An impressive offensive display by winger Will Warbrick propelled the Melbourne Storm to a comeback victory over the Canberra Raiders at AAMI Park on Sunday, as the Storm secured a 42-20 win in Cameron Munster’s milestone 250th game. After falling behind by 16 points early in the match, Melbourne mounted a swift turnaround, overturning the deficit by the 27th minute and dominating the remainder of the contest.

The Storm, trailing 16-0 after 16 minutes, had not overcome such a margin since 2014. Warbrick was instrumental in the turnaround, scoring a hat-trick that featured two remarkable tries initiated by high kicks from halfback Jahrome Hughes. His aerial prowess and strong runs consistently troubled the Raiders’ defense throughout the game.

Storm head coach Craig Bellamy acknowledged the unexpected nature of the early deficit but commended his team’s resilience. “I don’t think anyone saw that coming,” Bellamy said in reference to the rapid comeback. “There was a lot of points scored out there. After our start, when it was 16-nil, that wasn’t obviously the way we wanted to start.” He also defended his team’s early efforts despite the scoreboard, noting that an intercepted pass had contributed to the Raiders’ early lead.

A pivotal moment came when Storm captain Harry Grant entered the match from the bench. Grant, a 28-year-old Queensland Origin hooker, had a significant impact on the game's momentum. The Storm’s performance shifted markedly with him on the field, transforming a 16-point deficit into a commanding advantage. Bellamy praised Grant’s leadership and influence, saying he “added his know-how and how the team needed to play and played a great role.”

Grant finished the match with a noticeable limp but reassured that his condition was minor. “I just got a cork out there,” he said, referring to a glute injury sustained during a collision but noted he was “happy to get through the game with it.”

The Raiders started strongly, capitalizing on a Storm error when winger Moses Leo dropped the ball 20 meters from the try line. This turnover led to Savelio Tamale scoring the opening try. Following that, winger Xavier Savage extended Canberra’s lead to 16-0 with an intercepted pass from Storm player Jack Howarth, making it appear the Raiders might dominate.

However, Melbourne’s response was swift and decisive. The Storm scored three consecutive tries to close out the first half and maintained their momentum in the second, ultimately securing their fifth win in six matches. This victory moves Melbourne closer to a position within the top eight, while the Raiders face mounting pressure following this heavy defeat.

The Storm will look to build on this momentum as the season progresses, while Canberra will need to address defensive lapses and errors that cost them early control in the game.