Storm
10
Match Complete
Raiders
12
| 78 |  | J. Croker | ||
| 76 |  | J. Bateman | ||
| C. Smith |  | 49 | ||
| C. Smith | | 46 | ||
| S. Vunivalu | | 42 | ||
| C. Smith | | 39 | ||
| 4 | | J. Croker | ||
| 3 | | B. Simonsson |
| 1 | Tries | 2 | ||
| 0 | Conversions | 2 | ||
| 3 | Penalty Goals | 0 | ||
| 0 | Field Goals | 0 |
Match result:
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.
Final score
Melbourne Storm 10
Canberra Raiders 12
Match preview:
After stunning the ladder leaders earlier this year can the Canberra Raiders pull off another upset, this time with much more on the line against the Melbourne Storm? Join The Roar for live scores and coverage from 5:40pm (AEST).
The retirement of Billy Slater and loss of Cooper Cronk were supposed to see the Storm brought back to the pack. Instead, the production line keeps on churning out stars and they finished six points in front of the second-placed Roosters.
Many already believe that Craig Bellamy’s men have a spot booked in this year’s grand final and it’s hard to argue against them. They have been that dominant.
Speedy fullback Ryan Papenhuyzen has added another dimension to their attack, easily surpassing 200 running metres in each of his starting performances and hitting 300 last week against the Cowboys.
The 21-year old’s development means that Brodie Croft is the odd man out with Jahrome Hughes preferred in the number seven jersey alongside five-eighth Cameron Munster.
Having gone down 22-18 to the Raiders just under a month ago, the Storm will be wary of another onslaught from Ricky’s overachievers.
Few people rated the Raiders a chance of finishing in the top eight this year, let alone the top four. One look at their spine of Charnze Nicoll-Klokstad, Jack Wighton, Aidan Sezer and Josh Hodgson left too many question marks.
But all four have been brilliant this year while Canberra’s English sensations have given them much-needed grit.
They will be without Hudson Young this week after he failed to have his eye-gouging charge overturned. They do welcome back a host of rested stars though including Nicoll-Klokstad, Jordan Rapana, John Bateman and Iosia Soliola while Joey Leilua returns from suspension.
Heartbreak from an agonising 14-12 preliminary final defeat to Melbourne in 2016 will be pushing 10 Raiders on Saturday.
Prediction
Like they did just under a month ago, the Storm will get off to a fast start here but this time they won’t let up.
Storm by 20.
Join The Roar as we take you through this year’s finals series. Tune in from 5:40pm (AEST) for live scores and coverage of Saturday’s game and don’t forget to leave a comment below as the match unfolds.
Game info
Kick-off: 5:40pm (AEST)
Venue: AAMI Park, Melbourne
TV: Live, Fox League, Nine Network
Online: Live, Foxtel app, Foxtel now, 9Now
Betting: Storm $1.41, Raiders $2.85
Last meeting: Round 22, Storm 18 Raiders 22
Referees: Ashley Klein, Chris Sutton
Melbourne Storm
1. Ryan Papenhuyzen 2. Suliasi Vunivalu 3. Will Chambers 4. Justin Olam 5. Josh Addo-Carr 6. Cameron Munster 7. Jahrome Hughes 8. Jesse Bromwich 9. Cameron Smith 10. Nelson Asofa-Solomona 11. Felise Kaufusi 12. Kenneath Bromwich 13. Dale Finucane 14. Brandon Smith 15. Tui Kamikamica 16. Max King 17. Joe Stimson 18. Curtis Scott 19. Tino Faasuamaleaui 20. Brodie Croft 21. Tom Eisenhuth
Canberra Raiders
1. Charnze Nicoll-Klokstad 2. Nick Cotric 3. Jarrod Croker 4. Joseph Leilua 5. Jordan Rapana 6. Jack Wighton 7. Aidan Sezer 8. Josh Papalii 9. Josh Hodgson 10. Iosia Soliola 11. John Bateman 12. Elliott Whitehead 13. Joseph Tapine 14. Bailey Simonsson 15. Dunamis Lui 16. Corey Horsburgh 17. Ryan Sutton 18. Sam Williams 19. Emre Guler 20. Siliva Havili 21. Hudson Young
The Seann Street Stalker
Guest
It certainly robbed them of a chance to have a go... Can you guarantee that they wouldn’t have scored? If you could’ve I’d like to talk to you about this weeks Powerball.
