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FULL-TIME: Storm 28 – Dragons 24
Easily one of the best games of the season, and with one of the most exciting endings you’ll see. A lot of controversy as well. Where to begin?
The second half went much like the first half – the Dragons came out firing and skipped out to a 24-10 lead. The game looked beyond the Storm at that point, but they again lifted the tempo and managed to get momentum to swing their way. They scored two tries in the space of two minutes and all of a sudden it was 24-22.
Then it was a fight to the death. Melbourne had one last throw of the dice – the ball was played as the siren sounded in the background, and Dragons looked to have wrapped them up, but a Hail Mary pass out the back from Waqa kept things alive. Eventually Tohu Harris was able to straighten and get the ball out to Hoffman, who threw the final ball to Tonumaipea to cross in the corner for the winner.
The controversy will come in two forms. Storm fans will be filthy about a try to Trent Merrin when it appeared that Dugan was clearly off-side from the kick – although I imagine they’ll forget about that quite quickly! Dragons are already questioning the timing of the last play-the-ball as the siren went – it was a close thing but I thought the ball was already in play and it was okay to continue.
Whatever the case, that game was exactly why we love rugby league – definitely one for the ages.
Monday night action comes to AAMI Park as the Melbourne Storm take on the St George Illawarra Dragons. Join us for live scores and commentary from 7pm AEST.
Expectations for these two sides at the season’s outset couldn’t have been more different, but after five rounds they’ve followed a similar path.
Three wins from three to start the season had them level atop the NRL ladder, before both were brought back to the pack with two losses in a row leading into Round 6.
While the Storm have stuck with the same side that took the field last week (save for the suspended Dayne Weston, replaced on the bench by Tim Glasby), the Dragons have made some key changes.
Adam Quinlan drops out of the side to make way for Michael Witt, Jack Stockwell replaces the suspended Jack De Belin, while Bronson Harrison has been named on the bench.
But the key to the Dragons’ chances remain with play-maker Gareth Widdop, who takes on his old team for the first time.
In signing with the Dragons, Widdop stepped out of the shadow of the ‘Big Three’, and he’ll be hoping to show them up tonight.
The Dragons tend to struggle against the Storm, particularly in Melbourne where they haven’t won a game since 1999 – the year the merged entity came into being.
I’m tipping that run to continue tonight, with the Storm to win by 12.
Which of these sides will post their fourth win of the NRL season? Join us at 7pm AEST for live score updates, and be sure to give us your opinion in the space below if you’re watching.
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