TRY MELBOURNE STORM
Scored by Ryan Hoffman. Conversion attempt by Gareth Widdop successful.
Ryan Hoffman with one of his trademark hole-runs on the left hand edge, all Widdop has to do is provide the pass.
Melbourne Storm 28-16
Melbourne Storm 32-10
Slater puts a kick in behind the line but Graham is able to bat it dead. It'll be a goal line drop out.
Melbourne Storm 26-10
It doesn't get any better for the Cowboys, as they've now put it out on the full off the restart. Storm attack from halfway with a tap.
Melbourne Storm 26-10
TRY MELBOURNE STORM
Scored by Will Chambers. Conversion attempt by Cameron Smith successful.
The video ref comes back with a green light, and Smith's conversion is good to put the lead back out to 16 points.
Melbourne Storm 22-16
Melbourne Storm 26-10
Potential try to Melbourne! Bowen is unable to take it cleanly, Slater knocks it back to Chambers who looks to have scored. Going upstairs for onside.
Melbourne Storm 20-10
The bomb goes up and it hasn't been taken cleanly. The ball rolls along the goal-line and Ray Thompson is just unable to take it cleanly under heavy attention. He's gone off the field injured.
Melbourne Storm 20-10
Tate with a cheeky flick out the back, Cowboys making good metres.
Melbourne Storm 20-10
TRY NORTH QUEENSLAND COWBOYS
Scored by Ashley Graham. Conversion attempt by Johnathan Thurston unsuccessful.
Thurston and Bowen find themselves without space to move, but Ray Thompson demands the ball, floats across field and finds Tate, who in turn goes to Graham who finishes well in the corner. Thurston's conversion doesn't come around enough.
16 all
Melbourne Storm 20-10
Penalty to North Queensland! Cronk is pinged again for holding down in the tackle, the Cowboys attack from just inside the Storm half.
Melbourne Storm 20-6
Kane Linnett goes for the line but is brought down just centimetres short, he loses the ball as he reaches out in desperation. Hints of a high tackle from Slater.
Melbourne Storm 20-6
Hoffman puts it down on the left edge, the Cowboys pick up and go straight back on the attack through Matty Bowen! Cronk is penalised for slowing it down and the Cowboys attacking from 15m out.
Melbourne Storm 20-6
Tariq Sims with a huge charge at the line, he's held up on the last tackle though.
Melbourne Storm 20-6
The sea parts for Thurston down the left, who goes to Tate and in turn finds support inside. Cowboys still on the attack from 10m out.
Melbourne Storm 20-6
UNFORCED ERROR MELBOURNE STORM
Billy Slater knocks on under pressure from James Tamou. The Cowboys will go back on the attack from their own 40m line.
Melbourne Storm 20-6
Thurston finds space down the left and goes to Linnett who makes a half break.
Melbourne Storm 20-6
The Storm survive, Tate throws it behind the line and it can't be collected. Storm pounce.
Melbourne Storm 20-6
Thurston goes wide right to Graham who steps back inside. Cowboys piling on the pressure.
Melbourne Storm 20-6
Mahe Fonua takes a screamer above his head but is then bundled into touch. Cowboys attack from 20m out.
Melbourne Storm 20-6
UNFORCED ERROR MELBOURNE STORM
Ryan Hoffman makes an unforced error.
It pops out in the tackle and the Cowboys hang on again.
Melbourne Storm 20-6
Storm go wide left off the scrum and Widdop is only just dragged down.
Melbourne Storm 20-6
UNFORCED ERROR NORTH QUEENSLAND COWBOYS
Matthew Scott knocks on. It's a rare error from the big man but he's put it down 30m out from the Cowboys line.
Melbourne Storm 20-6
Penalty to Cowboys! O'Neill ran it on the last and has been penalised for passing it off the ground. Cowboys will resume from 15m out from their own line.
Melbourne Storm 20-6
Penalty to North Queensland! The Storm are penalised for raking the ball out. A tired Cowboys outfit will attack from 25m out.
Melbourne Storm 20-6
Duffie knocks the cross-field kick back in, Cronk kicks it again and it's tidied up by Johnathan Thurston after the ball ricocheted off his legs.
Now it's a penalty to the Cowboys for slowing the ruck.
Melbourne Storm 20-6
Slater with some sharp footwork looks promising but he's brought down.
Melbourne Storm 20-6
Penalty to Melbourne! The Cowboys are penalised for being inside the 10, Storm attack from 20m out.
Melbourne Storm 20-6
UNFORCED ERROR NORTH QUEENSLAND COWBOYS
James Tamou knocks on.
Thurston taps it on to Tariq Sims, who makes a strong run up the middle. He offloads to Bowen who looks to find Tamou but it goes to ground.
Melbourne Storm 20-6
UNFORCED ERROR MELBOURNE STORM
Gareth Widdop passes forward to Slade Griffin on his outside.
