Some Cameron Munster magic has helped Melbourne secure a sparkling 34-18 win over Cronulla with the playmaker proving why he's on every NRL club's wishlist.
In a high quality match on Saturday night at AAMI Park fitting of two of the top three teams, the Storm scored five tries to three with Munster collecting one while playing a starring role in three others.
Melbourne coach Craig Bellamy said Munster's post-season white powder scandal and subsequent stint in a rehabilitation facility and self-imposed alcohol ban had been the "best thing that's ever happened to him".
"He just seems to be a little bit more...in control around footy and life in general so that's a great thing," Bellamy said of the 28-year-old.
"His consistency this year has been at a real high level so I think he'll just get better and better."
The Sharks' cause wasn't helped by losing skipper Dale Finucane just eight minutes into his first meeting against his former club after failing an HIA.
Late in the match prop Braden Hamlin-Uele also left the field with a suspected pectoral injury which could see him out for several months.
Coach Craig Fitzgibbon said losing Finucane was a blow to their team which had boasted the best defensive record in the competition.
He felt his team were right in the game at halftime, when they were trailing 12-8 and the stats backed that up with the Sharks completing at 100 per cent and making one error in that half.
"Ultimately, we had too many soft defensive errors there that ended up hurting us - they put us under a bit of pressure and we sort of got away from how we've been playing," Fitzgibbon said.
Storm centre Justin Olam scored a try in each half while Sharks winger Ronaldo Mulitalo collected a second-half double thanks to the silky hands of Siosifa Talakai, who also grabbed one for himself.
Munster's individual brilliance was on show when he threw three dummies and stepped in and around the Sharks defence from 40 metres out to touch down in the 31st minute.
His skills will surely leave Dolphins coach Wayne Bennett salivating at the prospect of luring the five-eighth north.
At the second half restart Munster sent the ball bouncing between defenders and into touch to earn a midfield scrum.
Locking the scrum, hooker Harry Grant picked the ball up at the back and off-loaded to halfback Jahrome Hughes, who found Olam for his second try.
Another big Munster show and go allowed Ryan Papenhuyzen to dot down before Grant burrowed over from dummy-half for their fifth and final try of the night.
On a sour note for the Storm, Felise Kaufusi was twice put on report, firstly for a late tackle and then a crusher.
They are hopeful of having captain Jesse Bromwich and his brother Kenny back against the Warriors next round after both missed the match with COVID-19.
