Joey Manu Makes Amends for First Half Mediocrity
After a stellar showing at fullback against the Knights, the spotlight was on Joey Manu this week. James Tedesco's return to the fold saw Manu shift back to centre, where he initially found the going tough.
After a quiet first half, coach Trent Robinson must have come up with the right words to inspire Manu. He only managed five carries in the opening forty, but the second half witnessed a resurgence. Manu found his feet, making nine carries, busting three tackles, and even dotting down after a clever tap back from Joseph Suaalii.
The performance, however, might not be enough for the towering New Zealander to snatch away the number one jumper from a returning Tedesco. The fullback put on a decent performance upon return himself. Tedesco will also feel that he has banked enough credibility to retain the fullback spot under Robinson in the coming weeks.
Jarome Hughes Shines for the Storm, Again!
Jarome Hughes underlined his status as one of the NRL's most in-form half-backs with a scintillating display that sunk the Roosters. He turned the tide of the game with a first half try that left the Roosters camp awe-struck.
Spotting a gaping hole in the Roosters' defence, Hughes darted onto a perfectly weighted pass from Katoa. His searing pace propelled him over the try line, but some might argue that even this scintillating score wasn't his defining moment of the match. Tedesco won’t be eager to watch the replay though as he failed to catch up to Hughes and prevent him from scoring the four-pointer.
Hughes' boot proved a key weapon for Storm throughout the night, racking up a remarkable 475 kicking metres. His attacking prowess extended beyond kicking, as he found himself on the ball a staggering 50 times - a whopping 15 more than his halves partner, Cameron Munster.
Xavier Coates Continues Terrific Form
Xavier Coates continues his reign as the king of the wonder tries. The Storm winger conjured another breathtaking solo effort to secure a pulsating victory over the Roosters. Betting sites might have been surprised to see it, but we certainly weren’t!
Deadlocked at 12-12 with only six minutes left on the clock, Coates pounced on a loose ball. Exhibiting phenomenal power, he bulldozed through three Roosters defenders before crashing the ball over the try line to seal a dramatic win for his team that cemented their position at the top of the table.
