It is Fulltime! The Melbourne Storm have just snuck past the defending premiers to seal a 14-12 win. Stay tuned for the 3,2,1's and Match Report coming up @LeagueUnlimited!
Kenneath Bromwich strips the ball from Angus Crichton! Huge play!
Cooper Cronk grubbers in goal but the speed of Ryan Papenhuyzen gets down the sideline and he find Josh Addo-Carr and then to Justin Olam who is tackled 35m from his own line. Great result from Melbourne.
Joe Stimson throws a forward pass to Christian Welch. Roosters with a chance just 15m out.
Cooper Cronk bombs towards the posts on the last and the ball bounces to Boyd Cordner who knocks on just metres from the tryline. Storm survive and get the scrum 10m from their own line.
Latrell Mitchell gets a miracle offload drawing in 4 defenders and Brett Morris can't get the ball away to Daniel Tupou and he loses the ball over the line. Storm ball just 5m from their own line.
Penalty Roosters - Against Cameron Smith for not getting square at marker. Roosters find the line 43m out.
Cooper Cronk starts to turn the screws with a pinpoint bomb just metres from the tryline. Ryan Papenhuyzen has the ball just a metre from his own line.
VIDEO REF - NO TRY - Cameron Munster kicks ahead for Josh Addo-Carr who bats the ball deliberately over Matt Ikuvalu and then passes for Justin Olam. No try. Penalty Roosters who finds the line just short of halfway.
Cameron Smith gives his side the lead. 14-12 to Melbourne.
Cameron Smith now expertly milks a penalty off Victor Radley in the ruck. Smith points to the posts. Kick to come. Superb smarts by the Storm skipper.
Matt Ikuvalu spills a Cameron Munster bomb and the Storm on the attack.
Nat Butcher now pushes a pass to James Tedesco but it was a shocker. Storm scrum 10m from his own line.
Latrell Mitchell now puts Brett Morris away and he finds Radley and then Tedesco steams up in support and is tackled by Cameron Munster just 20m out.
Will Chambers finds Suliasi Vunivalu who dives for the corner but is bundled into touch in a terrific tackle from Latrell Mitchell and Vunivalu erupts with the strong tackle!
Suliasi Vunivalu now collects a chip kick from Brodie Croft and kicks ahead but the ball is batted dead by Brett Morris. Another dropout.
Matt Ikuvalu nows knocks on and the Storm have the ball just 28m out.
Kenneath Bromwich tries to offload and knocks on. Roosters off the hook!
Great kick from Brodie Croft on the last and James Tedesco runs the ball dead. Dropout Roosters. Storm building some pressure.
Poasa Faamausili knocks on. Storm scrum 40m out.
Justin Olam grubbers close to the line. The ball rebounds and Josh Addo-Carr knocks on. Scrum Roosters 13m from their own line.
Cameron Smith grubbers from dummy half and James Tedesco is forced to ground the ball. Dropout Roosters.
Poasa Faamausili offloads to Cameron Munster by mistake. Storm on the attack.
Brett Morris looks to offload to Matt Ikuvalu but the ball goes into touch. Scrum Strom 20m from their own line.
Brett Morris looks to offload to Matt Ikuvalu but the ball goes into touch. Scrum Strom 20m from their own line.
Siosiua Taukeiaho gets an offload to Mitchell Aubusson and the Roosters make it over halfway.
We are back underway at Adelaide Oval!
Cameron Smith ties up the scoreline at 12 all just before halftime.
Brodie Croft grubbers behind the line and James Tedesco knocks on and Croft regathers to score! 12-10 Roosters, kick to come from next to the posts.
Angus Crichton loses the ball in a one on one strip from Brandon Smith and the Storm have the ball 32m out.
Latrell Mitchell misses from the sideline. Score remains 12-6.
VIDEO REF - TRY - Joseph Manu crashes over after Latrell Mitchell makes a run from dummy half close to the line. Roosters lead 12-6 kick to come.
Latrell Mitchell nails it from the sideline. Roosters lead 8-6.
VIDEO REF - TRY - Daniel Tupou scores in the corner after an overlap was spotted by Cooper Cronk. Great hands from Brett Morris..could have scored himself. Roosters 6 all, kick to come from the sideline.
Penalty Roosters - Against Nelson Asofa-Solomona who was trying to hold James Tedesco after a dart from dummy half. Roosters on the attack 20m out.
Zane Tetevano knocks on a hospital pass from Nat Butcher and Storm have a scrum 12m from their own line.
Penalty Roosters - Against Cameron Smith for a dangerous tackle, he then gets marched 10m for dissent. Roosters on the attack 30m out.
Cameron Smith adds the extras. Storm lead 6-2.
Josh Addo-Carr makes a break down the sideline off a great ball from Kenneath Bromwich. Addo-Carr finds Cameron Munster and Ryan Papenhuyzen steams onto the ball to score! Superb try! Storm lead 4-2 kick to come.
Cooper Cronk grubbers for Latrell Mitchell but Ryan Papenhuyzen gets there and he is flung over the deadball line by Mitchell. Dropout Storm.
Penalty Roosters - Against Felise Kaufusi for an attempted strip on Boyd Cordner. Roosters on the attack 30m out.
Latrell Mitchell gives the Roosters the lead by 2-0.
Penalty Roosters - Against Cameron Munster for grabbing the foot of Siosiua Taukeiaho trying to get a quick play the ball. Right in front, they will take the shot.
Brett Morris loses the ball close to the line. Storm off the hook and have the ball 15m from their own line.
Ryan Papenhuyzen gets a horror bounce off a Cooper Cronk grubber. Roosters scrum 10m out!
Penalty Storm - Against Mitchell Aubusson for holding on too long in the tackle. Storm find the line on halfway.
We are underway at Adelaide Oval! Jesse Bromwich brings the ball back for the Storm.
Welcome to Adelaide Oval, where we have an absolute blockbuster! It is the 2018 Grand Final replay, with the Melbourne Storm taking on the Sydney Roosters. Is this the preview for the 2019 Grand Final? There are a stack of changes for both sides… For the Roosters, Ryan Hall, Drew Hutchinson, Lindsay Collins and Sitiliti Tupouniua will not feature in tonight’s match. This sees Brett Morris return at centre, Latrell Mitchell moves to five-eighth. Issac Liu will start at prop, with Zane Tetevano to the pine. Mitch Aubusson moves to the second row and Angus Crichton starting on the bench. Nat Butcher will start at lock and joining the bench with Tetevano and Crichton is Lachlan Lam and Poasa Faamausili…you still reading? For Melbourne, Marion Seve is out, with Justin Olam starting at centre. Ryan Papahuyzen will start at fullback, after Jahrome Hughes was ruled out this afternoon. Tui Kamaikamica joins the bench. This will give us a red hot shot at who are the premiership favourites, so stayed tuned for all the action @LeagueUnlimited! Kickoff not far away!
Referees & scorers:
Referee: Grant Atkins, Peter Gough
Touch Judges: David Munro, Michael Wise
Video Referee: Steve Chiddy, Bryan Norrie
SYDNEY ROOSTERS (12)
Tries: Daniel Tupou, Joseph Manu
Field Goals:
Conversions: Latrell Mitchell (1/2)
Penalty Goals: Latrell Mitchell (1/1)
MELBOURNE STORM (14)
Tries: Ryan Papenhuyzen, Brodie Croft
Field Goals:
Conversions: Cameron Smith (2/2)
Penalty Goals: Cameron Smith (1/1)