Doc79
Roar Rookie
So the touchie making the wrong call robbed Storm of a certain try under the sticks- of course. Find that touchie's home address.
Frisky
Guest
What is the rule? Is touching the edge of the line out, or does it have to be over the line, or on the line. IMHO, there was a very moment where his hand was only just briefly touching the inside of the line. Is that out?
The Swan Street Stalker
Guest
Seriously? Edrick Lee? Who has said that Josh Ado Carr didn’t drop the ball? Who thinks that Canberra didn’t score a legitimate try in the last 3 minutes? What has any of this got to do with a touchie making a wrong call? What are you taking? Whatever it is... it must be quality. Doc79 with a little bit of the old self prescribing
DNZ
Guest
I think you’re doing the game a disservice. The better side won in the end and the call, while poor, didn’t affect the outcome really. It’s not even close to being the worst shout this season.
Doc79
Roar Rookie
I still remember Edrick 'scissorhands' Lee dropping the easiest dead set walk in try a few finals series ago. I can't recall the refs helping him out with that major blunder that cost big time. It's funny how some people have already forgotten that JAC coming off his own 10 lost the ball on the carry into the arms of BJ who came up with an audacious inside flick pass to the straight running Bateman for a meat pie under the sticks with a minute to go. But it is obviously the touchie was the one at fault from the resulting restart. The mind boggles.
Geoff from Bruce Stadium
Roar Rookie
Bellamy blowing up big time after the match – whinging about this and that – apart from the Vunivalu decision which was about 40m metres out with 1 minute to go I’m not sure what he was banging on about, In any event its about time that the Storm were on the wrong end of the stick – they’ve had a charmed life at home for years
Doc79
Roar Rookie
Unfortunately there's no tongue in cheek emoji. I'll wink instead.????
Harry
Guest
The Raiders have played their two best halves of the season in Melbourne - though not in the same game. Their first half this game was even better than their second half a month ago - and apart from the first ten minutes their second half this game was nearly as good as their second half in the last game. Yes they got extremely lucky with a bad call from the touchie at the end - but anyone who wants to claim that this call “cost Melbourne the game” might want to reflect on the fact that if Melbourne had been allowed to play on they would have had exactly one set of six to create a try in a game in which Canberra had held them to only one try in nearly 79 minutes. Yes the call was lucky for Canberra, but the Raiders won that game and they won it with their defence.
DP Schaefer
Roar Rookie
I'm sure you aren't serious about that last part...
Doc79
Roar Rookie
Yeah like the Storm were a sure thing from there. This call was 1 minute from full time, Melbourne had the rest of the other 79 minutes to make their case for being deserving winners but I couldn't see any of that. 2 tries to 1. Raiders got some rub of the green lets release the name and adress of the touchies' family so this never happens again.
maccaa62
Roar Rookie
They we’re lucky
Dogs Boddy
Roar Rookie
I feel for you mate I really do. No matter which team, you don't want things like that deciding games. Like you, real time I didn't think he was out. I just hope he isn't lynched for it.
Jon
Roar Rookie
Thought the Raiders were gone there until the Addo-Carr drop ball. After the farce that was the start of the game glad to see them win. They needed it too because they've looked like they could do with a week off for a month now.
Brendon
Roar Rookie
Taking as much biased out as I can, I disagree. Real time I thought there was no way Suli was out. From side on it was more obvious. It may not have mattered in reality but it was a massive mistake. If it had been the other way, it would have been pitch forks at dawn but of course it's Melbourne so tough crap from the other fans on here for the most part (not saying that is your opinion in anyway)
Gargamel
Roar Rookie
Hahahahaha, just like the rabbits
Ben Lewis
Roar Pro
Cheers Geoff! I picked the Raiders by 2 and I got ridiculed for it!
Dave jacobs
Guest
Jeff's won it for the raiders,Corruption is Real
Gargamel
Roar Rookie
At least the storm won the second half????
jimmmy
Roar Rookie
They were out played imo Joe but a couple of decisions didn't go their way . Could easily have won.. Good to see someone not blaming the Refs. Klein is crap but he's not biased. Some people can't tell the difference.