Thirteen Melbourne Storm players lined up for their Hostplus Cup clubs at the weekend highlighted by a return from injury for Tepai Moeroa for the Sunshine Coast Falcons.
The front-rower started in his first game since the pre-season trials and played 49 minutes as the Falcons jumped to second place on the ladder with a dominant 38-10 win against the Burleigh Bears.
Moeroa ran for 101 metres in his return from a calf injury while the Falcons’ biggest ground gainer amongst the forward pack was his Storm teammate, Aaron Pene, who rumbled for 176 metres in 14 hit-ups, with an impressive 72 post-contact metres and a try assist.
Fullback Sua Fa’alogo led the Falcons with 183 metres to go with a linebreak, try assist and four tackle breaks, while Tyran Wishart hauled in 14 points with five goals to go with his opening try in the ninth minute.
Also featuring the Falcons’ starting line-up were Grant Anderson, Young Tonumaipea, Jayden Nikorima and Jack Howarth.
Meanwhile, five Storm contracted players were in the Brisbane Tigers team that beat the Mackay Cutters 24-16 with centre Marion Seve scoring the Tigers’ second try which gave the home side their first lead of the game in the 33rd minute.
Jordan Grant topped the Tigers’ tackle count with 34, while Joe Chan played 80 minutes in the back-row and gained 103 metres (47 post-contact metres) in his first match for three weeks.
Hooker Cole Geyer set up a try during his 29 minutes off the bench.
The Tigers lost George Jennings just before halftime with the Storm winger coming from the field after feeling a hamstring twinge.
This weekend, the Falcons host Souths Logan on Sunday (2pm) at Sunshine Coast Stadium, while the sixth-placed Tigers have a 3pm Sunday date with the Western Clydesdales.
