Storm coach Craig Bellamy’s perfect record remains intact after his side pulled off a gritty 8-0 win over the reigning premiers Penrith in Melbourne.
Bellamy won a 22nd straight Round 1 fixtures, an incredible record that dates back to his first season as an NRL head coach in 2003.
MATCH CENTRE: Melbourne Storm vs Penrith Panthers live scores, teams
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It took an eternity but the first and only try of the match finally arrived when Storm centre Reimis Smith crossed out wide in the 50th minute.
The Panthers had only just had a try of their own rubbed out for obstruction and from the ensuing penalty Cameron Munster’s replacement, Jonah Pezet, put a bomb up for Smith to score in the corner.
Melbourne centre Nick Meaney looked certain to score on the stroke of halftime before an epic try-saving cover tackle from Dylan Edwards and Taylan May.
Meaney booted a penalty goal in the 10th minute and it proved the only points of a scrappy first half that included 11 penalties and 14 errors.
The Panthers had their chances but a string of uncharacteristic errors from their star players, including co-captains Nathan Cleary and Isaah Yeo, stifled their attack all night.
It’s the first time Penrith have been kept scoreless since Round 22, 2022, and marked a fifth straight upset to open the 2024 NRL season.
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MATCH PREVIEW
Craig Bellamy’s perfect Round 1 record is on the line in 2024, coming up against Ivan Cleary’s Panthers.
Craig Bellamy has recorded 21 straight wins to start the season, with their last Round 1 loss coming all the way back in 2001 under Chris Anderson.
What complicates matters is that Melbourne will be without key playmaker Cameron Munster, who has been replaced by Jonah Pezet.
Meanwhile, for the Panthers Jarome Luai returns after sitting out of the World Club Challenge, replacing Jack Cole in the No.6.
Penrith have replaced Tyrone Peachey on the bench with hooker Soni Luke in the only late change to Ivan Cleary’s side.
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