Melbourne welcomed Billy Slater back in a heart-stopping 14-12 victory over Brisbane to keep alive their unbeaten start to the NRL season.
Skipper Cameron Smith converted a Josh Addo-Carr try from the sideline in the 77th minute on Thursday night at AAMI Park to consign the Broncos to another tight loss after their one-point defeat last week to North Queensland.
It looked like Brisbane were going to ruin Slater’s homecoming party in his first game in more than a year after shoulder surgery.
The Broncos didn’t follow the script, with some rugged defence throwing the Storm attack off their game.
But rookie Melbourne five-eighth Ryley Jacks threw a pass that bounced off two Brisbane defenders and into the arms of winger Addo-Carr for the try to lock up the match with Smith’s conversion sealing the deal.
The Storm were seething in the 62nd minute when the bunker ruled Will Chambers had lost possession as he reached out to ground the ball on the tryline, however a different angle appeared to show the Melbourne centre maintained contact.
That try would have tied up the match.
Despite the Storm’s late win, there are fears Cameron Munster might have a broken jaw after a head clash with Brisbane winger Corey Oates. Munster was forced off the field in the 60th minute.
Melbourne dominated possession and territory in the first half but could only manage an 8-6 lead, thanks to Jacks’ first try in the NRL.
Melbourne coach Craig Bellamy started Slater on the bench, with Munster at fullback and Jacks at No.6.
Following Jacks’ 22nd-minute try, Bellamy gave the crowd what they wanted, with Slater taking over fullback and Munster replacing Jacks.
Slater handled everything the Broncos threw at him and looked sharp in attack.
The Broncos took the lead in the second half via a brilliant individual try by halfback Ben Hunt, who dummied and then cut through some lazy Melbourne defence including Smith.
It looked like it would be enough for the Broncos but the Storm weren’t to be denied.
Melbourne coach Craig Bellamy believed his team should have been further ahead at halftime given their opportunities, but gave credit to the Broncos steely defence.
After a tough early schedule including a trip to New Zealand and six day turnaround, Bellamy felt his team earned the win but also said they had a dash of luck.
“It was bit mixed but I thought it was a pretty high quality game with the defence of both sides,” Bellamy said.
“Either team could have won it and we got a bit lucky at the end.”
Brisbane coach Wayne Bennett praised his team’s defence but said they were let down by their execution and “beat themselves”.
“We didn’t play well but we stayed at it,” Bennett said.
“The defence was very brave and very courageous.”
He felt the Broncos were in good shape given they’d played the two grand finalists in Melbourne and Cronulla – with a win apiece – and also the fourth-placed Cowboys.
“They know the’re in the competition,” Bennett said of his team.
“They get their execution right and they can be a real chance of doing something before the season’s out.”
Dj01
Guest
Adam Blair should be playing lock, not McGuire. Blair has better ball playing ability than McGuire. Bennett should shift McGuire back to front row.
lucky leo
Guest
The bunker has multiple screens and three people observing. Just because 9 choose to show only one view don't assume the bunker hasn't viewed all cameras.
Haz
Guest
A drop or two of salty water will go a long way in fixing the conjunctivitis in your other eye.
Haz
Guest
Hah hah, yep. But also depends on who's career it ends. Who's Daniel Levi vs say a Cam Smith?? It's bull pucky imo
Haz
Guest
Storm went from conceding 9 penalties in rd 2 to 7 in rd 3..Broncs went from 5 to 14 after playing what all the experts say was the best game of the year against the cows, free flowing and pure rugby league. Come on mate, clearly shows the best lawyer in the game runs around in a purple number 9 jersey. Or maybe it was just a ref thing. The mind boggles
Haz
Guest
Where-in lies the fallacy of the bunker. We all know if it went to them as a try, they would have replayed it a hundred times using all angles available...and reaffirmed the ref's decision. Because it went up as no try, they took one look and said no try. We got lucky on that one...but luck should not be in the equation when it comes to the bunker imo. And I am a Bronxnation citizen.
Silvertail47
Guest
Cmon bro I said the basic foundations,most clubs have employed wrestling coachs , some of these lads are accomplished Ju Jitsu practitioners Cam Smith is a Ju Jitsu student ,just like choc watmough was , not critical of you or just Melb ,,, your lot however did intro this teq's into there style of play,tell me why does a tackler need to get up under an armpit of the ball carrier and control the forearm ? The locks are not executed but this is Martial arts , what ever form , I'm not saying there completing the move in its entirety however to isolate the armpit and forearm is not Rugby League
Edward Kelly
Roar Guru
Like I wrote, the Broncos won on grubbiness.
