Storm fight out win over Roosters

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In what was called the game of the round in the lead-up, this one has not disappointed with the Melbourne Storm securing a 26-18 win over the Sydney Roosters in front of 19,164 fans at Allianz Stadium.

The first opportunity for points came from the Roosters but Anthony Minichello was penalised for passing the ball off the ground after being held, from there it was the Storm who had the momentum for the next 20 minutes after capitalising on early pressure to score through Justin O’Neill.

 The Roosters looked quite ordinary in the opening quarter with several players making some uncharacteristic mistakes and giving away some cheap penalties as well. Conversely, the Storm were clinical in the opening quarter with Maurice Blair taking advantage of some good decoy play to go through and score untouched. 

The hosts started to turn the momentum and with that gain in momentum, they managed to get back level with tries to Luke O’Donnell in the 27th minute and then ten minutes later through Michael Jennings to get scores back level at 12-12.

That wasn’t the end of the points for the first half - the Roosters conceded a try on the stroke of half time with some controversial calls in the lead up helping the Storm to get down the field and score through their captain Cameron Smith to give the Storm an 18-12 half time lead.

The opening 20 minutes of the second half were an arm-wrestle with neither side being able to crack the opponents goal line with the only play being where Storm debutant Jordan McLean was held up in goal.

Mal Meninga and his Queensland Origin selectors will have a nervous wait with Storm halfback Cooper Cronk being placed on report for a dangerous throw on Roger Tuivasa-Sheck.

Sydney were unable to capitalise on their attacking position with Storm winger Sisa Waqa taking an intercept and running 60m before being chased down by James Maloney. Melbourne were able to capitalise on this field position and scored through Will Chambers, with Smith being unable to convert.

Seven minutes later Smith pushed the lead out to two converted tries after slotting a penalty goal, and just five minutes after that the Roosters set up what looked like it could be a grandstand finish with a beautiful set play resulting in a Tuivasa-Sheck try with a brilliant conversion from out wide by James Maloney.

The Roosters then created an opportunity off the kick off with play from one side of the field to the other being able to take them up to halfway before Shaun Kenny-Dowall offloaded straight to Tohu Harris seemingly giving Melbourne the win.

The final minute saw Melbourne kick another penalty goal to secure their 8 point win over the Sydney Roosters and break their three game slump.

Next week both sides have the luxury of having the bye although several players in both sides are expected to be selected in the State of Origin squads. In a fortnight, the Storm will be at home to the Cronulla Sharks, while the Sydney Roosters will visit the Parramatta Eels.

 

Match Details
Sydney Roosters 18 Melbourne Storm 26
Venue: Sydney Football Stadium
Crowd: 19164
Halftime Score: Melbourne Storm 18-12

LeagueUnlimited.com Players of the Match:
3 points - Cameron Smith
2 points - Justin O'Neill
1 point - Cooper Cronk

SYDNEY ROOSTERS (18)
Tries: Luke O'Donnell, Michael Jennings, Roger Tuivasa-Sheck
Conversions: James Maloney (3/3)

MELBOURNE STORM (26)
Tries: Justin O'Neill, Cameron Smith, Maurice Blair, Will Chambers
Conversions: Cameron Smith (3/4)
Penalty Goals: Cameron Smith (2/2)

LeagueUnlimited.com Live Commentary

Roosters: 1. Anthony Minichiello (c) 2. Daniel Tupou 3. Michael Jennings 4. Shaun Kenny-Dowall 5. Roger Tuivasa-Sheck 6. James Maloney 7. Mitchell Pearce 8. Luke O'Donnell 9. Jake Friend 10. Martin Kennedy 11. Mitchell Aubusson 12. Sonny Bill Williams 13. Boyd Cordner
Interchange 14. Daniel Mortimer 15. Frank Paul Nuuausala 16. Aidan Guerra 17. Lama Tasi


