Xavier Cotes’ hat-trick in the first half propelled Melbourne Storm to a remarkable 54-20 victory over South Sydney during the Anzac Day game. However, the highlight of his performance was marred by an early departure due to hamstring injury, bringing a premature end to his sensational game at AAMI Park on Thursday night.
Dominating the field before his exit at the 34th minute, Cotes’ presence was strongly complemented by Cameron Munster. Munster demonstrated outstanding leadership with an impressive four assists and a try.
Munster’s superior performance earned him the Spirit of Anzac Medal, presented after an impressive game witnessed by the largest crowd of the season – a gathering of 25,149 Storm supporters.
Enhancing their stronghold on Anzac Day fixtures, the game marked Melbourne Storm‘s eighth consecutive win, a testament to the exceptional coaching of Craig Bellamy.
On the other end, South Sydney struggled with defensive issues under the coaching of Jason Demetriou, with the Storm crossing the 50-point threshold. The Rabbitohs missed as many as 43 tackles throughout the game, extending their winless streak in Melbourne to 19 attempts despite an upcoming bout against formidable foes Penrith.
The game exhibited first versus last characteristics when Storm unleashed a barrage of five tries in a quick span of fifteen minutes just prior to halftime. Munster, seemingly everywhere, contributed to several tries during this onslaught.
Munster’s first half comprised of three significant try assists, including a compelling pass to Cotes at the 27th minute, sandwiched by two exceptional kicks. Unveiling his dynamic skills, Munster halted a sequence of three Rabbitohs tries with his 65th-minute try, extending the lead to 40-20.
Munster concluded the game with an impressive count of four assists alongside a try, contributing to Storm‘s first-ever double-digit win of the season.
The promising start by Cotes was cut short by a hamstring injury, despite a dazzling hat trick within the first 33 minutes. His presence bolstered Storm‘s performance, scoring the side’s secondary try, followed by two rapid-fire tries in the 27th and 32nd minutes.
After barely a minute following his breathtaking third try, Cotes was substituted for Tyran Wishart, ruling him out from the remainder of the match.
South Sydney appeared to be holding their ground against the Storm‘s onslaught, until a sequence of four consecutive tries following Jacob Gagai’s strike at the 18th minute altered the tide.
Unfortunate circumstance played a role in their downturn, with unfavorable bounces unsettling fullback Jye Gray and then Taane Milne. Despite the unlucky turn of events, Souths could have potentially maintained a lead.
After a not-so-impressive first few minutes, including an unlucky knock on by Gray, the scoreboard failed to truly reflect South’s gameplay. Television commentor, Dan Ginnane echoed this sentiment during the broadcast.
Jason Demetriou, coach for Souths, admitted defensive issues were a primary concern, calling it a “pretty simple fix”. However, given the 54 points offloaded by Souths – the highest this season – it seems the resolution is still a work in progress.
Tasked with defensive coaching duties, David Furner has indeed inherited a monumental task following his appointment during the bye round.