Silvertail47
Guest
Mate , I said the basic foundations, engaging the opponents armpit and controlling the forearm is NOT RUGBY LEAGUE ! You know that's martial arts , whether Ju Jitsu ,Judo ,or your traditional MA , you may not realise it but there is an element of this style taught in many MA's ,, weapons training is a classic example especially when confronted with a knife attack , it's there mate ALL CLUBS are now doing this , they apply these principles to control the ball carrier I can see it in every game I watch and like it or not Melb introduced it many years ago, tackling as it's once was is gone , further more why have all clubs employed wrestling,some Ju Jitsu specialist? Cmon bro I'm not criticising you or just your club , choc watmough was training in it when at Manly ,Cam Smith is very astute at Ju Jitsu
Kowalski
Guest
Disagree regarding Hunt. He played very well and his kicking game (particularly long game in second half) was vastly better than what we are usually presented with. There was actually 2 or 3 that werent caught on the full! Ha
Matt
Guest
You answered your own question. Chambers was the only person who knew if he scored. And his reaction was the one of someone who hasn't scored. A lot of the time the player's reactions are the best indication of whether a try has been scored or not. I wasn't a neutral last night and whilst the decision was to the benefit of my team, I thought it wasn't a try. The ball was either lost in possession or a double movement.
Ken
Guest
Sure I'll explain my annoyance .. you said 100% trained eye can spot the basic foundation of a jujitsu or martial arts take down...now there was non of that at all ? , my sons play footy An they are taught the same basics , first tackler absorbs the contact , next guys will wrap the legs An squeeze them together and the first guy will try An undertook An flip them in their back hence slowing down the tackle ,with hopefully another person on top so it slows down the play the ball ,that's not martial arts ,that's tackling strategy 101 .The Greco term of shooting for the take down is no different from just a front on driving tackle ,the Cumberland throw or hip toss is also seen in judo , the only time I'll accept criticism of my team was when they were training in jujitsu an doing wrist locks , neck cranks an kimuras which was 7 years ago An those things have been rightly banned . I get annoyed when people go they are doing jujitsu locks when there is nothing going on ?, years ago Isaac Luke playing for the kiwi team attempted a ankle lock on a English player and that was obvious an I'm like yep dirty disgusting attempt to snap a guys ankle , there was nothing like that last night . I'm happy to take a criticism of my team if you can show me last night ( and I've got the video ) at what part you saw a jujitsu lock being applied ? An I'll happily apologise if that's the case , tell me the time An what part of the game An I'll look for it.
Moonboot
Guest
I'm sure the Barry will have an answer but "TV cliffhanger" springs to mind.
Moonboot
Guest
The fact that Storm were behind on the scoreboard meant the ref was looking for a way to get the home team coming in over the top.
Moonboot
Guest
The call on field was no try - and there was doubt after that so on-field stands...
steve
Guest
Sorry mate, but it was a try from Chambers every day of the week. For the NRL Bunker to rule it a no try from the high, head on angle alone was ridiculous. That always had to be viewed side on from the camera looking across the try line. As a Broncos supporter, I would have been fine with it being awarded. I would have been angry if the same try was disallowed if a Broncos player had scored it.
Albo
Guest
Come on Harry ! If the Broncos held the ball long enough to get into the Storm's half occasionally, they too might have got a few more penalties by putting the Storm under some pressure. The Storm got 6 penalties in row in the last 20 because the Storm were camped on their line threatening to score if not for giving away these bunch of penalties. The same thing happened to the Tigers last week, when they couldn't hold the ball and were lucky to only have 36 piled on them by the Panthers. You can't blame the referee for any of that !
Silvertail47
Guest
No probs I'm happy to assist you ,leave a contact , unlike yourself I've never stated I'm a Ju Jitsu practitioner, if that's upset you then that's because your anger has blinded your ability to read and understand my post ,I've been practicing for over 25 years , I've observed other styles and enjoyed training with fellow martial Artists of many styles ,furthermore if you go back into Melb history you will find they have adopted many Ju Jitsu practitioners to assist them in the art of "tacking in Rugby League " criticism of my interpretation of what Melb is doing is shallow then coming from someone who has such a background, finally where did I insult Ju Jitsu , please explain so as I can apologise , but I know that's not required
Ken
Guest
That's fair comment Andrew we were guilty of it years ago crushers An neck cranks were not illegal at the time tho as a martial artist it was distasteful and plain wrong , now all teams are trained to wrestle an slow down the play the ball which is fine , the forearm to the face of a tackled player is rubbish but something from leagues past which continues .
Ken
Guest
I apologies just realised you weren't being sarcastic , this whole keyboard warrior thing is very confusing lol , and yes my team is the storm so I will argue with anyone trying to use martial arts arguments against them because we were guilty up to 5 years ago but that is not something we can do even if we wanted to these days as we are policed heavier than anyone else , so excuse my annoyance when I see something I think is wrong being placed on my team , also studied under Bernadette brongan osu .