Jahrome Hughes of the Storm is tackled by James Fisher-Harris (left) and Sione Katoa of the Panthers. Melbourne have made it three-straight wins to start their NRL campaign, producing a near-perfect defensive effort in their 32-2 rout of Penrith. With the temperature almost dropping to zero in Bathurst, the Storm froze the Panthers out early by keeping their line intact. Uncharacteristic errors gave the home side 30 looks at the tryline inside the opening 30 minutes and, each time, Melbourne turned them away. In a worrying sign for NSW State of Origin coach Brad Fittler, Panthers halves James Maloney and Nathan Cleary looked devoid of ideas in attack. MATCH CENTRE: Panthers v Storm Live stream the 2019 NRL Telstra Premiership on KAYO SPORTS. Every game of every round live & anytime on your TV or favourite device. Get your 14 day free trial > In contrast, Storm and Queensland Origin star Cameron Munster scored a try and played a hand in two others in a match-winning performance. Skipper Cameron Smith kicked a perfect six goals from as many attempts. A torrential pre-game downpour made conditions greasy, however that didn’t stop the Storm taking their chances when presented. Munster dubiously opened the scoring when Dallin Watene-Zelezniak and Dylan Edwards failed to defuse his grubber. Storm winger Josh Addo-Carr appeared to have nudged Watene-Zelezniak in the build-up, but the bunker overlooked the incident and awarded the try. The Panthers weren’t without their chances to respond, but couldn’t find a way through a seemingly impenetrable defence. In contrast, the Storm didn’t get their first crack inside the Panthers’ red zone until the 31st minute, but still took a six-point halftime lead with a Smith penalty goal. Craig Bellamy’s men cranked up in the second half, beginning with a Brodie Croft try that came from a Munster bomb fluffed by Edwards. It was a horror night for the Panthers’ fullback, who finished with six errors. Addo-Carr, Marion Seve and Jesse Bromwich completed the rout with tries in the final 30 minutes, as the Storm moved provisionally to the top of the ladder.<doc-sep>Loading Melbourne have spent the first few rounds of the NRL reminding some of the more aspirational teams around the league that hype doesn't equate to performance once the whistle has blown. Penrith were the latest side to be on the receiving end and had to travel to chilly Bathurst for their lesson, which arrived in the form of a 32-2 whacking that has further sucked the air out of what had been billed as a season of endless promise for the Panthers. The conditions were slippery but that won't excuse a completion rate of just 58 per cent. That kind of number is virtually always fatal against the Storm, who withstood some early tests before taking merciless control of the contest. Cameron Munster was highly influential but it was the Storm defence that was immovable. The Panthers went tryless and their only contribution to the scoreboard was a James Maloney penalty after five minutes. That was as good as it got.<doc-sep>Penrith coach Ivan Cleary declared his Panthers ‘awful’ and ‘inept’ after Saturday’s heavy loss to the Storm – fans of the club weren’t anywhere near as kind. The Panthers finished on the wrong end of a 32-2 thumping at the hands of a clinical Melbourne Storm in Bathurst on Saturday night. After trailing 8-2 at the break the Mountain Men capitulated to slump to their second loss in three games to start 2019. Poor-old Dylan Edwards came in for some criticism after producing a whopping six errors. MORE: Clint Gutherson reportedly has secret agreement with Parramatta Eels | Craig Bellamy exposes Cameron Munster's dirty secret after Panthers romp | But furious Panthers fans directed their ire at coach Cleary, his son and half-back Nathan, as well as Panthers supremo Phil Gould. There have been persistent rumours suggesting Gould, who controversially sacked coach Antony Griffin five weeks before last season’s finals series, is set to resign after seven years in charge at the club. Judging by the social media reaction, Gus won’t be missed if he does decided to call it quits. Panthers absolutely useless The clearys another master stroke from that idiot Gould 🤬 #NRLPanthersStorm — Brayden Wright (@2005Collins) March 30, 2019 No mistake. Penrith’s struggles are all on Gus Gould. ALL of them. Hook Griffin seemed to fair better than Crazy Ivan. #NRLPanthersStorm — Peter Dickinson (@pete_dicko) March 30, 2019 #NRLPanthersStorm Wonder how Gus is feeling bringing back Ivan, a coach he sacked just so he could lock in Nathan. Wonder if Nathan got the old I can leave if my dad gets punted clause in the new contract — Gazgeegee (@Gaz_70) March 30, 2019 Looks like it’s going to be a long season again for us diehard Panther fans, why do we release all these wonderful players and yet Gould’s 5 year plan is nowhere to be spoken of? Frustrated as hell. #NRLPanthersStorm — Col (@Col42589562) March 30, 2019 It's a car crash in Bathurst. #NRLPanthersStorm — Stephen Gallagher (@SWTGallagher) March 30, 2019 Both Clearys also came in for strong criticism from furious fans. Big mistake signing Cleary Snr... Cleary Jnr too comfortable playing for dad. I love Penrith but sad to say, we'll get the spoon. #provemewrong #pantherpride #gotnothing #nrlpanthersstorm — Aunty Jolee (@Flossy6703) March 30, 2019 When Gould sacks Cleary next time no other team will want a bar of him. See ya Ivan #nrlpanthersstorm — Sharyn (@millarjor) March 30, 2019 Im not sure who the biggest thief is tonight, Cameron Munster for the 3 strips or Nathan Cleary for taking 900k a year off our salary cap #NRLPanthersStorm — Daniel Degal (@GonDanielDegal) March 30, 2019 It was reported on Sunday morning Ivan paid $250,000 to get out of his Wests Tigers contract last season before signing a five-year deal to return to the Panthers. Fittingly, the rugby league Gods have arranged for the Panthers to meet the Tigers in Round 4.<doc-sep>
Penrith coach Ivan Cleary labelled his side’s effort ‘awful’ and ‘inept’ after the Panthers were blown off Carrington Park by a rampant Melbourne Storm on Saturday night. The mountain men trailed 8-2 at half-time but capitulated after the break as the Storm, led by Cameron Munster, piled on four unanswered tries to seal an emphatic 32-2 victory. “I thought the first half was a pretty even contest in tough conditions (and we trailed) 8-2 with one try from just an unfortunate mistake and a dubious call I thought,” Cleary said. “… The game changed at around the 46-minute mark with, again, a similar try but I thought our boys really failed to deal with that and from then on we were awful. MORE: The Repeat Set: Melbourne Storm locked out and denied access in Bathurst | Panthers v Storm: Melbourne captain Cameron Smith becomes the second man to score 2400 points | Asked if he thought the entire second-half was awful Cleary replied: “I thought we started the second half pretty well so for 46 minutes I there was nothing in the game. “But that try that took them ahead 14-2, I didn’t think we coped with that and I think we completed four sets for the rest of the game or something. “And all parts of our game I thought were just inept.” The coach will face an awkward family conversation during the week after his with son and Panthers half-back Nathan went missing in a rudderless display. “They’ve swapped sides so that’s a bit of it but I just feel like it’s Round 3 and they’ll continue to get better,” he said of the combination between halves James Maloney and Nathan. “Just the fact that they went through that phase at the start of the game tonight to get some continuous football (is a positive) and that’s been few and far between the first three games. “We’re struggling to build pressure which means if you build pressure you can continue to have consistent cracks at the opposition and then those sorts of things start to work themselves out. Full-back Dylan Edwards also had an outing to forget with two blunders that led directly to Storm tries. “You feel for anyone when they go through a night like tonight,” Cleary, who declared he won't drop the full-back next week, said of Edwards. “And I’ve got to say he never shied away but it certainly wasn’t his night. “He’s pretty disappointed but I guess we’ve all had days like that.” The 2-1 Panthers have six days to work out what went wrong before they host Ivan’s former team the Wests Tigers on Friday night at Panthers Stadium.