Canberra have again shocked minor premiers Melbourne to move to within one game of the NRL grand decider after a chaotic qualifying final at AAMI Park on Saturday night.
Second-rower John Bateman scored in the 78th minute to lock up the match at 10-10 before co-captain Jarrod Croker kicked the conversion for the 12-10 victory.
The Raiders will now have next weekend off before hosting their preliminary final while the Storm will host the winner of Sunday’s Parramatta-Brisbane elimination final to keep their season alive.
Melbourne looked like they had done enough to take the win but the Raiders never stopped coming.
Winger Josh Addo-Carr spilt the ball in a tackle which then found its way on to Bateman for the match-winner.
Storm fans were upset when Suliasi Vunivalu was then dubiously ruled to have gone into touch while taking the ball on the restart which effectively ended their chances.
Regardless, the Raiders deserved the win.
There was drama before kick-off when Canberra centre Joey Leilua suffered an eye injury from pyrotechnics as he ran on to the field.
He was unable to take his place in the starting side and had some plastic removed from his eye before coming on in the 20th minute.
But Canberra didn’t skip a beat with his replacement Bailey Simonsson scoring in the fourth minute with the Storm caught short out wide.
Two Raiders were put on report in the first half – winger Jordan Rapana for a lifting tackle on Cameron Munster and lock Joe Tapine for a chicken wing tackle on Brandon Smith.
They also lost winger Nick Cotric for the match in the 20th minute after he suffered a bloody head knock.
But the gutsy Raiders, who came from an 18-0 deficit in round 22 to upset Melbourne, still managed to take a 6-2 lead into halftime.
After a slew of errors and penalties in the first half, Melbourne looked more like themselves after the break and hit the front three minutes in.
Halfback Jahrome Hughes put up a high ball for Vunivalu to score their first try.
With a penalty either side Melbourne were out to a 10-6 lead which against most teams would be enough but the Raiders weren’t to be denied.
steveng
Roar Rookie
That is too much 'Rational, logical, non biased analysis' of the NRL's system 'The Swan Street Stalker'
Khalid Putres
Roar Rookie
Due to work commitments, I had to watch the game from overseas. I couldn't stop jumping and cheering for the Raiders tries. My little 1yo son jumped and cheered as he thought I was playing with him. Priceless! In my humble opinion, the best side won! With all due respect to Melbourne Storm, they didn't deserve to win tonight. I am pretty sure they will recover and perhaps go all they way to a grand final againt who? The Raiders again perhaps! As for the touchies howler?! What can I say? The rule is the rule. Remeber the Raiders vs Sharks few years ago when the touchie raised his flag and the Raiders players stopped, only for the touchie to drop the flag and a Shark player picked the ball and walked untouched to score under the post. That was a disgrace! What happened tonight was another shocker! Anyway, hard luck Storm.
RooBoy18
Roar Rookie
Congratulations Canberra(and Geoff)! In hindsight, that loss to the Warriors may be a blessing in disguise by giving the team a chance to recharge before the finals. Tonight's win is a golden path to the Grand Final and you can be sure that Stuart will be doing his utmost to ensure his charges go one better than 2016. Let's give Stuart some credit here...he has copped some almighty criticism over the years but I think he has been shrewdly building towards a team capable of winning the premiership. I am confident the 2019 vintage are primed to go one week further than 2016. I also like the talk coming from the Canberra camp... "We haven't done anything yet"...for a Raiders fan this is peace of mind.
Forty Twenty
Roar Rookie
I'm surprised Wighton didn't run the ball more and I reckon he should in the next game. The late try to the Raiders involved some comically bad defence from the Storm which is a surprise. Once jungle Joey started running sideways the only real chance for a try was on the inside but not one Storm player recognised it , including half the team who watched it from the other side of the field. Captains call would have fixed the incorrect call from the touchie but if people don't want it introduced then it's play on.
