Storm hold on for another close win as they down Roosters
107 mins ago | Rhys Sullivan
Cronk's golden boot sinks Titans' season
COOPER Cronk has ended the Titans' season with a 40-metre-field-goal in the eigth minute of extra time to give the Melbourne Storm a 23-22 victory at Aami Park in front of 13,286.
Fighting for their season, it was clear from the opening minutes the Titans meant business.
Aidan Sezer opened up the scoring for the match with a penalty goal in the eighth minute.
The Storm hit back only two minutes later through Billy Slater who scored on the back of a Cooper Cronk field
kick which was fielded by Justin O'Neil who put Slater over.
David Taylor scored the opening try for the Titans ten minutes later, the giant back rower was unstoppable
close to the line as he busted through the defence. Sezer added the extras.
Taylor was instrumental again in the 26th minute, when he busted through the Storm defence 10 out from halfway
and continued to beat defenders all the way to the try-line where he offloaded to Brad Takairangi. Sezer added the extras.
Sezer kicked another field goal before Cronk and O'Neil combined again to put Billy Slater over for his second. Smith added the extras.
The Titans were given an opportunity to increase their lead heading into the break, and Steve Michaels nearly pulled it off for his side, but the Storm defence proved too strong.
A Sisa Waqa knock on saw the Titans right on the attack in only the second minute of the second half, but a poor last tackle option saw the Storm off the hook.
The Storm levelled the score at 16 all when Cronk put Sisa Waqa over in the corner in the 49th minute.Smith failed to convert the try.
The Storm were over again less than ten minutes later through Will Chambers who scored on the back off a penalty. Smith added the extras.
Aiden Sezer looked like he may have scored for the Storm in 72nd minute but was denied by the video ref.
There was no denying Anthony Don in the 79th on the back of a penalty against Billy Slater. Sezer added the extras with less than a minute to go to send the match into Golden Point.
Sezer had the first shot at a field goal from 45 metres out and missed.
The Storm received a penalty in their first set of extra time, and Cronk attempted to kick a one-pointer from 20 out, but it was waved to the left.
Cronk was given another opportunity seconds before the extra-time break but he missed from right in front.
In the seventh minute of golden point, Cronk kicked the winning field goal from 45 out.
This evening's loss ends the season for the Titans. As for the Storm, their opponent for next week is yet to be determined out of the Rabbitohs and Roosters.
Match Details
Melbourne Storm 23 Gold Coast Titans 22
Venue: Melbourne Rectangular Stadium
Crowd: 13826
Halftime Score: Gold Coast Titans 16-12
Fulltime Score: 22-all
LeagueUnlimited.com Players of the Match:
3 points - Cooper Cronk
2 points - Albert Kelly
1 point - Will Chambers
MELBOURNE STORM (23)
Tries: Billy Slater (2), Sisa Waqa, Will Chambers
Field Goals: Cooper Cronk (1/2)
Conversions: Cameron Smith (2/3), Justin O'Neill (1/1)
GOLD COAST TITANS (22)
Tries: Dave Taylor, Brad Takairangi, Anthony Don
Field Goals: Aidan Sezer (0/1), Cooper Cronk (0/1)
Conversions: Aidan Sezer (3/3)
Penalty Goals: Aidan Sezer (2/2)
LeagueUnlimited.com Live Commentary
Welcome to LeagueUnlimited's LIVE coverage from AAMI Park in Melbourne as the Gold Coast Titans hope to secure a spot in the 2013 Finals Series.
TEAM NEWS: Firstly for the Storm, they remain unchanged as they will take the field 1-17.
Meanwhile for the Gold Coast, Nate Myles has been ruled out which sees Dave Taylor start at lock. Mark Ioane fills the bench spot.
Storm: 1. Billy Slater 2. Sisa Waqa 3. Will Chambers 4. Maurice Blair 5. Justin O'Neill 6. Brett Finch 7. Cooper Cronk 8. Jesse Bromwich 9. Cameron Smith (c) 10. Bryan Norrie 11. Kevin Proctor 12. Ryan Hoffman 13. Ryan Hinchcliffe
Interchange: 14. Jason Ryles 15. Tohu Harris 16. Jordan McLean 17. Kenneath Bromwich 18. Tim Glasby
Titans: 1. Kevin Gordon 2. Steve Michaels 3. Brad Takairangi 4. Jordan Atkins 5. Anthony Don 6. Aidan Sezer 7. Albert Kelly 8. Luke Douglas 9. Beau Falloon 10. Ryan James 11. Greg Bird 12. Ben Ridge 14. David Taylor
Interchange: 15. Luke Bailey 16. Jamie Dowling 17. Matt Srama 18. Mark Ioane
TEAM NEWS: Firstly for the Storm, they remain unchanged as they will take the field 1-17.
Meanwhile for the Gold Coast, Nate Myles has been ruled out which sees Dave Taylor start at lock. Mark Ioane fills the bench spot.
