After an enthralling 80 minutes, the Melbourne Storm have pinched a three-point victory and the minor premiership over the Sydney Roosters through a late Joe Stimson try.
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With scores tied at 12-all after 70 minutes, a Luke Keary field goal appeared to have the Roosters in the drivers seat. It came just one play after Mitchell Pearce, who has already kicked three this year was rushed out of one, but Keary’s execution under pressure was fantastic.
The Storm though, not to be deterred increased their defensive pressure and a panicy last tackle play from the Roosters saw Blake Ferguson chip a ball dead.
The ensuing seven-tackle set and a penalty for the Storm allowed them to march up the field, with Cooper Cronk also rushed out of a field goal. He kept his cool and found a way for Joe Stimson to run into space, with the second rower scoring through a desperate last ditch attempt at a tackle.
A short kick-off followed, but Josh Addo-Carr was put into a dangerous position resulting in a Storm penalty.
The Roosters, at different times, appeared to be the better side against the all-conquering Storm, but poor discipline cost them through the first half. An 8-3 penalty count at one point turned the game, with the Storm kicking a pair of penalty goals to open the scoring.
Suliasi Vunivalu was then gifted a controversial penalty try, with Latrell Mitchell pulling him off the ball when chasing a Cooper Cronk kick.
The Storm, with all the territory at that point were up 10-0, but it didn’t take long for the Roosters to get back into the game a lovely grubber from the returning hooker Jake Friend seeing Luke Keary touch down in the corner.
That was the end of the scoring for the first half, but not the drama with Blake Ferguson appearing to injure his shoulder and numerous stoppages over the final few minutes.
The second half turned into a grind, with the Roosters looking to close their four-point deficit. They struggled to do so though, the next points not coming until deep into the second half with Mitchell Aubusson scoring in the corner off a Connor Watson pass.
The visitors were only able to go onto the attack thanks to a Vunivalu brain explosion as he tried to hurdle the defence. It was one of the weirder moments seen on a rugby league field and levelled the game.
Billy Slater then came up with an uncharacteristic error in the final ten minutes. Melbourne appeared to have the Roosters under pressure, but a Pearce clearing kick was dropped by Slater.
Keary then slotted the field goal in the following set, but the Stimson try ensured the Storm would win at home and move six points clear at the top of the NRL ladder, meaning with a superior for and against, they are almost assured of winning the minor premiership.
Melbourne Storm 16
Sydney Roosters 13
Nostradamus
Guest
As a Roosters supporter I really enjoyed the game even though we lost. I though we would win but again you just cant give a team with the likes of smith slater and cronk a seven tackle set from their 20 with 5 min to go only leading by 1 point. As an Aust and Origin player you would expect more from Fergo but that is footy.
Nostradamus
Guest
How was that Pearce's Fault, Friend went the short side and gave it to Ferguson who had a brain explosion
Angus
Guest
I so love the "expert" opinions regarding everything that is the Melbourne Storm...mostly negative of course. Storm top of the NRL ladder all year...and deserve to be labelled yet again as the team to beat for the Premiership. Would love to see a Storm v Bronco's GF but there is still a way to go. No guarantee my team will be there...Storm Juggernaut will do what is required to give Cooper Cronk a well deserved send off, hopefully another Grand Final WIN!!!!!
Fight Fair
Guest
I agree Barry. They are all penalty tries or none of them are penalty trys. Over the years Cooper Cronk and Billy Slater have held players back from going for the ball to make sure there was no possibility of a try, but of course it was never ruled aenalty try. Surprised anyone?
Mr Spock
Guest
It is logical to say that they have to be certain that it would have been scored- It's illogical to say the refs/bunker can guess or make assumptions that a try would be scored with out logical facts to back up their logic. even Dr McCoy agreed https://tse3.mm.bing.net/th?id=OIP._gsMeorByarxohx-GFh9CgEsDh&w=226&h=169&c=7&qlt=90&o=4&pid=1.7
Mr Spock
Guest
Logically one would say that the movement of your rugby league ball would have make it impossible to be certain that the player in purple would have scored that try- The most logically decision would have been a no try and 10 minutes in the sin bin for the player in red white and blue - It is most illogical that penalty tries much more obvious than this one have not been awarded for many many years in your game.
Mr Spock
Guest
your kidding storm offside all game /wrestling all the time/holding down players longer than other teams are allowed/smith ref'ing the game - what more do you want -NRL can save money and let Smith ref the game- what a joke
Mr Spock
Guest
rubbish- sucked in you lost to the bottom placed team - cannot blame the refs for the loss can you - ha ha ha
E-Meter
Guest
He was the best player on the field in that 2nd half
db
Guest
He was put on report and subsequently charged with Grade 1 Contrary Conduct. This doesn't attract a suspension and a maximum fine of $1500 will apply.
Cadfael
Roar Guru
I've only seen leaps like that when a player is trying to hurdle the defence to score a try never in midfield like that. Was he put on report?
The Barry
Roar Guru
I'm happy for the refs to call those as penalty tries. If the defender is committing the offence then I think the benefit of any doubt should go against them. It's a silly notion and not actually in the rules that the refs have to be 100% without a doubt certain that the try was going to be scored.
db
Guest
Cantona was suspended for 9 months. Admittedly, Vunivalu didn't go after a spectator but he deserved to be charged nonetheless. The fact that the maximum penalty he'll receive is a $1500 fine stretches credulity. There probably should have been a Grade 1 Careless charge for JWH's clumsy effort at the end of the game.
db
Guest
Do you think Vunivalu should have been sent off for his flying double knee manouvre?
Alex L
Roar Rookie
Tough decision for Brown; he's good for halves and Ponga has no real role but fullback. The only thing I can think of is the Michael Morgan small running forward / extra link man in attack type bench utility.
Jimmmy
Guest
No! Mitchell thought he was a CHANCE of scoring. Probability somewhere North of 50% and South of 90%. Mittchell using his best Spock reasoning and knowing there was no chance of a penalty try decided to stop the POSSIBILITY of Vunivalu scoring and to run the risk of the sin bin. Unfortunately an irrational human referee completely destroyed the Vulcans calculations.
Jimmmy
Guest
I agree with you totally but that does not make the decision correct.
Stu
Guest
I agree and I'm pretty sure the Storm would have preferred 10 in the bin so they could have run two or three tries through the gap whilst he was off the field. Penalty try was nice to the Roosters
Duncan Smith
Guest
Here's how to resolve the penalty try situation once and for all: let the defending player act as default referee via their own actions. People say Vunivalu wasn't certain to have scored. But if Latrell Mitchell thought that, then he wouldn't have tackled him without the ball. Clearly Mitchel thought he WAS certain to score, which is why he made the tackle. If Mitchell doesn't think that, he should have let play go on and give Vunivalu the chance to fumble or miss the ball. Given that Mitchell didn't let that happen, the correct decision is PENALTY TRY. Even Mr Spock would have to agree that is logical.
Cadfael
Roar Guru
A good win and the Storm followed the old adage of if there's points up for grabs, take them. The commentators weren't all that happy about Smith taking his shots at penalty goal. They won by three points so an excellent decision from Smith. My only complaint about the game was that there should have been two send offs. A player from each team was taken out in the air in going for a kick. In both cases, the players needed treatment though this should not be the reason for a penalty or sendoff, it was the action and they should have been dismissed