NRL heavyweights crush last-placed side with a stunning attacking surge.
The Melbourne Storm have sent a message to the rest of the teams hoping to make the NRL top eight – we’re just getting started.
The premiers looked every inch the team that lifted the trophy last season after they humbled the 16th placed Parramatta Eels 64-4 at AAMI Stadium.
The 11 tries to one romp seemed to descend into nothing more a glorified touch football games as the staggering statistics not only came on the scoreboard.
The Storm ran for 1649 metres, a full 873 more then opponents, courtesy of 15 linebreaks, 34 tackles busts and 34 missed tackles by the Eels.
After looking out of sorts around State of Origin time, the Storm have found their groove in the lead-up to the post season and the win over the Eels will make competition leaders South and the Sydney Roosters look over their shoulders.
The final margin did not look to be forthcoming after the Storm did enough to lead 16-4 at the break thanks to a double from second-rower Ryan Hoffman.
That is when the floodgates opened as Billy Slater completed his hat-trick, Will Chambers bagged two tries with Jesse and Kenny Bromwich, Maurice Blair and Tim Glasby also getting their name on the scorer’s list.
The win assures the Storm of an all-important top four place going into the finals, and they will have a perfect litmus test as to their premiership credential this season when they play the in-form Manly Sea Eagles next round.
Parramatta’s loss all but consigns them to winning the wooden-spoon again this season, as they look to save face somewhat when they tackle the St George Illawarra Dragons in round 25.
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