Melbourne 18 Newcastle 4
IF COACH Craig Bellamy and NSW selectors were banking on Newcastle utility Kurt Gidley wearing the No.7 jersey in Origin I next week, they might have to put plan B into operation.
And if that included Knights halfback Jarrod Mullen, they may need to concoct plan C before naming the team in Sydney today.
Gidley suffered a suspected fractured cheekbone in the opening minutes of Newcastle's 18-4 loss to Melbourne at Olympic Park last night and will have X-rays today to determine his availability for the Origin series-opener at ANZ Stadium tomorrow week.
The 25-year-old completed the game and the initial diagnosis by Knights medical staff was that if there was a fracture, it was not depressed.
Mullen's status is in limbo after he and Knights back-rower Cory Paterson were reported by referee Ben Cummins for a lifting tackle on Melbourne back-rower Sam Tagataese in the 17th minute.
In another potential blow to the Blues' Origin prospects, Storm and likely NSW prop Brett White clutched at his left shoulder after making a tackle in the third minute. White was replaced immediately, but initial fears of a broken collarbone or dislocated shoulder were allayed when he was diagnosed with a pinched nerve and returned in the 30th minute.
There was yet another drama in the final seconds when White's likely NSW front-row partner, Knights and former Storm prop Ben Cross, was slow getting to his feet, apparently suffering concussion after contesting a kick close to Melbourne's posts.
Gidley appeared to suffer his injury when he made a seemingly innocuous tackle on former Knights teammate Anthony Quinn close to Newcastle's goal-line in the seventh minute.
But Gidley soldiered on and never flinched as he marshalled Newcastle's defensive line, which was under pressure for most of the first half as the Storm enjoyed an 8-2 penalty advantage.
Despite their glut of possession, the Storm could not crack Newcastle's resolute defence in the first half and the teams were locked at 0-0 at half-time.
Melbourne looked like they had finally found a way through the wall in the 47th minute when Michael Crocker was stopped short of the Newcastle line. The ball spilled loose, Billy Slater picked up the crumbs and fed Israel Folau, but video referee Chris Ward ruled Mullen was obstructed by Jeremy Smith in the lead-up and disallowed the try.
Folau was given the green light five minutes later after out-leaping Lulia, Vuna and Mullen to mark a Cooper Cronk cross-kick and twisting out of the tackle for a trademark try.
Storm skipper Cam Smith converted from close to the sideline for a 6-0 lead.
Exhausted from their defensive duties in the first half, Newcastle's handling fell away and they put themselves under more pressure.
Folau took a Crocker flick pass in the 66th minute to score his second try and Smith converted for a 12-0 lead.
Mullen tidied up Smith's stab kick seven minutes later and ran 90 metres to score a consolation try for the Knights but Gidley could not convert from touch.
The Knights never really looked like winning and were unable to control the ball long enough to threaten the Storm.
Quinn snuck over in the corner in the 76th minute to score against his old club and probably secure his first NSW jersey.
MELBOURNE 18 (I Folau 2 A Quinn tries C Smith 3 goals) bt NEWCASTLE 4 (J Mullen try) at Olympic Park. Crowd: 10,624. Referee: B Cummins.
