Melbourne Storm break losing run but win marred by crushing fall, dirty acts
The Storm snapped a rare four-game losing streak in a 24-12 win over the Warriors in New Zealand on Friday, but the victory could come at a heavy cost.
Front-rower Nelson Asofa-Solomona was reported for driving his left forearm into the head of Wayde Egan as he and two other Storm players dumped the Warriors hooker into the turf.
And prop Josh King was also reported after his right hand was spotted around the eye region of Jazz Tevaga in a tackle.
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Then in an injury blow to Melbourne, fullback Nick Meaney was poleaxed in an aerial collision with Dallin Watene-Zelezniak, scratching him from the game in the 62nd minute.
The Storm's backs had already been smashed on the injury front this season, with Ryan Papenhuyzen, George Jennings, Reimis Smith and Xavier Coates sidelined.
Meaney shifted from a wing to fullback to replace Papenhuyzen in round 19, after the speedster shattered his right the previous week.
Craig Bellamy had little to say in his post-match press conference on Asofa-Solomona and King being reported, but the Storm coach held out hope for Meaney's right shoulder.
"It looked pretty dire when he came off ... but it's looking a bit better at the moment. Actually, I'm not quite sure what they're thinking, but they don't think it's as bad as what they thought at the start," Bellamy said.
"It would be a cruel blow to lose Nick. He's been one of our most consistent players all year, and after losing Paps and going back there he's been going pretty good for us.
"I'm not 100 per cent sure at the moment (and) I don't think the physios are, either ... there is a problem, but just how bad it is I'm not quite sure. It's better than what they thought originally."
Nick Meaney injured his right shoulder in Melbourne's win in New Zealand. Getty Images
In a fiery start to the match, Asofa-Solomona was reported only moments after conceding a penalty for a lifting tackle on Edward Kosi.
For an incident on Thursday similar to Asofa-Solomona's, Roosters prop Jared Waerea-Hargreaves was offered a $3000 fine.
Bulldogs second-rower Corey Waddell was slapped with a five-match ban for an eye-gouge in round 19, but the incident in the Storm-Warriors clash was certainly not as bad.
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