Storm: 1. Billy Slater 2. Sisa Waqa 3. Maurice Blair 4. Justin O'Neill 5. Mahe Fonua 6. Gareth Widdop 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. Junior Moors 17. Lagi Setu 18. Slade Griffin
1 min: Play is underway at Allianz Stadium
2 min: Roosters give away the first two penalties of the match
4 min: TRY MELBOURNE STORM
Scored by Justin O'Neill. Conversion attempt by Cameron Smith successful.
Justin O'Neill gets the first try of the match for the Storm, Cameron Smith puts the ball over from the sideline
Melbourne Storm 6-0
10 min: UNFORCED ERROR SYDNEY ROOSTERS
Sonny Bill Williams makes an unforced error.
Sonny Bill Williams throws a forward pass and puts the Storm back on the attack
11 min: Daniel Tupou takes the ball over his own dead ball line to stop a scoring opportunity for the Storm
13 min: PENALTY - James Maloney penalised for a shoulder charge on Billy Slater
15 min: TRY MELBOURNE STORM
Scored by Maurice Blair. Conversion attempt by Cameron Smith successful.
Maurice Blair capitalises on a wide gap in the Roosters defensive line and scores untouched
Melbourne Storm 12-0
18 min: Billy Slater takes a bomb from the Roosters easily, Roosters not putting any pressure on the Storm so far in the match
19 min: PENALTY - Roosters get a relieving penalty for the Storm being inside the 10m, Roosters start their next set 35m out from their own line
20 min: James Maloney caught on the sixth tackle after cleaning up a rebound which was unluckily not given six again
21 min: The storm winning the battle of field position easily, Roosters struggling to make metres in attack unlike the storm who are doing so with ease
22 min: Roosters put in another poor kick that just goes dead and gives the storm free passage to the 20m
24 min: Roosters looking their most dangerous in the current set of six and get six again on the last tackle kick
24 min: PENALTY - Roosters get a Penalty close to the Storm line, will be interesting to see what they have in attack
27 min: TRY SYDNEY ROOSTERS
Scored by Luke O'Donnell. Conversion attempt by James Maloney successful.
The Roosters finally take advantage of their good field position and Jake Friend sets up Luke O'Donnell to score under the posts, with James Maloney having no problems from in front
Melbourne Storm 12-6
28 min: PENALTY - Melbourne get a penalty on their own 30m line after a poor chase from the Roosters
30 min: PENALTY - Jason Ryles gives away a dumb penalty for not attempting to make a tackle on Mitchell Pearce whilst kicking the ball
32 min: Justin O'Neill out jumps Roger Tuivasa-Sheck and takes the kick ingoal and gives his side the 20m restart
35 min: UNFORCED ERROR MELBOURNE STORM
Gareth Widdop makes an unforced error.
Gareth Widdop drops the ball cold looking like he was thinking about the play ahead instead of the present moment
37 min: VIDEO REFEREE - Checking a possible Michael Jennings try, checking how the ball has come free - Referee Shayne Hayne has said we have a TRY
37 min: TRY SYDNEY ROOSTERS
Scored by Michael Jennings. Conversion attempt by James Maloney successful.
Michael Jennings gets the green lights from the video referees after Sisa Waqa loses the ball on the first play and James Maloney slices the conversion through the posts
12 all
38 min: All the momentum looks to be with the Roosters and on the kick Billy Slater fumbles the ball and ruled to have knocked the ball back to the dismay of the crowd
40 min: VIDEO REFEREE - Checking a possible Cameron Smith try, checking the grounding and play ingoal after Michael Jennings makes an error on the clean up - Referee Shayne Hayne says TRY
40 min: TRY MELBOURNE STORM
Scored by Cameron Smith. Conversion attempt by Cameron Smith successful.
Cameron Smith grounds the ball in the in-goal after Michael Jennings can't clean it up
Melbourne Storm 18-12
43 min: Apologies for the late return, opening 3 minutes have seen a Penalty for the Storm and a knock on from Gareth Whiddop
44 min: PENALTY - Storm consider a penalty on halfway, Roosters will be able to go on the attack deep in the Storm half
45 min: UNFORCED ERROR MELBOURNE STORM
Ryan Hoffman makes an unforced error.
Ryan Hoffman can't pick up the charge down cleanly and gives the Roosters attacking position 15m out from the Storm line
46 min: UNFORCED ERROR SYDNEY ROOSTERS
Sonny Bill Williams makes an unforced error.
Sonny Bill Williams puts the ball down after some poor play from the Roosters releasing the pressure
Melbourne Storm get the repeat set as the Roosters defender steps on the dead ball line
51 min: Sisa Waqa takes a brilliant catch from the bomb and wants to race away but called back because he took the catch ingoal
51 min: UNFORCED ERROR MELBOURNE STORM
Jesse Bromwich makes an unforced error.
Jesse Bromwich trying to offload loses the ball and puts the Roosters on the attack again
52 min: Maurice Blair puts the kick out on the full which means the Roosters get the ball on their own 30m
57 min: VIDEO REFERE - Checking a possible Jordan McLean try, checking grounding and onside from the kick - Referee Shayne Hayne says NO TRY
57 min: NO TRY - Video Referees spin up the Red Lights and rule that Jordan McLean was held up ingoal on the last tackle
59 min: PENALTY - Cooper Cronk placed on Report for a dangerous tackle on RTS
61 min: Waqa intercepts a Minichiello pass and Maloney saves it with a tackle after Waqa slipped over
64 min: TRY - Will Chambers converted by Cameron Smith
64 min: TRY MELBOURNE STORM
Scored by Will Chambers. Conversion attempt by Cameron Smith unsuccessful.
Chambers scores, Smith unable to convert
Melbourne Storm 22-12
71 min: SUCCESSFUL PENALTY GOAL MELBOURNE STORM
Penalty goal attempt by Cameron Smith successful.
Cameron Smith converts the penalty goal to push the lead out to 12 points
Melbourne Storm 24-12
76 min: TRY SYDNEY ROOSTERS
Scored by Roger Tuivasa-Sheck. Conversion attempt by James Maloney successful.
A beautiful set play from the Roosters, gives RTS the try with Maloney quickly takes the conversion from out wide, back to 6 points
Melbourne Storm 24-18
78 min: Roosters spread the ball from one side to the other and then gets blown by SKD who offloads straight to Tohu Harris
79 min: PENALTY - Jason Ryles taken high by the Roosters defenders and that will be the game for the Melbourne Storm
80 min: SUCCESSFUL PENALTY GOAL MELBOURNE STORM
Penalty goal attempt by Cameron Smith successful.
Cameron Smith soaks up every available second and slots the penalty to give the Storm an 8 point win
Melbourne Storm 26-18
80 min: FULL TIME - Melbourne Storm break their form slump with an 8 point win over the Sydney Roosters
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