The Melbourne Storm have dominated the second-half to snag a crucial 32-14 victory over Newcastle on Saturday afternoon.

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MATCH CENTRE: Knights v Storm, stats, scores, live blog.

In a huge blow for the Knights, star back rower Dylan Lucas suffered a Lisfranc injury and will miss the rest of the season. It’s the same fate that felled teammate Kalyn Ponga.

Only half of Melbourne’s Origin contingent would roll into the Hunter for the clash, with both Cameron Munster and Xavier Coates given a spell on the back of the Maroons’ 24-12 series win on Wednesday night.

Despite missing some major x-factor through Coates, Munster and the injured Ryan Papenhuyzen, the Storm would crack the scoreboard first, slotting an early penalty goal to snatch a 2-0 lead.

Carrying the NRL’s worst attack and missing some major spark through Kalyn Ponga and Fletcher Sharpe, you could excuse the Knights for missing the jump.

However, it took the home side less than 15 minutes to cross for one of the tries of the season down their right edge.

A late switch before kick-off saw Dane Gagai drop back to fullback, with rookie Fletcher Hunt moving back to right centre, despite donning the No. 1 jersey.

A quick shift 40-metres out saw Gagai find Hunt, tapping it on to Dominic Young to race down the touchline before chipping over fill-in fullback Nick Meaney.

The ball propped up perfectly for the Englishman, dotting down millimetres inside from the touchline for an early 4-2 lead.

Without half their spine, Melbourne couldn’t find any rhythm in attack, repeatedly hoisting it high for Eli Katoa down the right edge to no avail.

A shocking cut-out pass from Hughes sailed over the sideline, handing Newcastle key field position, and eventually, an extended lead.

Another routine shift to the right found Gagai sweeping out the back again, this time cutting Hunt out for his winger, Young extending the lead to six after trampling Grant Anderson.

After 39 minutes of clunky sweeps and hail Mary high kicks, a crafty kick from Jahrome Hughes would finally get the Storm on the board before the break.

Playing the short side following a half-break from Joe Chan, Hughes would go high again on the last tackle. Greg Marzhew only had eyes for Kane Bradley, giving Katoa a clean catch to plant the ball down untouched.

The 8-6 half-time deficit was quickly overturned, an early penalty in the second stanza propelling Craig Bellamy’s side into the Knights’ red zone.

Another scramble on the last found Bradley throwing it back to Grant, the rake sending a grubber hurdling into the upright and into the hands of Queensland teammate Trent Loiero to snatch the lead.

While it appeared a lucky bounce for Loiero, skipper Harry Grant was adamant he was aiming for the sticks.

“Yeah (it was intentional),” the hooker said with a smirk post-match.

“The line came up and I saw a bit of space there, anything at the posts to try and create something. I

“t’s an effort play from Trent to be pushing there, you make your own luck to move your feet.”

A Hughes bomb close to the line doubled their advantage minutes later, this time hoisting it close to the line for Bradley to rise above Marzhew for a try of his own.

After finally setting up shop in Melbourne’s 20, a wayward Hastings pass handed Katoa a 70m intercept, and Loiero a double just a few plays later after another Hughes pass.

The Kiwi halfback had the game by the scruff of the neck in the second-half, slotting a 40/20 before firing another bullet pass to Bradley to snag a double of his own later the next set.

The 26-8 lead was enough for Bellamy to give his skipper Grant a breather, as well as Hughes’ fourth try-assist of the afternoon.

Newcastle wouldn’t fold then and there, Dom Young’s late offload ricochetting off Storm defenders and straight to Fletcher Hunt for the rookie’s second career try.

Despite the late glimmer of hope, a hard-running Katoa shrugged off the much smaller Jack Cogger to slam the ball down for a double, and re-establish the Storm’s 32-14 lead.

Although they managed to find some space down their left-side in the dying minutes, Newcastle couldn’t find the killer blow, suffering their seventh home loss this season.

O’Brien, a former assistant to Craig Bellamy at the Storm, can see just how high quality this Melbourne side is in 2025.

“They’re a good footy team, they know how to get it done.

“They’ve got some really dangerous individuals, and they’re finding ways to win when they’re not at their best, definitely one of the teams to beat.”

They’ll have a chance to redeem themselves next weekend against a depleted Warriors outfit, while Melbourne’s minor premiership pursuit continues against arch rivals Manly.

