A New Star Emerges in Penrith’s Dominance
Laurie Daley, the head coach of the New South Wales Blues, must have felt a wave of disappointment when he saw Stephen Crichton suffer a shoulder injury during the match on Friday afternoon. However, by the end of the night, he found a promising replacement in Casey McLean, who delivered an outstanding performance in Penrith’s impressive 50-10 victory over the Storm.
The extent of Crichton’s injury remains uncertain, but McLean has shown that he is more than ready to step up if needed. The 19-year-old, who has already represented New Zealand, is eligible to play for NSW under the new Origin rules. His performance was nothing short of spectacular, as he scored a stunning solo try and set up another for the unstoppable Tom Jenkins.
McLean’s move to set up Jenkins for his 11th try of the season was particularly impressive, showcasing his skill and vision. He also completed a 35-metre run himself on the stroke of half-time, where he stepped off his left foot, fended away from Jahrome Hughes, and crashed over to score. His footwork and speed are remarkable, but what makes him even more intimidating is the fact that he is just one of several superstars in this team.
Penrith has become the first side to win their opening five matches by 20 or more points. Liam Martin celebrated his game 150 with a try, Nathan Cleary added another, and even Brian To’o was jumping over people to score off a Dylan Edwards kick. This is a team that has won four premierships in a row, but this current crop is arguably the best we’ve ever seen.
Jenkins is on a record-breaking pace after becoming the first player to score 12 tries in the opening five rounds. With veteran Scott Sorensen continuing to set up tries with audacious flick passes, it’s hard to see how Penrith could lose a game this season.
Storm Struggles Continue
Melbourne’s strong start to the season seems like a distant memory after they suffered their third consecutive loss. Skipper Harry Grant, who is widely regarded as the best player in his position, came off with a leg injury in the second half. The club is hopeful that it’s only bone bruising, but the loss of Grant is a significant blow.
The Storm haven’t been awful in their recent games, managing to get through most of their sets and looking threatening when they had good ball. However, after blowing second-half leads in previous weeks, they were overwhelmed before the break, with Penrith scoring five tries and punishing the Storm on the edges.
Injuries have also affected the Storm, with several key forwards missing. They don’t look like the juggernaut they have been for two decades, and tough games against the Warriors, Raiders, and Rabbitohs are on the horizon.
Freddy Lussick Makes an Impact
The suspension of Mitch Kenny for a hip-drop tackle was expected to weaken Penrith’s attack, but the inclusion of Freddy Lussick has only made them more potent. Coach Ivan Cleary has praised his off-season recruit for months, and his performance on Friday night justified that praise.
Lussick, a former Warrior, looked like he had played 100 games in the spine, drilling two long kicks to pin the Storm back. He also burrowed over from close range for a first-half try, showing his versatility and impact on the field.
