The Melbourne Storm’s ‘Big Three’ have further cemented themselves as the greatest collection of talent rugby league has ever seen, guiding the club to the 2017 NRL Premiership.
Cameron Smith, the departing Cooper Cronk and Billy Slater put on a footballing masterclass to blow a scrappy North Queensland Cowboys side out of the water, winning 34-6.
Slater broke down in tears immediately following the game, reliving the struggle it took for him to come back from a career-threatening knee injury.
‘I didnt know mate, I didn’t know if my body was going to let me back here,’ he said through tears to Brad Fittler.
The champion fullback was the recipient of the Clive Churchill medal for the best player on the field, the second of his career.
The Melbourne Storm’s ‘Big Three’ have further cemented themselves as the greatest collection of talent rugby league has ever seen, guiding the club to the 2017 NRL Premiership
Cameron Smith, the departing Cooper Cronk and Billy Slater put on a footballing masterclass to blow a scrappy North Queensland Cowboys side out of the water, winning 34-6
Slater broke down in tears immediately following the game, reliving the struggle it took for him to come back from a career-threatening knee injury
The Cowboys started the better of the two teams, flying off their line and laying huge shots on their much more favoured opposition.
Their frighteningly large forwards led by Jason Taumalolo and Coen Hess made a quick imprint on the game, as it remained deadlocked through the opening quarter.
However, a moment of magic from deep within their own half on the 20 minute mark saw the roadrunner Josh Addo-Carr outrun Michael Morgan to open the scoring.
The momentum of the game began to turn strongly in Melbourne’s favour, with Cronk and Slater combining to put Felise Kaufusi over for their second before the aforementioned fullback dummied and crossed himself for a third just before the half.
The Cowboys’ frighteningly large forwards led by Jason Taumalolo and Coen Hess made a quick imprint on the game, as it remained deadlocked through the opening quarter
Jesse Bromwich tears through the Cowboys defensive line as Ethan Lowe inflicts friendly fire on teammate Shaun Fensom who left the game with a broken fibula
The game was threatening to become out of reach for the fairytale Cowboys, but a barnstorming barge from Kyle Feldt right on half time breathed life back into the North Queenslanders and they responded just after the break with the fleet of foot Te Maire Martin crossing under the posts.
Predictably, the Storm would wrangle back control of the game, as the Melbourne, Queensland and Australian captain, Cameron Smith, took over.
He laid a trademark shortball off to a rampaging Dale Finucane to crash over from close range, before breaking the line himself.
A Cowboys error deep in their half allowed an opportunistic Addo-Carr to offload to 19-year-old Curtis Scott to put the game further out of reach.
Smith, Cronk and Slater then produced one final moment of untouchable football and pure genius, combining in a sickeningly good inside play leading to Addo-Carr’s second.
A Cowboys error deep in their half allowed an opportunistic Addo-Carr to offload to 19-year-old Curtis Scott to put the game further out of reach
Smith, Cronk and Slater then produced one final moment of untouchable football and pure genius, combining in a sickeningly good inside play leading to Addo-Carr’s second
The Melbourne stars were overcome with emotion following the game, but both Slater and Cronk remained mum on their future.
Slater broke down for the second time as he walked on stage to claim his second Clive Churchill medal as fans chanted his name.
He then was reduced to tears again thanking his wife for her support returning from a knee injury that threatened to end his career.
The Melbourne stars were overcome with emotion following the game, but both Slater and Cronk remained mum on their future