LeagueNews.co | Nick Loken
The Junior Rep Report from melbournestorm.com.au is in, and unfortunately, Melbourne Storm's Jersey Flegg and SG Ball teams were unable to secure victories this past weekend.
Facing off against the Panthers in Round 8, the Storm's SG Ball squad fought valiantly but ultimately fell short in a close contest.
The young Storm players came out firing, with a slick move to the left edge resulting in a well-executed kick that led to a try by Ioane Lui in just the 2nd minute.
Although the Panthers managed to score two tries in response, a moment of magic from Hugo Peel saw the Storm fullback outleap his opponent and dance his way to the try line in the 15th minute.
The game continued to ebb and flow, with Storm answering back with a try of their own as hooker Harrison Hill extended his impressive streak of scoring tries in the 28th minute.
With limited space to work with, Lui and Peel showcased their connection once again, as Lui delivered a perfectly timed pass to a rampaging Peel who crossed the tryline just before halftime.
Despite their efforts, the Storm's young guns couldn't quite seal the deal against the Panthers.