Slick Smith's boot suffocates courageous Cowboys

v BYE

The Melbourne Storm have advanced through to the Preliminary Finals with a hard fought, 16-10, victory over the North Queensland Cowboys as the 21,233 strong crowd at AAMI Park were treated to a defensive masterclass.

Regarded as a possible Grand Final preview, two very professional sides opened this one in very astute fashion. Cameron Smith opened proceedings with a 40/20 in the 2nd minute, yet the Cowboys held firm and the kicking game of both sides would continue to dominate early.

Cooper Cronk would force an early drop out and a couple of successive errors by Ethan Lowe and Kane Linnett would see the Storm camp themselves in the North Queensland half for the majority of the opening twenty minutes. Cameron Munster went agonisingly close in the 15th minute but the Cowboys' defence held firm. 

A penalty against Tohu Harris in the 19th minute would see the Cowboys marched up field. Jonathan Thurston's kicking game would dominate as the Cowboys racked up five straight sets on the Storm try line. It took a break from Suliasi Vunivalu to snap the drop-out trend before Cameron Smith slot first points via a penalty goal in the 30th minute. 

Vunivalu would make his mark again, as a North Queensland last tackle option would crumble for the speedy winger to pick up the scraps and race away for the first try of the night. However, when it appeared as if the Storm would head into the break dominating proceedings, Lachlan Coote would pull off a miraculous pick up off a Thurston grubber in the 39th minute to set up Antonio Winterstein out wide. Thurston would swing the conversion through to lock things up, 6-all, at half time and set up an intriguing second half. 

The second half opened similarly to the first, with both sides seemingly unable to land any real killer blows early. However, it would be the home side who would strike first with Kyle Feldt fumbling a floating bomb. A consequent penalty would see Smith opt for the two points in the 48th minute. 

Melbourne would, however, claim the crucial opening try in the second half with Jesse Bromwich barging over in the 52nd minute. The field possession that led to that try came off a Michael Morgan error, and another error by Rory Kostjasyn would place the Cowboys under further pressure only for Smith to lose it on the last tackle. Yet, just as it looked as if Melbourne were cruising towards a clinical victory Nelson Asofa-Solomona would be pinned for a late hit on Jonathan Thurston and a slick ball from Morgan would set Feldt out wide to put the away side back into it. 

Feldt, however, would come up with a brain snap of his own, with a forearm to Cheyse Blair warranting a penalty for Melbourne and Smith would extend their lead to six with five left. In the end, Munster would rise above the pack to diffuse a Thurston bomb late and ensure his side would progress through to the Preliminary Finals. Meanwhile, it's an all Queensland derby next week when the Cowboys host the Broncos on Friday night in the Grand Final replay in a clash which in both occasions this year has been decided by just one point.