Faalogo steers Storm to crucial win over scratchy Roosters
Quick-footed Storm full-back Sua Faalogo helped the Sydney Roosters run miserably to a much-needed 18-4 win in Melbourne.
The Roosters were unable to stop the desperate hosts in Saturday night’s match at AAMI Park, with the support of six players from State of Origin, including James Tedesco and Sam Walker.
While Faalogo missed scoring one of Melbourne’s three tries, the 23-year-old logged a match-high 301 running metres, including three line breaks, and took over the Storm’s goal kicking after Nick Meaney was injured.
He also continued to prove to be a shining light in Melbourne’s lackluster season by making a saving tackle on Cody Ramsey in the second half.
Although the home team, which brought three of its players back to the field after Origin I, did enough to secure its fifth victory, it was not pleasant at times.
They completed 24 of 25 sets in the first half but it took until the 25th minute to break through the Roosters’ defence.
Storm captain Harry Grant, returning from the bench from the Origin arena, emerged from dummy half.
While Roosters’ winger Billy Smith led his team onto the field after 10 minutes, the visiting team kicked the ball out and the teams started the first half with Melbourne leading 6-4.
Forced to make 34 more tackles than the Storm, the workload took its toll on the leg-weary Sydneysiders.
After Melbourne halfback Cameron Munster cleared the ball from Walker, Faalogo received the ball five meters from the try line and raced downfield.
While he was tackled by Ramsey, Storm halfback Jahrome Hughes spotted the Roosters’ defense lagging behind and flicked a kick for Will Warbrick to score an easy try.
Melbourne’s fellow winger Moses Leo also got his own four-pointer with a long-range strike after receiving a bomb from Daly Cherry-Evans.
This cemented the Storm’s victory over the third-placed Roosters, who had lost their last two games.
AAP
