Melbourne seal NRL minor premiership with Dolphins win

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Melbourne seal NRL minor premiership with Dolphins win

Melbourne have clinched the NRL minor premiership with two rounds to play, taking an insurmountable lead with their 48-6 thrashing of the Dolphins.

The Storm moved to 42 points on the ladder on the back of Saturday night’s win at AAMI Park, six points clear of Penrith, who were their closest challengers for the J.J Giltinan Shield.

The Panthers fell away with their shock 22-18 loss to Canberra earlier in the day.

Melbourne still have games against North Queensland and Brisbane but are set to rest players as they look to launch into the finals and try to end Penrith’s three-year title domination.

The Storm’s last premiership came in 2020.

The Dolphins stuck with Melbourne until the 19th minute, when youngster Sua Faalogo opened the scoring when he crossed for the first of his two tries.

But the wheels start wobbling for the visitors a minute later when they lost both star playmaker Kodi Nikorima and veteran prop Jesse Bromwich to head knocks.

At the same time ex-Storm back-rower Felise Kaufusi was put on report for a late shot on Cameron Munster.

Kaufusi really cost the Dolphins with five minutes left in the half when he was sin-binned for intentional offside with Melbourne on the march.

In his absence the Storm ran in three tries to put the game virtually out of reach.

Back-rower Alec McDonald crashed over the line before quick ball found barnstorming centre Jack Howarth to push the lead out to 22-0 at halftime.

Winger Faalogo then added his second by pouncing on a Hughes grubber a minute into the second half.

Melbourne skipper Harry Grant left the field with 15 minutes to play with the Storm confirming it was a precautionary measure rather than a suspected groin injury.

The Dolphins got on the scoreboard in the 66th minute through centre Jake Averillo but the Storm kept coming with two more tries including one by giant prop Nelson Asofa-Solomona in his 200th game.

The Dolphins remain in ninth spot, giving eighth-placed St George Illawarra the chance to move four points clear if they can beat Cronulla in their clash on Sunday in Wollongong.

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