Melbourne Storm prepared for next week's World Club Challenge with a 34-10 victory over a depleted Harlequins side.
Six tries for NRL champions ahead of Leeds showdown
Melbourne Storm prepared for next week's World Club Challenge with a 34-10 victory over a depleted Harlequins side at the Twickenham Stoop.
Dane Nielsen put on an impressive two-try display, while Halifax-born full-back Gareth Widdop boosted his chances of facing Leeds next Sunday with an encouraging performance, and some near-faultless goalkicking.
Widdop, who emigrated with his family to Melbourne four years ago, succeeded with his first five conversion attempts before hitting an upright with his sixth kick.
The 20-year-old Yorkshireman began the match at full-back in the absence of Billy Slater and demonstrated his versatility with highly creditable spells on the wing and in the centre.
Melbourne coach Craig Bellamy used 19 of his 23-man squad in a match played with unlimited substitutions.
Inglis
Green and Golds superstar Greg Inglis successfully came through the first half after a hip injury and will almost certainly line up against the Super League champions at Elland Road, alongside Slater, Cameron Smith, Adam Blair and Jeff Lima, who were all rested against Quins.
Tries from winger Anthony Quinn, second rower Kevin Proctor and Nielson helped the NRL champions to an 18-0 half-time lead and Hep Cahill, Rory Kostjasyn and Nielsen crossed after the break.
Harlequins were without eight regulars through injury and coach Brian McDermott was forced to include 17-year-old half-back Max Edwards in his starting line-up.
The Super League side were outgunned from the start but raised the spirits of the 3,612 crowd on a cold and wet afternoon in west London with second-half tries from full-back Ben Jones-Bishop and winger Will Sharp, both created by second rower Luke Williamson.
Danny Orr added the conversion to wrap up the scoring.
