The Storm have claimed the 2024 Minor Premiership — their fifth in eight years — after a statement 48-6 win over the Dolphins.
It was capped off with a special moment in the 69th minute when Nelson Asofa-Slomona scored in his 200th NRL game.
It took 19 minutes for the first try of the match to be scored after some end-to-end footy but then they came thick and fast after that with the Storm running in seven tries before the Dolphins finally responded.
Sua Fa’alogo — who was a late pomotion to the wing — got over first in the corner, before the Storm extended their lead through skipper Harry Grant.
Things then went from bad to worse for the Dolphins, who in the final five minutes of the first half lost Felise Kaufusi to the sin bin, as well as Kodi Nikorima and Jesse Bromwich to head knocks.
The Storm capitalised off the one-man advantage by running in two tries in three minutes before the break.
After learning from coach Craig Bellamy in the sheds that the Panthers lost earlier on Saturday and a win would seal the minor premiership, the Storm came out firing in the second half, scoring two tries in five minutes.
However the first — Fa’alogo’s second of the night — was contentious given the winger looked to ground the ball on the dead ball line.
Eli Katoa crossed for his 11th try of the season, taking him to equal first for the team this season. And then Asofa-Slomona, who suffered a cork earlier in the night, celebrated his milestone match with a try.
Josh King scored in the 74th minute to cap off a stunning win by the Storm.
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