St. George Illawarra Dragons
28
Match Complete
Melbourne Storm
38
| 80 |  | N. Meaney | ||
| 78 |  | N. Meaney | ||
| 77 |  | J. Hughes | ||
| M. Ravalawa | | 73 | ||
| 56 | | N. Meaney | ||
| 54 | | E. Katoa | ||
| 51 | | N. Meaney | ||
| 50 | | E. Katoa | ||
| B. Hunt | | 44 | ||
| B. Burns | | 43 | ||
| 37 | | X. Coates | ||
| 33 | | W. Warbrick | ||
| 30 | | N. Meaney | ||
| 29 | | W. Warbrick | ||
| B. Hunt | | 25 | ||
| T. Amone | | 24 | ||
| B. Hunt | | 19 | ||
| T. Sloan | | 17 | ||
| B. Hunt | | 14 | ||
| B. Burns | | 12 | ||
| 8 | | W. Warbrick |
| 5 | Tries | 7 | ||
| 4 | Conversions | 4 | ||
| 0 | Penalty Goals | 1 | ||
| 0 | Field Goals | 0 |
The Melbourne Storm travel to Wollongong for the first time in four years to take on the St George Illawarra Dragons. Join The Roar for live scores and commentary from 7:35pm AEST.
The Dragons continue to show fight under Ryan Carr, but the wins continue to fade away for them. A victory for them would almost confirm that they will not finish the season holding the wooden spoon.
Zac Lomax returns to strengthen the backline. Francis Molo is back from concussion, which sees his brother Michael move to prop, Ben Murdoch-Masila demoted to the bench and Toby Couchman relegated to the reserves list.
The Storm showed that they are not out of premiership contention just yet following a 48-2 victory over the Raiders. Craig Bellamy has stuck with the same 17, but Will Warbrick could be a late inclusion as he is named on the reserves list.
Prediction
If the Storm want to remain in the NRL top four, they have to put up a huge statement away from home. They have more to play for than the Dragons. The Dragons will show some fight in front of their home fans, but it won’t be enough in a thriller. Storm by 6
Game information
Venue: WIN Stadium
Kick-off: 7:35pm (AEST)
TV: Fox League, Nine
Streaming: Kayo Sports, Foxtel, 9Now
Odds: Dragons $4.50, Storm $1.20 – odds via PlayUp
Dragons: 1. Tyrell Sloan 2. Mathew Feagai 3. Moses Suli 4. Zac Lomax 5. Mikaele Ravalawa 6. Talatau Amone 7. Ben Hunt 8. Francis Molo 9. Jacob Liddle 10. Blake Lawrie 11. Billy Burns 12. Dan Russell 13. Michael Molo 14. Connor Muhleisen 15. Ryan Couchman 16. Ben Murdoch-Masila 17. Zane Musgrove 18. Toby Couchman 19. Sione Finau 20. Jaiyden Hunt 21. Paul Turner 22. Max Feagai
Storm: 1. Nick Meaney 2. Reimis Smith 3. Marion Seve 4. Young Tonumaipea 5. Xavier Coates 6. Cameron Munster 7. Jahrome Hughes 8. Tui Kamikamica 9. Harry Grant 10. Christian Welch 11. Trent Loiero 12. Eliesa Katoa 13. Josh King 14. Bronson Garlick 15. Tom Eisenhuth 16. Tepai Moeroa 17. Nelson Asofa-Solomona 18. Alec MacDonald 19. William Warbrick 20. Jonah Pezet 21. Tariq Sims 22. Tyran Wishart
Arnab Bhattacharya
Roar Guru
Didn't realise I wrote conversion Storm. My bad. Conversion was unsuccessful
Dodgy Dragons
Roar Rookie
Yeah, some saints fans aren’t keen on him, but he gets out there and has a go, and he was pretty good tonight. Saints biggest problem, and it’s been there for a few seasons now is our fragile defence. At times we look unfit, miss simple one on one tackles with jumper grabs, not shoulder tackles, and our left edge in particular doesn’t trust the man inside them. Defence is an attitude, and hopefully Flanno can instill that in them next year
Panthers
Roar Rookie
Billy has his best game & then they perhaps let him go ?
Ian
Roar Rookie
As per usual I can never believe how many penalties and six again Melbourne are given when they continually wrestle and slow the ruck. I think I know why.
Dodgy Dragons
Roar Rookie
Well done storm, not the prettiest game but your class came through at the end. Can’t fault the dragons on their effort, tried hard all game, and really took it to the storm, surprisingly through the middle with the Molo boys and Lawrie having good games and Billy Burns having his best game in a dragons jersey. The basis of a half decent team there, and if Flanno can get our defence up to first grade standard, we will be on the improve in 24.
Collie Flower
Roar Rookie
Dragons were impressive. It was a competitive game. The Storm are a quality team, they'll improve for the next round.
Phil
Roar Rookie
The better team won in the end but St George played their best game for yonks. A big concern for Bellamy would his side conceding 5 tries to the team coming 2nd last and taking it to the wire. So close to the semis with that display I don't like Melbourne's chances of going far.
80
Arnab Bhattacharya
Roar Guru
The Storm are back on their home turf next week as they take on the Titans. The Dragons travel to Auckland to take on the Warriors. Thank you all for joining the live blog everyone. I will be back tomorrow afternoon for Knights v Rabbitohs. This is Arnab Bhattacharya signing out. Goodnight.
Stormy
Roar Rookie
We won, but not a game to be proud of. Dragons played hard, for the whole game. Their teamwork put ours to shame. We relied on individuals - not good enough. Thanks for another good call, Arnab.
Arnab Bhattacharya
Roar Guru
FULL TIME SGI 28 MEL 38 A high scoring thriller in Wollongong as the Storm emerge victorious. Granted it was not pretty defensively for the Storm, but they keep their top four hopes in their hands. Both teams completed brilliantly. However, it was Jahrome Hughes that was the difference in the contest. Once again, the Dragons show some fight under Ryan Carr. However, it was not enough.
Collie Flower
Roar Rookie
Well done, Storm. Commiserations to the Dragons. Thanks to both teams for an entertaining game.
Arnab Bhattacharya
Roar Guru
80’ PENALTY GOAL STORM Meaney slots in the penalty goal as the Storm emerge victorious by 10 points in a high scoring thriller
Arnab Bhattacharya
Roar Guru
80’ Hughes chips cross field. Warbrick with a lovely run. Penalty given to Storm for tackling after held. They’ll take the two to finish off the game
Stormy
Roar Rookie
Warbrick goes up with one hand. I don't know many people who can catch, & hold a ball that way.
78
77
Arnab Bhattacharya
Roar Guru
79’ Dragons win the short kickoff. They’re 20 out with a seven tackle set. Shift left as Sloan knocks on. Dragons challenge the call and it’s unsuccessful. Storm feed inside their 10 SGI 28 MEL 36
Panthers
Roar Rookie
That’s done it. Good game to watch & pity about the couple of drops there. St.George have ability, good forwards .
danwain
Roar Rookie
Geez that's all it takes, so soft by Hunt