The St George Illawarra Dragons took an eight-point win over a Melbourne Storm outfit missing a number of their biggest names on Saturday night, moving into the top eight.
REPORT: DRAGONS DOWN WEAKENED STORM
Final score
St George 20
Melbourne 12
The eleventh-placed St George Illawarra Dragons host ladder leaders the Melbourne Storm in Round 15 at WIN Stadium in Wollongong. Join The Roar for live scores and commentary from 7:30pm (AEST).
Both teams have been affected by State of Origin commitments. Cameron Smith and Cooper Cronk are in camp with Maroons ahead of Game 2 on Wednesday night, while Dragons backrower Tyson Frizell has received a late call-up to make his debut for the Blues after Wade Graham was suspended for his high shot on Jonathon Thurston.
Storm coach Craig Bellamy has named Blake Green at halfback in place of Cronk, with Tohu Harris taking Green’s usual five-eighth spot.
Kenny Bromwich has surprisingly been named at hooker in place of Cameron Smith, while Jesse Bromwich and Green have been named as the Storm’s co-captains.
Frizell’s absence will be the only change to the St George Illawarra squad that lost 34-16 to the Bulldogs last Monday afternoon. Josh Dugan is still out injured.
It’s the best possible time for the Dragons to face the Storm, with the absence of Smith and Cronk. St George also benefited from the draw during the last Origin round, when they had a win over the understrength Cowboys. They need another win tonight to try and break into the top eight.
It’s the second time the two teams have met this season, with Melbourne winning the Round 1 clash 18-16 at home back in March.
Prediction
Melbourne are looking for their eighth win in a row, but will find it tough without Smith and Cronk. St George will never have a better opportunity to beat the Storm than tonight, and they should win a close match.
Join The Roar at 7:30pm (AEST) for live score updates and debate in our live blog.
JR Salazar
Guest
Likewise, danwain. You know what they say, it takes one to know one.
danwain
Guest
You are a clown mate, no way you can take anything out of last nights game except the dragons are rubbish.
Brian S
Guest
Yeah i think they peeked too soon;) may be lucky to make the 8, got to now be 1000/1 odds for GF win?!
JR Salazar
Guest
I will. Let me give you a black eye on the side. Steady on and have a good day,. Ta.
Alex L
Roar Rookie
Give yourself an uppercut. They had one of their first choice 1-7 on the park and also didn't have their hooker and captain. That's 7 Plan B selections, the Cowboys lost to the Dragons and the Broncos lost to the Tigers with a similar number of players out (also HAHAHA THE TIGERS) -- so I assume by your logic they also have no depth or chance at the premiership? May as well give the Sharks the trophy then.
JR Salazar
Guest
Depth. The Storm lacks it. Hence.
Josh
Guest
They have their spine out. Cronk, Smith and Cameron Munster. Slater out injured. Not sure how they are considered non GF material
JR Salazar
Guest
The boys from Melbourne forgot to play the game today. I doubt this side will be #NRLGF material, let alone win it.
John Coomer
Roar Guru
Thanks for joining me on tonight’s coverage, hope you enjoyed it. Feel free to leave your comments, and make sure you log in tomorrow at 4pm for the live Roar blog of the Warriors/Roosters match.
John Coomer
Roar Guru
Click here for the full match report from this game Roar MVP Points 3 – Mitch Rein (St George). The hard-working hooker topped the tackle count with 43 and was rewarded with a try out of dummy half in the second half to seal the match for the Dragons. 2 – Jesse Bromwich (Storm). Captaining the team in the absence of Cameron Smith, he led from the front, making the most metres in attack (172), as well as coming up with 35 tackles. 1 – Gareth Widdop (St George). Tried hard to get the stuttering Dragons attack going, scored a try, was busy in defence, and his kicking game was solid.
John Coomer
Roar Guru
It was a penaltyathon, that's for sure.
John Coomer
Roar Guru
Match summary St George 20 Melbourne 12 St George have won a tough battle in slippery conditions in Wollongong tonight against a depleted Melbourne team. They Dragons scored 3 tries to 2 to run out 20-12 winners, after leading 8-2 at halftime. The Storm were forced to field a makeshift line-up. In addition to the expected absences of Cameron Smith and Cooper Cronk, they had to deal with the late withdrawals of both Cameron Munster and Blake Green. 18-year-old halfback Brodie Croft was called into the team for his NRL debut and showed promise. Coach Craig Bellamy will be happy with the effort of his understrength team, but not their discipline. At one stage, the Storm conceded 7 penalties in a row. St George had the majority of possession throughout the match, but both slides struggled with their completion rates in the conditions. New signing Tariq Sims was a late inclusion for the Dragons on the bench, and was enthusiastic off the bench. Just one first half try was scored, with Dragons’ five-eighth Gareth Widdop scoring after his chip kick bounced off Tohu Harris’ back and into his arms for him to race over. The Storm scored the first second half try through prolific winger Suliasi Vunivali, who crossed for the first of his two tries early in the second half to make the score 10-6. The Dragons responded with tries to Kurt Mann and hard-working hooker Mitch Rein, before Vunivalu scored his second on full-time. 20 year-old Vunivalu has now scored 13 tries in just 8 matches to be the leading tryscorer in the NRL this season. What a find he has been for the Storm. The loss brings to an end the Storm’s 8 game winning streak, and sees Cronulla overtake them at the top of the ladder. The Dragons’ victory sees them move into the top 8 . Try scorers (St George): Gareth Widdop, Kurt Mann, Mitch Rein Top metres gained (St George): Jason Nightingale (160), Euan Aitken (141), Mike Cooper (140) Top tacklers (St George): Mitch Rein (43), Joel Thompson (37) Try scorers (Melbourne): Suliasi Vunivalu (2) Top metres gained (Melbourne): Jesse Bromwich (172), Young Tonumaipea (145) Top tacklers (Melbourne): Kevin Proctor (43), Dale Finucane (38), Kenny Bromwich (36)
Joe
Roar Rookie
Yes yhey have. No complaints there they really tried but just a bridge too far. Just lucky they played an ordinary Dragons side.
John Coomer
Roar Guru
Full-time Harris misses the conversion as the hooter sounds and its victory for St George! St George 20 Melbourne 10
John Coomer
Roar Guru
79’ Try!! Storm (Vunivalu) St George 20 Melbourne 10 Kick to come.
John Coomer
Roar Guru
79’ Repeat set for the Storm as Aitken grounds a grubber in goal. Dropout St George. St George 20 Melbourne 6
John Coomer
Roar Guru
78’ Red light! No try. St George 20 Melbourne 6
John Coomer
Roar Guru
78’ Try!! Storm (pending bunker review)
John Coomer
Roar Guru
78’ Another penalty to the Storm. They take the tap 10 metres out. St George 20 Melbourne 6
John Coomer
Roar Guru
77’ Penalty to the Storm for a high shot. They’ll take the tap inside the Dragons’ half. St George 20 Melbourne 6