Cool hand Smith sinks Cowboys

v BYE

Melbourne launched themselves to the top of the NRL premiership after a tight 15-14 tussle at Suncorp Stadium tonight. 

It was a battle that befitted September but was the first of a double header tonight in Queensland. First took on third as the Cowboys looked to snap their losing streak at Suncorp Stadium. 

Cameron Smith kicked his second-ever field goal to hand the Cowboys their second loss of the season and propel themselves to the top of the table and extract some revenge after their preliminary final loss last season. 

The premiers were well on their way to dispelling that hoodoo in the opening minute when Johnathan Thurston launched a bomb that was mopped by his right-hand man Gavin Cooper to break a two-hour Storm streak of not conceding points. 

North Queensland continued to pile on the metres and possession through Jason Taumalolo and the forward pack to give the halves space to weave their magic. They went close several times, notably when Kane Linnett was inches away but denied by Ben Hampton's strong tackle. Thurston did add a penalty goal to stretch it to 8-nil. 

Lachlan Coote recently re-signed and a rock at the back for the Cowboys fell victim to a wicked kick from Cronk to spill only his second bomb of the season. The unlikely Kevin Proctor scooped up the ball and turned the tide of the contest at 12-8 Storm. 

The rest of the half was Melbourne bringing the game to their own tempo to blunt the best attack in the NRL. Cameron Smith directed the action and sometimes the officiating. Crucially the Queensland hooker provided the killer pass for Tohu Harris to crash over for the first Storm four-pointer. 

Melbourne were kept scoreless in the second half of last year's preliminary final as the Cowboys rode their way to the grand final, and eventually the premiership. Tonight they added two within the first five minutes to make it 14-8. 

Like a boxer, the Cowboys counter-punched almost immediately with Jake Granville's circus pass found Michael Morgan to dive over and lock the contest up at 14-all. 

Both teams threw their best shots at each other led by their respective halfbacks as Thurston almost released Morgan to link with Winterstein before a heroic effort from Tohu Harris and Cameron Munster repelled the winger. 

The Storm, like they have many times before found that extra inch to finish the game off. From a seven tackle set both Blake Green and Cooper Cronk went close but it was captain Smith who took on the Cronk role, and slotted his second career field goal for a 15-14 victory.

Melbourne head to western Sydney on Monday week when the Eels host them at Pirtek Stadium, while the Cowboys are at home to the Broncos in the second edition of the Grand Final re-match for season 2016 on Friday night in Townsville.