A defensive masterclass from Melbourne has helped them outlast an undermanned North Queensland 26-8 in Townsville.
The Cowboys were forced to play two men down for the majority of the contest when second-rower Gavin Cooper (calf) and winger Antonio Winterstein (hamstring) both suffered game-ending injuries inside the opening 10 minutes on Friday.
It was a cruel blow for a side already missing Test duo Johnathan Thurston and Matt Scott but the home side still gave title favourites Melbourne a stern test of their premiership credentials.
Doubles to star wingers Josh Addo-Carr and Suliasi Vunivalu did the damage for the Storm, as the Cowboys battled bravely before slumping to a second straight loss to lose further ground in the top four race.
North Queensland got off to a horror start when winger Kyle Feldt spilt a towering bomb and Addo-Carr made them pay immediately when he crossed in the corner off the resulting scrum.
The hosts were in desperate need of a lift and they got it when crafty hooker Jake Granville bustled his way over the line from close range. Ethan Lowe’s conversion put the hosts ahead by two.
Lowe struck a penalty goal to extend his side’s lead but the Storm fired back when Maroons star Will Chambers proved too classy for makeshift centre Coen Hess, who was forced in to the backs after the club’s injury-forced reshuffle.
Melbourne asked plenty more questions of a weary Cowboys defence late and despite some brave resistance Vunivalu pounced on an inch-perfect Cooper Cronk grubber just before the break, Smith’s conversion extending the margin to 16-8.
The opening 20 minutes of the second half were scoreless but it wasn’t for a lack of efforts as fans were treated to a frenzy of attacking football from both sides.
Melbourne’s defence stood tall time and again and their scrambling play cruelled a host of attacking opportunities.
With fresh players in short supply on the interchange bench North Queensland were forced in to a mountain of defensive work and they were finally broken when Vunivalu pounced on another grubber to complete his double.
A late breakaway try to Addo-Carr put the result well beyond doubt and the Cowboys now face a few nervous days sweating on the fitness of two more experienced campaigners in Cooper and Winterstein.
Ed
Guest
Two-eyed supporters tend to notice more two-eyed refs...just saying.
Jack
Guest
Extraordinary how no-one has picked up some of the dodgy penalties that went against the Storm. And why wasn't Coote [or was it Feldt] sin-binned for the professional foul on Vunivalu? Probably because the bloke scored, but only because he is so strong. The offender should still have been binned, that's probably the point Cameron Smith was trying to make with the ref.. So stop suggesting the Storm get the rub of the green, it all evens out in the end.
The Barry
Roar Guru
I can't take coaches seriously any more complaining about refs. I watched that game as a complete neutral and I didn't see anything to suggest crook refereeing. I'm sure someone will come back with something like "you obviously missed the knock on call in the 15th minute" as 'evidence' of some sort of NRL wide conspiracy. Refs will make mistakes. Always have done. Cowboys were gutsy but ran out of gas. The Storm were brilliant defending their goal line. I reckon the Cowboys were one pass from a try half a dozen times but the Storm kept scrambling and getting there. Morgan went really well for the Cows. Taumalolo was surprisingly quiet. I reckon he made three times the number of decoy runs to actual runs. Storm were clinical putting in those two tries before half time. The execution was brilliant.
R N
Roar Rookie
I agree that it was proberly cumulative frustration! A couple of obvious errors, coupled with a number of 5th tackle penalties for marginal infringements two weeks in a row will always do a coaches head in! Also agree re Ponga... you got an ace up your sleeve you would think you got to pull it out eventually !
muzzamite
Roar Rookie
Really get sick of people saying 'the referee didn't cost them the game' As a viewer I want a competent, impartial, two eyed referee to really enjoy the game. It is not only as a supporter of a team, but of the game, which draws me to the television or an oval. I can.'t see why the rules can't be maintained evenly during 80 mins of footy.
muzzamite
Roar Rookie
Referee Klein picks a side every time he runs out. He is always against Qld teams, and dearly lives his Eels. His performance last night was his usual offering, and has been tolerated by his bosses for many years.
Rob
Guest
Yep, the Storm were the better team. The Cowboys tried hard and had some opportunities but couldn't get over the stripe. Storm are clinical and they converted their opportunities into points. To many errors from the Cowboys which you could put down to fatigue and desperation at times. Greeny lost it a bit at the press conference which is a bit out of character, but I think he has been holding his tongue for a while now. Maybe after reviewing last weeks game through the week he realised what a hatchet job the officials had done to the Cowboys in the Roosters match last week? I really think he needs to inject a bit speed with Mosby or Ponga coming off the bench.
steveng
Roar Rookie
Have a listen to Green and then you will know what 'Inefficiencies of the refs' is and means and why coaches and fans complain about the refs, week in and week out!!! yeah, the Storm outplayed the Cows, but this game could have been a thriller and much closer.
Concerned Observer
Guest
I feel Green's frustration though. I'm proud of the boy's efforts but injuries killed us, and the loss of both the stand-in captain and the stand-in's standin in bolton meant we had little leadership But there felt like a huge gulf in respect from the ref. I'm not sure how that ball off coote to morgan was forward and that scene with Slater elbowing coote, Klein standing there and saying everything's fine then giving the Storm a penalty when Cronk throws it into him was a farce. It meant that Klein was completely fine with coote's place in the ruck until that happened, he looked like an idiot
kingcowboy
Guest
Inefficiencies of the refs? What does that even mean? Storm outplayed us. Move into next week!
kingcowboy
Guest
No issuses with the refs. Very disappointed in Coach Green's comments after the game. People complain about everything these days. Beaten by a better side again. Boys played their hearts out and that is all you can ask.
steveng
Roar Rookie
Green should really 'come into the real world' of the NRL!!! The refereeing is like this in every game and complaining is not going to do 'nothing', its only going to get him fined 20k!!! It only adds to the inefficiencies of how NRL games are refereed and the referees standards in the game of RL of today.