The Storm squashed the Panthers like a grape at AAMI Park in Round 22 of last season. Their 46-6 victory began an eight-game winning streak that went all the way to grand final glory against the Bulldogs.
The Storm were in a dynamic mood, scoring the first try after just 34 seconds and on the third tackle of the game. Winger Sisa Waqa crossed after the ‘big three’ – Billy Slater, Cooper Cronk and Cameron Smith – had combined.
The superstar trio combined again for Cronk to score the second try, and by halftime it was 34-0. The Storm reached 40 before the Panthers finally registered a try, through interchange forward Matt Robinson.
Panthers coach Ivan Cleary had no choice but to admit his team had been “pretty bad”, adding that it was “a day we’d rather forget”. The Storm can do that more often than not, and Cleary will be hoping his charges can avoid a dose of the same on Sunday.