Melbourne Storm 20-6
Penalty to Melbourne! The Cowboys are penalised for slowing the ruck, Storm take the quick tap from 30m out.
Melbourne Storm 20-6
TRY MELBOURNE STORM
Scored by Cooper Cronk. Conversion attempt by Cameron Smith unsuccessful.
The cross-field kick is caught by Duffie in the corner, but the Cowboys defence bundles him toward the sideline. He manages to get an offload away and Cronk is able to find a gap in the defence and fight his way over the line. Smith's kick goes across the face of the posts.
Melbourne Storm 32-10
Melbourne Storm 20-6
Cronk goes long to Fonua on the left, who only just manages to remain in the field of play.
Melbourne Storm 16-6
Tohu Harris is dragged down just inches short of the line. The Storm on the attack.
Melbourne Storm 16-6
UNFORCED ERROR NORTH QUEENSLAND COWBOYS
Matthew Bowen knocks on while trying to go outside, comes up with the Storm.
The Storm get another penalty for slowing the ruck, they'll attack from just their side of halfway.
Melbourne Storm 16-6
Penalty to North Queensland! The video has been checked and he's been put on report for a crusher tackle.
Melbourne Storm 16-6
Matt Scott is down injured clutching at his neck, and Ashton Sims looks like he wants to take things into his own hands.
Melbourne Storm 16-6
Penalty to North Queensland! The Storm are again pulled up for a strip, the Cowboys in good field position 35m out.
Melbourne Storm 16-6
Tate shepherds the grubber into the in-goal dead and the Cowboys hang on. Resume from their 20m line.
Melbourne Storm 16-6
Penalty to Melbourne Storm, they'll go on the attack from 40m out from the Cowboys line.
Melbourne Storm 16-6
The red light comes up as expected, the Storm will resume with a 20m tap.
Melbourne Storm 16-6
Thurston again finds Winterstein on the wing, who throws it inside for Linnett as he heads towards the sideline. Linnett doesn't look to have gotten it down, but we'll go to the video referee for confirmation.
Melbourne Storm 16-6
Penalty to North Queensland! Cooper Cronk is penalised for a strip in Tariq Sims, and the referee again pings them for back-chat. The Cowboys will attack from 30m out.
Melbourne Storm 16-6
We're back for the second half - Cameron Smith gets us underway and Matt Scott takes the first hit up.
Melbourne Storm 16-6
That's half-time here at 1300SMILES Stadium, with the Storm leading by 10 points. It'll take a bit effort for the Cowboys to run them down from here.
Melbourne Storm 16-6
TRY MELBOURNE STORM
Scored by Will Chambers. Conversion attempt by Cameron Smith unsuccessful.
Cooper Cronk's pass puts Chambers on the outside of Kane Linnett. He's able to get away from his effort and Bowen is unable to stop him at the back. Smith's conversion from the scrum line bounces off the post and misses.
Melbourne Storm 16-6
Melbourne Storm 16-6
It's the Billy Slater and Tohu Harris show up the middle! Harris is finally dragged down after a huge run, but the next play it looks like Cronk has put Chambers through for a try. Going upstairs to check obstruction.
Melbourne Storm 12-6
The ball goes out the back to Bowen who wasn't expecting it. Taumalolo recovered and shrugged a tackle, found his captain in JT who sliced straight through, flicks for support but can't find it.
Melbourne Storm 12-6
Jason Taumalolo puts in a big effort on the last play, but is dragged down 5m out. The Storm will now ruck it out from their own end.
Melbourne Storm 12-6
Thurston's kick to the corner was too deep but is knocked dead by Mahe Fonua. The Cowboys will have another set.
They looked poorly structured in that last effort, can JT marshal his troops?
Melbourne Storm 12-6
Penalty to North Queensland!
Scott Moore offloads and Taumalolo drives it forward. The ref finds a strip and the Cowboys will attack from 35m out.
Melbourne Storm 12-6
TRY MELBOURNE STORM
Scored by Cooper Cronk. Conversion attempt by Cameron Smith successful.
Cooper was unable to scoop up Slater's kick under heavy pressure from the number 1 himself. The Cowboys were never able to regroup in defence and Cronk can stroll through next to the posts.
Melbourne Storm 12-6
Melbourne Storm 12-6
Slater kicks through and it's spilt by the Cowboys, Storm straight back on the attack down the right, then back to the left and now they're attacking from 10m out.
6 all
It's heart in mouth stuff for Bellamy as his defence allows Thurston's bomb to bounce in the corner. Luckily it's straight over the sideline, so the Storm will resume with a scrum 10m out.
6 all
Cameron Smith's kick from inside the 40 is drilled down the middle of the field, luckily for Bowen it just finds the dead-ball line.
6 all
Thurston's kick sits up in the in-goal and Slater is forced to play. Melbourne start their set 10m out from their own line.
6 all
Thurston hits Hinchcliffe with a hard wrap-around tackle and the ball spills loose. Cowboys absorb the pressure again, the Storm's low completion isn't doing them any favours.
