Storm 34
Knights 4
There was a happy ending to a miserable season for the Melbourne Storm as they outplayed Newcastle in their last NRL match of the year.
With the Knights outside the top eight and the Storm anchored to the bottom of the ladder, unable to accrue points this season as part of their salary cap punishment, there was little on the line as the two sides took to the field for yesterday's match.
However, the game was the last in purple for a host of Melbourne players forced out, including superstar Greg Inglis, forwards Ryan Hoffman, Brett White, Jeff Lima and Aiden Tolman, while popular veteran Brett Finch is also leaving but watched from the sidelines because of a hand injury.
Inglis, Hoffman, White and Tolman had extra special memories to take from the match as each scored a try.
With more than 20,000 in the stands, due to the club offering A$1 tickets to fans as a 'thank you' gesture for their support, Melbourne got the party started in the eighth minute through Inglis after repeat sets took their toll on the Knights' defence.
It looked like it was going to be a romp when Ryan Hinchcliffe added a second try just two minutes later for a 12-0 lead but then errors crept into both teams' games which temporarily shut down the scoring.
Skipper Cameron Smith became the first Melbourne player to reach 1000 points with his successful conversion of Hinchcliffe's try.
Newcastle's Zeb Taia got his side on the scoreboard six minutes into the second half but their fightback was curtailed through a try in the 53rd minute to Hoffman and, with Smith again adding the extras, the lead was out to 18-4 and it was effectively game over.
White's try in the 70th minute was his first of the season while Tolman crossed three minutes later.
Inglis, who will play with Brisbane next season, thrilled the Melbourne crowd when he ploughed through the flimsy Knights defence to add his second near the end.
- AAP
