Young Storm playmaker Scott Drinkwater was a shining light despite the Falcons suffering a 30-26 defeat at the hands of the MacKay Cutters.
Sunshine Coast trailed 18-nil after just 20 minutes before slowing working their way back into the contest.
Drinkwater, who switched from five-eighth to fullback, was influential in getting his side back in the game with two line break assists and one try assist.
“Drinky was really good, he got his hands on the footy a lot and really made a difference,” Storm development coach Aaron Bellamy said.
“It took the Falcons a while to get into the game but once Drinky got his hands on the football he was always creating opportunities, setting up tries and good support through the middle.
“His positioning in defence was also really good in a foreign position for him.”
Drinkwater finished the game with an equal team-high 166 run metres alongside Storm teammate Justin Olam.
Tui Kamikamica was again strong with his carries with 146 metres for the match.
Jahrome Hughes also returned to reserve grade level and responded well by showcasing his strong running game, averaging more than 10 metres per run.
Hughes was also rock solid in defence. Both he and Kamikamica have been included in Craig Bellamy’s 21-man squad to face the Roosters this Saturday at AAMI Park.
Mackay Cutters 30 (Andrew Davey, Yamba Bowie, Nicholas Brown, Nathan Saumalu, Cooper Bambling tries; Jack Joass 5 goals) def Sunshine Coast Falcons 26 (Matthew Soper-Lawler 2, Tui Kamikamica, Samuel Wright, Jeremy Hawkins tries; Guy Hamilton 3 goals) at BB Print Stadium, Mackay.
Top of the table clash! Storm v Roosters, Saturday 12 August, 5:30pm at AAMI Park!
