Nicho Hynes’s stocks continue to soar high after playing a starring role in the Melbourne Storm’s 40-12 defeat of Brisbane, who lost prop Payne Haas to a knee injury.

Off-contract fullback Hynes, linked to a move to Brisbane next season, starred in a potential job audition at Lang Park on Thursday night, as the Storm stretched their run of wins by 13 points or more to a new NRL high of nine matches.

The victory was also their 10th straight against the Broncos.

Haas limped off in the 51st minute with a knee injury in a blow to his hopes of being selected for New South Wales in State of Origin I.

He is facing between two and four weeks on the sidelines and appears to be at long odds for the Blues in the June 9 opener and even in danger of missing Origin II on June 27.

The rampaging forward had impressed in the first half for an improved Brisbane, who had beaten the Sydney Roosters last week in their best showing under new coach Kevin Walters.

But they were their own worst enemies against the Storm, with Anthony Milford the main offender in a first-half performance that saw the off-contract five-eighth’s prospects take another hit.

In the final months of his four-year deal worth nearly $1 million a season, Milford has already been dropped twice this year and looked devoid of confidence in an error-riddled performance.

His passes missed the mark just as space was created on the flanks, while he stuck a foot out to stop a short kick that bounced into the path of surprised Storm try scorer Tui Kamikamica.

Milford then darted a pass out of dummy half at the shoelaces of Jesse Arthars, the knock-on leading to a Josh Addo-Carr try from the ensuing set.

His confidence shot, Milford was reluctant to even receive the ball on the final play before half-time with the score 16-0 and was replaced in the 68th minute.

It got worse in the first set of the second half, with Tevita Pangai Junior’s risky offload fumbled by the Broncos before the Storm’s George Jennings picked up the loose ball and pushed the lead beyond 20 points.

Cooper Johns’s first NRL try came hot on its heels, with Hynes again breaking the line and floating a pass that appeared forward to the son of Matthew Johns.

Brandon Smith scored two of his own and set up Hynes with a flat pass as the Storm again made light of the key absences of Cameron Munster, Ryan Papenhuyzen, Harry Grant and Christian Welch.

Hynes has made the most of Papenhuyzen’s absence though, pushing his case for a first-choice role at another club as the Storm maintained their incredible 12-year winning streak over the Broncos at Lang Park.

AAP



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