Melbourne arrested the longest losing streak in Craig Bellamy's tenure on Sunday afternoon at AAMI Park with a 44-16 win over Wests Tigers that put Harry Grant, Cameron Munster and Jahrome Hughes back at the level the club had asked them for. The 28-point margin is the largest Storm victory of the 2026 season and the kind of statement performance the bookmakers had been waiting for through the seven-game club-record run. After it the Storm sit 12th on the ladder at 3-7, but with their core trio back in form, the back half of the season has just changed shape.
The Big Three Find Their Game
Bellamy named an unchanged 17 on Saturday night and his side responded. Harry Grant ran the contest from hooker with two try-assists and a try of his own in the 38th minute that gave the home side an 18-6 lead going into half-time. Cameron Munster, in his first start since returning from a back complaint, ran a slick 14 touches and broke the line three times for two try-assists and the 36th-minute kick that put Grant through for the Storm's third try. Jahrome Hughes, back from his Round 9 concussion, controlled the second half with the kind of ball-playing that scored the famous flag-winning seasons. He kicked five from five for goal in his return to the No. 7 jumper.
The Storm scored eight tries to two. Will Warbrick crossed twice in the second half, Sualauvi Fa'alogo crashed over for one, and the Storm forward pack of Stefano Utoikamanu and Lazarus Vaalepu had their best afternoon of the year. The Tigers came in 12th and finished the day 13th, with Adam Doueihi and Jayden Sullivan ground down by the Storm's defensive line after the half-time interval. The two Tigers tries came either side of the main break, with no answer to the Hughes-Munster combination once the second half began.
The Ladder Has Moved
The result puts the Storm into Round 11 with their first real win in eight weeks. The road map ahead is the kind that gets a side back in finals contention, with home games against Souths and the Bulldogs before a Townsville trip in Round 13. Penrith continue to top the ladder at 9-1 after their 30-18 win over Canberra at GIO on Sunday, with Talagi scoring twice in the first 20 minutes and Cleary delivering a try-assist masterclass. Manly sit second at 7-3 after the Saturday win in Perth, Cronulla third at 6-3, with the Cowboys and Knights tied for fourth.
Where the Markets Land
Melbourne's premiership market firmed from $26 to $17 across Sunday evening at Picklebet, with Cronulla easing to $11 as the Storm jump back into the conversation. Penrith remain favourites at $2.40, Manly $5, Cronulla $11 and Brisbane $11. Storm Hughes is back at $11 in the Dally M Medal market at dabble, level with Cleary and Reece Walsh. Round 11 has Manly hosting Souths at 4pm Brookvale Friday, Penrith hosting the Dragons at CommBank Saturday afternoon, and Storm hosting Souths at AAMI on Sunday in the marquee Round 11 fixture. The line opened at -6.5 the Storm's way at Ladbrokes.
Full match details, Hughes's interview after his return, and the Sunday afternoon highlights are available via ABC Sport.