Melbourne Storm were 'rattled' by Parramatta Eels, says Cameron Munster
By Roy Ward Updated
Melbourne Storm star Cameron Munster admits his side were "rattled" by the Parramatta Eels during their qualifying final and he won't be shocked if the Eels make the grand final.
The 22-year-old Storm five-eighth, who turns 23 on Wednesday, gave a raw account of the first half of Saturday's game and he believes the side strayed from their game plan.
"The Eels had really good line speed in the game and they D'd up [defended] on us in our red zone," Munster said.
"We went away from our game plan and we usually don't go away from our plan. We weren't composed in the last 20 minutes of that first half and then we got back to what we do best by running hard and tackling hard in that first part of the second half.
"They came out hard for us and we weren't ready for it and a little bit rattled. Hopefully next week that is a different thing."
The Storm trailed 10-4 at half-time but regrouped before taking back the lead and holding steady to win 18-16 and earn the right to host a third consecutive preliminary final at AAMI Park next Friday.
But Munster was still kicking himself for being sent to the sin bin for committed a professional foul 23 minutes into the first half while trying to stop the Parramatta Eels taking a quick tap.
"I let the boys down I guess," Munster said on Tuesday.
"It was a mind blank, a brain explosion for myself. I felt pretty bad, it was a tough game for us and a big thing for us to get a week off plus it was Cameron Smith's 356th game as well.
"I thought I let him down. They scored 10 points while I was off and it was a crucial part of the game and hopefully next week it doesn't happen again."
When asked if he got any reassurance from his teammates at half-time, Munster smiled and said he knew he had to atone for his error.
"I had to get onto my next job, I knew I stuffed up. I was probably going to get 10 in the bin and I had to pull my head in a bit, not make that mistake again and put the team under pressure like that."
The Storm will have this week off as Brisbane Broncos and Penrith Panthers play an elimination semi-final in Brisbane on Friday for the right to play Melbourne.
The Storm are expected to train this week and have the weekend to recharge ahead of next week's preliminary final.
Munster said the Eels game was played at grand final intensity.
"It felt like a grand final to me to be honest," Munster said.
"The speed, the physicality of the game was like we had against the Sharks last year in the grand final, and the Eels are very big contenders for the grand final this year and playing very good football."
The Eels play North Queensland Cowboys in Sydney on Saturday night and the winner plays Sydney Roosters in the other preliminary final.
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Also and of note, I've spent 20 minutes googling many different ways to find a youtube video of the Eels v Storm 2017 semi final and I can't find one. Why has it been made difficult to find? Is it because of the blatant & serious ref cheating that went on in that game????
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=HvKhvIrd_rc
Thanks Driza but it's a severely edited highlights package. Is there a full match replay of the game because it will show all the terrible (conspiring) decisions the refs were making??????