Storm: 1. Billy Slater 2. Sisa Waqa 3. Will Chambers 4. Maurice Blair 5. Justin O'Neill 6. Brett Finch 7. Cooper Cronk 8. Jesse Bromwich 9. Cameron Smith (c) 10. Bryan Norrie 11. Kevin Proctor 12. Ryan Hoffman 13. Ryan Hinchcliffe
Interchange: 14. Jason Ryles 15. Tohu Harris 16. Jordan McLean 17. Kenneath Bromwich 18. Tim Glasby
Titans: 1. Kevin Gordon 2. Steve Michaels 3. Brad Takairangi 4. Jordan Atkins 5. Anthony Don 6. Aidan Sezer 7. Albert Kelly 8. Luke Douglas 9. Beau Falloon 10. Ryan James 11. Greg Bird 12. Ben Ridge 14. David Taylor
Interchange: 15. Luke Bailey 16. Jamie Dowling 17. Matt Srama 18. Mark Ioane
1 min: The Storm get first use of the football as the game gets underway!
2 min: The Storm receive the first penalty of the match 20 metres from their own line.
4 min: The Storm are pinned for an accidental off side after Cooper Cronk loses the ball. Penalty Titans metres out from their own line.
5 min: Justin O'Neil marks an Albert Kelly bomb in his own in goal.
6 min: Bryan Norrie is pinned for carrying on with the tackle and the Titans have a penalty 10 out from their goal line.
7 min: Bryan Norrie concedes another penalty this time 30 out from his own line.
8 min: SUCCESSFUL PENALTY GOAL GOLD COAST TITANS
Penalty goal attempt by Aidan Sezer successful.
The Titans opt to go for the two and Aidan Sezer has no issue kicking it.
Gold Coast Titans 2-0
Penalty goal attempt by Aidan Sezer successful.
The Titans opt to go for the two and Aidan Sezer has no issue kicking it.
Gold Coast Titans 2-0
11 min: TRY MELBOURNE STORM
Scored by Billy Slater. Conversion attempt by Cameron Smith successful.
TRY! Cooper Cronk chips 40 metres out from the Titans' line, O'Neil catches it on the field and puts on a step before offloading to Billy Slater who scores the first try of the game. Conversion attempt from Cameron Smith is successful.
Melbourne Storm 6-2
Scored by Billy Slater. Conversion attempt by Cameron Smith successful.
TRY! Cooper Cronk chips 40 metres out from the Titans' line, O'Neil catches it on the field and puts on a step before offloading to Billy Slater who scores the first try of the game. Conversion attempt from Cameron Smith is successful.
Melbourne Storm 6-2
12 min: Storm receive a penalty 10 out from their own line.
15 min: Sezer forces a line drop out.
16 min: UNFORCED ERROR GOLD COAST TITANS
Brad Takairangi makes an unforced error.
Brad Takairangi throws a forward pass 20 out and the Storm are off the hook.
Brad Takairangi makes an unforced error.
Brad Takairangi throws a forward pass 20 out and the Storm are off the hook.
18 min: The Titans receive a penalty on the last tackle.
20 min: TRY GOLD COAST TITANS
Scored by Dave Taylor. Conversion attempt by Aidan Sezer successful.
TRY! David Taylor busts through the Titans' line on the back of another penalty. Sezer adds the extras to give the lead back to the Titans.
Gold Coast Titans 8-6
Scored by Dave Taylor. Conversion attempt by Aidan Sezer successful.
TRY! David Taylor busts through the Titans' line on the back of another penalty. Sezer adds the extras to give the lead back to the Titans.
Gold Coast Titans 8-6
23 min: UNFORCED ERROR GOLD COAST TITANS
**PLAYER1** makes an unforced error.
Storm will go on the attack after a Titans' error.
**PLAYER1** makes an unforced error.
Storm will go on the attack after a Titans' error.
25 min: Cronk goes to the air on the last but puts too much weight on the kick and the Titans are off the hook.
28 min: TRY GOLD COAST TITANS
Scored by Brad Takairangi. Conversion attempt by Aidan Sezer successful.
TRY! Dave Taylor gets the ball short of halfway and busts through the Storm defence and breaks tackles all the way to the Storm 10 metre line where he offloads to Takairangi who scores in the corner. Sezer converts the try.
Gold Coast Titans 14-6
Scored by Brad Takairangi. Conversion attempt by Aidan Sezer successful.
TRY! Dave Taylor gets the ball short of halfway and busts through the Storm defence and breaks tackles all the way to the Storm 10 metre line where he offloads to Takairangi who scores in the corner. Sezer converts the try.
Gold Coast Titans 14-6
29 min: Titans receive a penalty 40 out from the try line.
31 min:
The Titans opt to go for the two again.
Gold Coast Titans 16-6
The Titans opt to go for the two again.
Gold Coast Titans 16-6
33 min: Possible try to the Storm.
34 min:
TRY! Cooper Cronk goes to the air from 20 out and Justin O'Neil plucks it out of the air and offloads to Slater who scores. Smith adds the extras.