6 all
Penalty to Melbourne!
The Cowboys are pinged for being offside. The Storm are put into great attacking position 25m out.
6 all
No Try!
It seemed the obstruction wasn't an issue but Winterstein's toe tickled the sideline under the attention of Duffie. Storm will resume with a scrum feed 10m out.
6 all
Thurston goes long for Winterstein again on the left edge, this time Winterstein has the pace to go all the way to the line!
The video referee has signalled no-try and sent it upstairs to check an obstruction during the preceding play and then whether Winterstein's gone into touch.
6 all
Some hot-potato footy on the right gets the Cowboys no-where. The kick is defused and the Storm survive.
6 all
Thurston dummies, goes and finds half a gap. He's brought down heavily and seems to have taken another knock.
6 all
UNFORCED ERROR MELBOURNE STORM
Matt Duffie loses it in the tackle.
It's not been a happy 5 minutes for Duffie, who was bundled into touch earlier and now loses the ball in the tackle. The Cowboys will attack from 25m out.
6 all
Tamou, Tate and then Moore threatening the Storm's right edge. Bowen puts a stabbing kick in for himself, but it's collected by Slater.
6 all
UNFORCED ERROR MELBOURNE STORM
Gareth Widdop throws a forward pass.
Widdop tries to find some space down the short side, but his pass to Will Chambers is judged forward.
6 all
Thurston is looking sick and sorry but the Cowboys general is back in the attacking line. Cowboys with the ball from a 20m tap.
6 all
Slater's quick hands find Duffie on the wing, but the scrambling defence from Thurston and Winterstein save the day.
Thurston is down and looks in a bit of trouble on the sideline. Not a good sight for Cowboys fans. The replay shows he might've collected Duffie's shoulder.
6 all
Storm go short side and threaten straight off the scrum. It'll take a big effort from the Cowboys in D here.
6 all
UNFORCED ERROR NORTH QUEENSLAND COWBOYS
Glenn Hall leaves behind a pass, just 20m out from the Cowboys' line. Here's an opportunity in prime real-estate for the Storm.
6 all
TRY NORTH QUEENSLAND COWBOYS
Scored by Kane Linnett. Conversion attempt by Johnathan Thurston successful.
From the knock-on Thurston commands the ball and goes long to find a flying Antonio Winterstein on the chest. Under pressure he finds Kane Linnett in support on the inside, and that's a huge boost for North Queensland. Thurston's conversion is good from halfway to the sideline.
6 all
6 all
UNFORCED ERROR MELBOURNE STORM
Gareth Widdop knocks on while trying to find some space down the left. Cowboys straight back onto the attack!
Melbourne Storm 6-0
Bowen stabs it into the in-goal, and Linnett nearly beats Slater to the ball but it beats him dead. 20m tap to Melbourne.
Melbourne Storm 6-0
Six to go for the Cowboys - Thompson's offload was taken by Thurston, whose pass was knocked down. 10m out.
Melbourne Storm 6-0
Penalty to North Queensland!
Brian Norrie is pinged for a grapple on Cowboys captain Matt Scott. That's welcome relief for the home side who now attack inside Melbourne territory.
Melbourne Storm 6-0
Storm look to find some room down the short side.
Cronk's cross-field kick is defused by Ash Graham after some confusion.
Melbourne Storm 6-0
TRY MELBOURNE STORM!
Scored by Ryan Hinchcliffe. Conversion attempt by Cameron Smith successful.
Storm draw first blood early! You'd be forgiven for thinking that was Slater streaking away as Smith goes outside to Cronk, who provides a beautiful inside ball to Ryan Hinchcliffe who goes 40m to score in the corner. Smith's kick from the sideline is perfect.
Melbourne Storm 6-0
Melbourne Storm 6-0
Widdop and Hinchcliffe find some space for the Storm, who've made great ground on their first set.
Cowboys straight back on the counter-attack.
0 all
The newly re-signed Johnathan Thurston kicks off and away we go!
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We're now just minutes away from kickoff - follow our live updates and join the discussion on our forums at http://forums.leagueunlimited.com/showthread.php?t=416672
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TEAM NEWS: Cowboys are 1-17, Melbourne Storm lose Junior Moors off the bench, with Slade Griffin getting a run in jumper 18.
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Referees & scorers:
Referee: Gerard Sutton, Brett Suttor
Touch Judges: Dan Eastwood, Dave Munro
Video Referee: Paul Simpkins, Chris Butler
NORTH QUEENSLAND COWBOYS (10)
Tries: Kane Linnett, Ashley Graham
Field Goals:
Conversions: Johnathan Thurston (1/2)
Penalty Goals:
MELBOURNE STORM (32)
Tries: Ryan Hinchcliffe, Cooper Cronk (2), Will Chambers (2), Ryan Hoffman
Field Goals:
Conversions: Cameron Smith (3/5), Gareth Widdop (1/1)
Penalty Goals: