Melbourne score late to snatch 2009 Toyota Cup Premiership

The Melbourne Storm have broken the hearts of the Wests Tigers, scoring in the final five minutes to snatch the Premiership with a final score of 24 points to 22.

The Tigers had done all the hard work in the second half, scoring two tries back to back to fight back from an 18-10 deficit at half time to a four point lead.

Fullback Jake Mullaney featured heavily in the Tigers fightback, backing up a Simon Dwyer bust in the 53rd to score under the posts, before then creating the bust in the 56th from a quick play the ball, and finding Robert Lui in support for the try.

Mullaney got the scoring started in just the 12th minute, following through Darren Nicholls grubber to give the Tigers an early lead.

The Storm then responded with two tries, to winger Matt Duffie in the 20th, before Billy Rogers caught the goal line defence napping when he dove over untouched in the 27th.

It hadn't been a happy day for the kickers, with neither team having made a conversion yet.

As such, when Rhys Curran burrowed over in the 32nd and Mullaney converted, the Tigers had the lead back.

They didn't have the lead for long though, as Gareth Widdop scored a Slater-esque try in the 35th, then in the 39th Sam Joe came up with a Gidley flick pass out to O'Neill who raced down the sideline and went over untouched to give the Storm their eight point halftime lead.

The second half belonged to the Tigers right up until the 74th minute, when in a carbon copy of the games first try, Luke Kelly grubbered through and Widdop beat three Tigers defenders to the ball to snatch victory for the Storm.

Match Details
Melbourne Storm 24 def Wests Tigers 22
Toyota Cup Grand Final - Sunday October 4th, 2009 02:15pm Venue: ANZ Stadium, Homebush Referee: Gavin Reynolds
Sideline Officials: Richard Daizli & Jason Walsh Crowd: Halftime: Melbourne Storm 18 Wests Tigers 10

Melbourne Storm 24
Tries: Matt Duffie, Billy Rogers, Gareth Widdop (2), Justin O