The Swan Street Stalker
Guest
Right... So, I think I kind of get what you’re trying to imply but let me just sort a couple of these things out for you to help you get over you’re irrationality. Josh Ado Carr didn’t hold onto the ball. He dropped it. That’s a thing that actually happened. Now, I can guarantee that happened. I can also guarantee that no one knows what was going to happen in the last minute of that game if the Storm didn’t have a wrong call made against them. The Storm could have scored. They might not have. Aliens could have appeared for all we know. I couldn’t give a firm guarantee apart from the guarantee that no one could possibly ever say what was going to happen in that situation. One thing that I can 100% guarantee is that by the touchie making the wrong call and that wrong call not being overturned the Storm were denied the advantage they had earnt. That’s not right when their is a very easy fix for those situations that might come up once or twice a round. See how that works? Rational, logical, non biased analysis. Not just... “because Melbourne”.
Josh H
Roar Rookie
Unpopular opinion but I think Storm are a better, more balanced team with Brodie Croft in it. It was plain to see tonight that Melbourne couldn't shut the game down and kept making errors well into the final 10 minutes of the match. Papenhuyzen was great but Munster and Hughes tried to do way too much. Sorry, but Hughes isn't a halfback, and Munster needs a directive half to give him freedom to run the ball. All the Storm needed in those last few sets was someone to grubber it into touch and slow the match down. Basic game management. Croft is as bland as bathwater as far as dynamism is concerned, but he has at least shown he can get the basics right and dictate the pace of the game. Ultimately, that's what would have got Melbourne the win.
Doc79
Roar Rookie
And JAC holds the ball and takes the tackle 10 metres out from his line. That the Storm score 1 try in the preceding 79 minutes is no guarantee of one coming in the last minute from 40 metres out.
jimmmy
Roar Rookie
Congrats Taree. I agree the Raiders were better. But there was a split match in it. I hope you guys go all the way but Ricky has to get rid of the silly stuff like the Hodgeson high shot. If the Raiders can maintain discipline they are a live chance.
Taree Raider
Guest
How great is Rugby League? The Raiders were the better team by far. Their defence was awesome . The look on Cameron Smith's face after full time was priceless. Seizer was very good. The Storm can't win without a halfback, Smith is having enough trouble being the dummy half, he can't be the halfback as well. I must say that Ricky Stuart is on his 'A' game, maybe he really can coach. The Pommy's are the difference to this team. Bateman was man of the match. I'd imagine that the poms would play a game of league on concrete if they had to. The best team won tonight & I loved every minute of it.
Adam
Roar Guru
I liked the wit...
The Swan Street Stalker
Guest
Yeah, I think you may have missed my amazing display of wit I was showcasing there. But... they could make a call on it. The touchies already raised a flag which is a stoppage. You could see that Vunivalu was in during the live okay on tv. How long would it take for the basement of the reichstag to make a call on that?
The Swan Street Stalker
Guest
Yeah... I think you may have missed my amazing display of wit there! But, on the rules. I’m pretty sure it’s not that big of a deal that if a touchie calls someone out which cause a stoppage it’s not that big of a deal if old mate down in the reichstags basement takes a quick look just in case someone, let’s say Suli Vunivalu, is in by half a foot and goes “Yeah, nah! I think we can change that... Melbourne feed” Too much?
jimmmy
Roar Rookie
Just look up the rules. I don't make em.
Watda
Guest
A big lol to that!!
Watda
Guest
Is this? Your 1st time??
The Swan Street Stalker
Guest
Well... calling it an “infield decision” might be rubbing it in a little bit jim-m-my
Duncan Smith
Roar Guru
To look on the bright side, Melbourne gets a home final next week against either a team they put 60 points on or else the Broncos, then has a chance to stop the Roosters playing in the grand final :happy:
Duncan Smith
Roar Guru
I just hope Addo-Carr gets a try assist for his pass to Leilua.
bjt
Guest
Channel 9 were more concerned with showing their idiotic "coach cam" then actually showing replays of fictional "knock ons" and "penalties" Why is the nrl so determined to delvier such a poor display of referring for the finals?
jimmmy
Roar Rookie
It was a shocker but the video ref can't rule on it . If we get to reviewing infield decisions the game will be dead in one season.