South Sydney are one win away from a grand final berth after some staunch defence and a helping hand from the video referee delivered a 20-10 NRL qualifying final win over reigning premiers Melbourne at ANZ Stadium.
The Rabbitohs ran out comfortable three-tries-to-two winners to book a preliminary final berth in a fortnight, but they were spared what would have been a frantic finish when the man in the video box intervened to deny Billy Slater his second try of the night.
Trailing 14-6 with 16 minutes remaining, the Storm were coming home hard when a Cooper Cronk kick was spilled by Nathan Merritt, with Slater pouncing on the loose ball to score.
Referee Jared Maxwell awarded the four-pointer only for video official Bernard Sutton to take the try off the Storm, ruling Will Chambers had impeded Merritt in the contest for the ball.
It was a body blow to the Storm’s charge – the knockout punch coming three minutes later when Greg Inglis danced his way past a few defenders before finding Issac Luke to make it 20-6.
The Storm fired a last shot when Will Chambers crashed over but it was all too late – the South Sydney defence which had held for much of the game rewarded with a deserved victory, their first over the Storm in Sydney since 2004 and just their fourth finals win since 1971.
It leaves Melbourne to face the winner of Sunday’s Canterbury-Newcastle elimination final in a sudden-death semi-final next weekend.
The Rabbitohs can put up their heels, having taken advantage of their chances in the opening period before leaning on a defence which had been carved up last week by the Sydney Roosters to take a 14-0 halftime lead.
It was a nervous Bunnies side early with a penalty and early Sam Burgess knock-on, but Burgess repaid his team when he came up with the hit which forced Justin O’Neill to spill the ball – Adam Reynolds spreading it to an unmarked Farrell to cross out wide.
Lima got over the line through sheer will power as the Storm’s discipline went out the window via five straight penalties, Sisa Waqa denied a reply when Farrell held him up in the in-goal just before the break.
It was a different Storm after the break with Slater scoring off the back of a scrum win, but when he was denied a second, it was all over for the visitors.
The Storm will be hoping for some good news on Waqa after he fell heavily on his head late in the contest in an incident which saw Farrell placed on report.
Earlier, Souths prop Roy Asotasi was placed on report for a questionable crusher tackle on Jason Ryles.
marayong tiger
Guest
Wrestle Mania, Souths Gorilla's beat Melbourne Maulers.
Todd
Guest
It certainly was easy with the pro Sydney bias of the referrers. Appalling.
Bob Irwin
Guest
Well said Oikee........our game today (in far too many cases) is decided by incompetent refs. More and more over the last few years I watch refs awarding what could only be described as "mystery penalties". They often seem to make it up as they go along. Things that are generally considered OK suddenly - out of the blue - on one occasion - become a penalty? Also, they rarely see forward passes these days and TV commentators pretend they do not see them as well. I see forward passes that travel 2 or 3 yards forward go unnoticed. Or, if noticed they are described as 'flat' passes. Give me a break...... And yes, the video ref. is used far too much.
Bunny Lord
Guest
Why are there so many Souths hater? I'm a proud Souths supporter, and I think it is sad that no-one believes that can actually win games on our own merit. We don't ask the refs to favour us, or Channel 9 to praise or disparage us. We just want to see our team win. When was that ever a bad thing? I noticed everyone stopped bashing the Roosters. Why? They're probably way over the cap! I just say, Michael Maguirr is a great coach, and we are a great side. If we get there, it will be a great day for everyone in the red and green. I'm not hating on any other team. I just want us to have a good year. Please, everyone, be a little respectful.
Renegade
Guest
Well Roosters-Rabbits got 60k last week and it wasn't a final....
Jayrigg
Guest
Pest your right, the game has no credibility whatsoever anymore.
dwayno75
Guest
Not a fan of either team but the storm got some rough calls in this game!
Matt
Guest
What everyone is alluding to is the way the game happened, they didn't look like mistakes. Vs a missed forward pass or something.
marco
Guest
channel 9 sucks. Is there an agenda here? 9 and the NRL clearly want certain teams to win.
NWR
Guest
As a long time Souths fan(I have followed long enough to remember the last Golden period with Coote, McCarthy, Sattler, Walters , Simms)when Souths sides weren't near the top We Never Got The Rub Of The Green! Phil Gould sometimes commented on this in commentary. Now Manly and Storm face the odd 50/50 decision that doesnt favour them and folllowers complain they were rob or they were the better team! Other than Fox did anyone talk about Inglis being taken out with Slater's first try. Or the continual professional penalties by Storm under pressure to break down attack, Smiths continual dialogue with the refs to try and slow down the play!The issue is the Storm with Smith Slater & Cronk are supposed to win and the media and their supporters react when they don't . Maybe take a leaf out of your coach & skipper and get on with it! The Storm are a good side but they didn't play well dropped plenty of ball and Souths defence was very good. Maybe next time they will play to their potential, but lets not blame the loss on the refs. If you we're Cowboy supporters you'd have every right to be unhappy with the refs.
Bearfax
Guest
Sob Sob. As an addendum congratulations to Sydney City for their defeat tonight against the Sea Eagles 4-0. What a battle. Nothing in it. But SC got the bickies and good luck to them. My earlier prediction of a Souths vs Sydney City grandfinal seems to be taking shape. Melbourne seem off the boil and this hard defeat will take it out of Manly. Not sure either can overcome the top two now. But I can always hope.
JR Salazar
Guest
If Souths go on to win it all, I want Leeds to win Super League and then beat them in the Challenge.
Earl Park
Guest
Souths think eye gouging, cannonballs, squirrel grips, and crocodile rolls are in the rules. Very grubby team.
JR Salazar
Guest
This Storm team sucks.
Razor
Guest
I am a souths supporter, but it doesnt matter who you support, some dodgy calls go against all teams, thats what I am saying, And it isnt just the Storm who get caned, somewhere in the season every team gets more than their fair share of dud calls. As I said I have learned to live with it because it wont change the result. Just look at the Sharkies seven tackles and scoring, on top of this it wound up being a two point victory to them, and I was hoping the Cowboys would get up! Will our complaining change the result? No I dont think it will. Every ref is human and will make mistakes, we need to be able to move on and accept the end results though we know they arent as they should be.
Statler and Waldorf
Roar Guru
please stop talking logic and common sense this is about rugby league - no place for that here :)
Statler and Waldorf
Roar Guru
and
Earl Park
Guest
You are soooo riht, Dave. Agree with everything yu say.
Matt
Guest
What team so you support? Will hold you to that :D I support the broncos, they're goner/ though :(
Roarsome
Guest
Exactly! Then why the fairytale crap? One of Australia's foundation clubs yet have not won a single NRL Premiership. With the money and the roster at Souths, they have to be the biggest underachievers in the last few years. Not since St George pre bennett have we seen such poor execution and results given the amount of hype, money and talented players. It may be professionally run but if they don't succeed this year, the league will have a new breed of chokers and people should then question the way the club is run, if they aren't already. Souths fell at the final hurdle for the minor premiership against the Roosters with help from the men in pink and got up last night on the back of a few favourable calls. I don't think people mind success of Souths but underachieving and success on the back of a woeful officiating performance is damaging the game. Made worse by the story sold by the clowns at 9.