 2022.
Enjoying his first sport in a 12 months, Hodgson noticed Munster sprinting out of the road in protection and located Junior Paulo to barge his manner over to arrange the 12-6 lead.
Halfback Mitch Moses additionally had an opportunity to win it for the Eels with 4 minutes to play when he had a area purpose charged down, earlier than Melbourne fullback Nick Meaney additionally missed a shot early in golden level.
-AAP
