LeagueNews.co | Jason Patrick
In the second half, Illawarra came out firing, capitalizing on Storm's mistakes to score two quick tries and take the lead.
Storm tried to mount a comeback, but Illawarra's defense was relentless, shutting down their attacking opportunities.
The game started to slip away from Storm, with Illawarra showcasing their superior skills and experience on the field.
Despite their best efforts, Storm's SG Ball side just couldn't match the intensity and execution of the Illawarra Steelers.
With the final whistle blown, the scoreboard showed a disappointing 34-12 defeat for Melbourne Storm.
Although the result was not what they had hoped for, Storm's young players can take away valuable lessons from the match and use it as motivation to improve in future games.