It may have ended in a stirring Cowboys victory but the biggest talking points to come out of their meeting with the Storm in Round 19 last year were Melbourne’s three-match losing streak and the club’s growing injury crisis.
The finals-bound Storm were ultimately beaten 20-16 by North Queensland at AAMI Park in Melbourne, but a serious shoulder injury to winger Matt Duffie and the long delayed return of star No.1 Billy Slater were the greatest concerns.
Cowboys centre Kane Linnett was a standout for the visiting side, scoring a double and recording three line-breaks in the match.
His team claimed victory on the back of a superior metres-gained stat (1630 to 1377 metres), even though they recorded less possession (48%-52%), fewer sets (34-37) and a lower completion rate (76%-81%).