Gold Coast Titans 16-12
TRY! Cooper Cronk goes to the air from 20 out and Justin O'Neil plucks it out of the air and offloads to Slater who scores. Smith adds the extras.
Gold Coast Titans 16-12
35 min: Storms are 20 out from the Titans line on the last after a good run from Will Chambers. Cronk runs it on the last but slips over and succumbs to the tackle.
39 min: Penalty to the Titans 30 out from their own line.
40 min: Steve Michaels loses the ball heading for the try line and that will be the half.
41 min: Cameron Smith kicks off to bring us underway in the second half.
42 min: UNFORCED ERROR MELBOURNE STORM
Sisa Waqa makes an unforced error.
Sisa Waqa loses the ball 10 out from his own line.
Sisa Waqa makes an unforced error.
Sisa Waqa loses the ball 10 out from his own line.
43 min: Sisa Waqa diffuses a Kelly bomb a few metres out from his try line and the Titans concede a penalty.
45 min: Dave Taylor fields a Cronk kick in his own in-goal and the Titans are off the hook.
45 min: Titans get a tackle count restart 10 out from the Storm line after Waqa can't hang onto a Sezer kick.
47 min: Chambers saves the day for the Storm.
47 min: Storm receive a penalty on their own 20.
50 min: TRY MELBOURNE STORM
Scored by Sisa Waqa. Conversion attempt by Cameron Smith unsuccessful.
TRY! The Storm spread it out wide through Cronk who finds a flying Waqa whobusts through four players to score. Smith's conversion is unsuccessful.
16 all
Scored by Sisa Waqa. Conversion attempt by Cameron Smith unsuccessful.
TRY! The Storm spread it out wide through Cronk who finds a flying Waqa whobusts through four players to score. Smith's conversion is unsuccessful.
16 all
54 min: UNFORCED ERROR GOLD COAST TITANS
**PLAYER1** makes an unforced error.
The Storm will receive a scrum 10 out from the Titans line.
**PLAYER1** makes an unforced error.
The Storm will receive a scrum 10 out from the Titans line.
58 min: TRY MELBOURNE STORM
Scored by Will Chambers. Conversion attempt by Cameron Smith successful.
TRY! Will Chambers scores for the Storm. Smith adds the extras.
Melbourne Storm 22-16
Scored by Will Chambers. Conversion attempt by Cameron Smith successful.
TRY! Will Chambers scores for the Storm. Smith adds the extras.
Melbourne Storm 22-16
58 min: Greg Bird is down after copping an elbow to the sternum.
63 min: The Titans receive a penalty.
64 min: O'Neil diffuses a bomb and the Storm get a penalty as O'Neil was tackled in the air.
67 min: UNFORCED ERROR MELBOURNE STORM
Jesse Bromwich makes an unforced error.
Jesse Bromwich knocks on a Slater pass 30 out from the Titans' line.
Jesse Bromwich makes an unforced error.
Jesse Bromwich knocks on a Slater pass 30 out from the Titans' line.
72 min: Possible try to Aidan Sezer after the ball was knocked out of Slater's hands.
73 min: No try, Ben Ridge is rule to have knocked the ball out of Slater's hand and knocked it forward.
78 min: Penalty to the Titans only 10 out from the Storm line.
80 min:
TRY! The Titans spread it out wide and Anthony Dons scores close to the posts. Sezer adds the extras and we're probably heading into Golden Point.
22 all
TRY! The Titans spread it out wide and Anthony Dons scores close to the posts. Sezer adds the extras and we're probably heading into Golden Point.
22 all
80 min: We are heading into golden point.
82 min: UNSUCCESSFUL FIELD GOAL GOLD COAST TITANS
Field goal attempt by Aidan Sezer unsuccessful.
Sezer makes the first field foal attempt from 40 out but misses.
22 all
Field goal attempt by Aidan Sezer unsuccessful.
Sezer makes the first field foal attempt from 40 out but misses.
22 all
83 min: UNSUCCESSFUL FIELD GOAL GOLD COAST TITANS
Field goal attempt by Cooper Cronk unsuccessful.
Cooper Cronk attempts a field goal but it is waved away.
22 all
Field goal attempt by Cooper Cronk unsuccessful.
Cooper Cronk attempts a field goal but it is waved away.
22 all
84 min: Sezer puts a kick out on the full and the Storm will go on the attack.
85 min: UNSUCCESSFUL FIELD GOAL MELBOURNE STORM
Field goal attempt by Cooper Cronk unsuccessful.
Cooper Cronk misses another attempted field goal.
22 all
Field goal attempt by Cooper Cronk unsuccessful.
Cooper Cronk misses another attempted field goal.
22 all
87 min: Storm have the ball on halfway on the third.
88 min: SUCCESSFUL FIELD GOAL MELBOURNE STORM
Field goal attempt by Cooper Cronk successful.
Cronk attempts a field goal from 40 metres out and he kicks it.
Melbourne Storm 23-22
Field goal attempt by Cooper Cronk successful.
Cronk attempts a field goal from 40 metres out and he kicks it.
Melbourne Storm 23-22