Sisa Waqa was sizzling for the Storm. Source: Getty Images
VETERAN Brett Finch emphatically answered questions about whether he was up to filling the vacant Melbourne five-eighth jersey after leading the Storm to a crushing 32-0 win tonight over the Broncos.
Finch wound back the clock at AAMI Park as Melbourne racked up their 11th win in 13 games against Brisbane to put a serious dent in their hopes of playing in the NRL finals.
The Broncos weren't as bad as the scoreline indicated.
They blew at least five try-scoring opportunities through poor handling, great defence by the Storm and a dash of bad luck.
The Storm, in contrast, made their chances count.
Two minutes of play early in the second half typified the game.
Brisbane winger Lachlan Maranta was somehow held up over the line by Billy Slater when he looked a certainty to score.
A Broncos error on the next play handed Melbourne the ball and, in the next set of six, Storm lock Ryan Hinchcliffe ran on to a Finch pass and managed to get the ball down at the other end.
While Finch pulled the strings in attack, Storm winger Sisa Waqa was just as impressive.
Waqa saved two tries in the first half, racing across field to nail Brisbane winger Lachlan Maranta with the tryline beckoning and also foiled a likely Josh Hoffman try from a Peter Wallace kick.
He then scored midway through the second to cap a flawless performance.
Finch, 31, took over the Storm playmaking duties following the season-ending hip injury to Gareth Widdop.
His work in attack, as well as some try-saving tackles in defence, will give the Storm confidence they have the right man to steer them through their finals campaign.
While Melbourne continued to frustrate the Broncos, the scoreboard kept ticking over in the second half through Hinchcliffe, Waqa and a double by centre Maurice Blair.
Compounding the misery for the Broncos, centre Jack Reed suffered a shoulder injury by hitting the signage behind the dead ball area as he attempted to bat the ball back into play.
AAP
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