AIR KATOA THE NEW STORM STAPLE

Is it a bird? Is it a plane? The new Superman movie may have released this week, but no, it’s Eli Katoa, sailing through the air once again.

Ever since the former Warrior dominated a game aerially a few weeks back, a high-kick to Katoa has become the old firm of Melbourne’s newest trick up their sleeve.

The back-rower scored one off a bomb as well as barmstorming over for a late double, as well as picking up 70-metres through an intercept. He might just be the NRL’s best attacking second-rower right now.

Head coach Craig Bellamy was clearly blown away when talking about his back-rower’s efforts.

“He never ceases to amaze.

“Some of the stuff he comes up with, obviously he’s made a name for himself competing for high balls and scoring off kicks, but he found some different ways to score today.

“The season he’s having for us is quite unbelievable.”

GAGAI GOES BACK

Having lost both Kalyn Ponga and Fletcher Sharpe to season-ending injuries, it seemed as if rookie Fletcher Hunt would be thrust into the role for the rest of 2025.

However, it was 34-year-old Dane Gagai that would make a late move to fullback for Newcastle, and the 304-game veteran didn’t disappoint.

Bar a singular dropped bomb, the former Maroon was a target on each backline shift, playing a part in both Young tries as well as making over 250 metres at the back.

Outside of Hunt and uncapped rookie Connor Votano, O’Brien hasn’t got a stack of options at the back, however the head coach was more than happy with the veteran’s efforts.

“Energy, spirit, fight.

“I thought he was great bringing the ball back to us in good field position, he was bringing it back like Karmichael Hunt at times.

“At the end of the day, he hasn’t spent a heap of time there. We need to work out how we can protect him a little better on last tackle, they had free rein at him a lot on the fifth.”

HUGHES REFINDS DALLY M FORM

Jahrome Hughes was voted the NRL’s best player last season, however the Kiwi halfback hasn’t hit the same highs as last season in 2025.

It didn’t stop the No. 7 from dominating Newcastle in the second-half. After a sluggish opening stanza, Hughes was in everything in the second period, jagging four try-assists and kicking a 40/20 on the way to victory.

Now entering the final third of the season, it seems Melbourne’s main men are hitting their straps at the perfect time.

Despite a slow start to the clash, Bellamy was thrilled to see his halfback step up when the side needed him.

“He probably didn’t have the first-half that he would have liked, but that happens at times.

“He defintley clicked into gear in the second-half. I think he had four try-assists, kicking game was really good.

“I just thought he really took charge and led the way.”

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MATCH PREVIEW

The Storm will be out to keep pace with the ladder-leading Canberra Raiders when they travel to Newcastle to play the Knights.

With the Raiders on the bye, the Storm need to win today to stay within two points of Canberra. They’ll need to do it without Cam Munster (rested) and Ryan Papenhuyzen (calf).

Nick Meaney, who shined at fullback in Papenhuyzen’s absence last week, will start there again. Jack Howarth returns to the centres after a few weeks sidelined (appendix removal).

The Knights will be up against it to upset Melbourne without captain Kalyn Ponga, who is set to miss the remainder of the regular season. Young gun Fletcher Hunt will wear the No. 1 jersey.

TEAMS

Knights team: 1. Fletcher Hunt 2. Dominic Young 3. Dane Gagai 4. Bradman Best 5. Greg Marzhew 6. Jackson Hastings 7. Jack Cogger 8. Jacob Saifiti 9. Phoenix Crossland 10. Leo Thompson 11. Dylan Lucas 12. Kai Pearce-Paul 13. Tyson Frizell 14. Jayden Brailey 15. Mathew Croker 16. Jermaine McEwen 17. Brodie Jones 18th man: 18. Thomas Cant

Storm team: 4. Nick Meaney 2. Grant Anderson 3. Joe Chan 18. Jack Howarth 22. Kane Bradley 6. Tyran Wishart 7. Jahrome Hughes 8. Tui Kamikamica 21. Harry Grant 10. Josh King 11. Shawn Blore 12. Eliesa Katoa 15. Stefano Utoikamanu 13. Nelson Asofa-Solomona 14. Jonah Pezet 17. Ativalu Lisati 19. Trent Loiero 18th man: 9. Bronson Garlick