FULLTIME :: Melbourne with a workmanlike win in Sydney's west.
Melbourne Storm 24-10
UNSUCCESSFUL CONVERSION PENRITH PANTHERS
Conversion attempt by Matt Moylan unsuccessful.
Moylan rushes the kick and misses.
Melbourne Storm 24-10
TRY PENRITH PANTHERS
Scored by Jamal Idris. Kick to come.
Panthers finally cracked the wall. A pass to Idris, who beats two defenders and scores.
Melbourne Storm 24-10
PENALTY Panthers, all defensive training for the visitors.
Melbourne Storm 24-6
Patience from Soward but the Melbourne machine defends.
Melbourne Storm 24-6
SIX MORE.. Panthers.
Melbourne Storm 24-6
Soward forces a repeat set. Waqa took it dead. Now or never for the Panthers.
Melbourne Storm 24-6
PENALTY Panthers, Soward was taken out.
Melbourne Storm 24-6
UNFORCED ERROR MELBOURNE STORM
Ben Roberts makes an unforced error.
Roberts couldn't handle the ball in attack and Penrith work it out.
Melbourne Storm 24-6
PENALTY Panthers. Can they strike back?
Melbourne Storm 24-6
SUCCESSFUL CONVERSION MELBOURNE STORM
Conversion attempt by Cameron Smith successful.
Cam Smith pots over another, to make it eighteen.
Melbourne Storm 24-6
TRY MELBOURNE STORM
Scored by Billy Slater. Kick to come.
That was all Billy there. He went down the short side, initiating pass to put Waqa into space before the winger reciprocated to send the fullback over.
Melbourne Storm 22-6
PENALTY Panthers, Chambers getting too aggressive with DWZ.
Melbourne Storm 18-6
SUCCESSFUL CONVERSION MELBOURNE STORM
Conversion attempt by Cameron Smith successful.
Smith adds the two easily.
Melbourne Storm 18-6
TRY MELBOURNE STORM
Scored by Ben Roberts. Kick to come.
You offer it up often enough, Melbourne will take it gleefully. Storm set out wide, looking like it was going to the backline but it went to Roberts who stepped, fended and scored.
Melbourne Storm 16-6
Moylan bounces away from the defense on a return but was too close to the sideline, sliding over.
Melbourne Storm 12-6
PENALTY Storm, Norrie was caught in a crusher tackle, so another Panther is ON REPORT.
Melbourne Storm 12-6
SUCCESSFUL PENALTY GOAL MELBOURNE STORM
Penalty goal attempt by Cameron Smith successful.
Storm go for the penalty goal, nailing it for a six point lead.
Melbourne Storm 12-6
PENALTY Storm, Norrie had it ripped out.
Melbourne Storm 10-6
A scramble right on the line, produces a result for the away side.. dropout incoming.
Melbourne Storm 10-6
PENALTY incoming for the Storm, as Glasby is hit high. Adam Docker, who hasn't had the best of nights, is ON REPORT.
Melbourne Storm 10-6
PENALTY Panthers, holding down too long.
Melbourne Storm 10-6
UNFORCED ERROR MELBOURNE STORM
Tohu Harris makes an unforced error.
Good defensive pressure from the Panthers.. forcing an error from Tohu Harris.
Melbourne Storm 10-6
Mansour inexplicably plays at a ball he didn't have to, gifting Melbourne another set.
Melbourne Storm 10-6
PENALTY Storm, bit lucky there for Fonua.. who seemed to drop it but got it called a strip.
Melbourne Storm 10-6
Here we go again!
Melbourne Storm 10-6
We're back for the second half, Melbourne ready to kick us off again..
Melbourne Storm 10-6
UNSUCCESSFUL CONVERSION MELBOURNE STORM
Conversion attempt by Cameron Smith unsuccessful.
Last action of the opening half is Smith's conversion.. the hooker walks in and hits it against the post.
Melbourne Storm 10-6
TRY MELBOURNE STORM
Scored by Will Chambers. Kick to come.
And strike they can! Cooper Cronk put it on a dime, for Waqa who batted it to Chambers who was too strong for Soward, scoring.
Melbourne Storm 10-6
PENALTY Storm, too slow off the tackled player. One last chance to strike for the visitors.
6 all
SUCCESSFUL CONVERSION PENRITH PANTHERS
Conversion attempt by Jamie Soward successful.
Tough first kick for Soward, no troubles though, as he put it straight over.
6 all
TRY PENRITH PANTHERS
Scored by Dallin Watene Zelezniak. Kick to come.
GREEN LIGHTS..TRY! Panthers ran the same play that resulted in the Koroibete intercept but this time, it beat the winger into the hands of Watene-Zelezniak who dived over. Freeze frame indeed.
Melbourne Storm 6-4
VIDEO REFEREE: DWZ might have the opener, checking grounding.
Melbourne Storm 6-0
Soward ran it on last, turned it inside to Idris who got a toe to it, allowing Moylan to get a second one through, earning a dropout.
Melbourne Storm 6-0
PENALTY Storm, Docker again.. laying in the ruck.
Melbourne Storm 6-0
That was something different. Cooper Cronk put a chipped kick, just on the line, waiting for the incoming Koroibete who couldn't reach it. He did trap Moylan for an extra set.
Melbourne Storm 6-0
UNFORCED ERROR PENRITH PANTHERS
Adam Docker makes an unforced error.
Docker hasn't had a happy night with his hands thus far. He spilled one, running into the defensive line. Full set for the Storm, 40 metres out.
Melbourne Storm 6-0
PENALTY Panthers, the crowd was baying for that all set. They were duly rewarded when Cronk was overeager.
Melbourne Storm 6-0
SUCCESSFUL CONVERSION MELBOURNE STORM
Conversion attempt by Cameron Smith successful.
Easy first assignment for Smith, who duly pots it over.
Melbourne Storm 6-0
TRY MELBOURNE STORM
Scored by Marika Koroibete. Kick to come.
That was against the run of play! Penrith once again, went for the backline movement as Koroibete rushed up, the final pass wouldn't go, to the man as Marika intercepted and was away.
Melbourne Storm 4-0
FORWARD pass, from the scrum feed.. jeez.
0 all
UNFORCED ERROR PENRITH PANTHERS
Adam Docker makes an unforced error.
Soward has been going out to the backline, for the first few attacking plays. This time, he went to the lead man Docker, who spilled it cold.
0 all
A late count PENALTY for the Panthers, who tap it quickly.. Moylan taps and earns a second one.
0 all
PENALTY Melbourne, strip and tap n go.
0 all
An early kick from Slater forces Mansour to ground the ball. Six more incoming.
0 all
PENALTY Melbourne, first one for the visitors. Holding down too long, it gives them a chance for a breather, as they've been rucking it out thus far.
0 all
PENALTY Penrith, flop by Cooper Cronk. The halfback chipped, looking for himself but Smith cleaned up.
0 all
FIRST penalty of the night, to Penrith, as Melbourne were inside the ten.
0 all
KICK-OFF! Melbourne with first use.
0 all
It's a wet and wild night at Penrith tonight, as top four hopefuls Penrith look to bounce back up to second with a win. Melbourne will be looking to cement their spot in the top eight with a win tonight. Our condolences to Izzy Segeyaro, who died this week. KICK-OFF imminent.
0 all
TEAM CHANGES:
A single change for each side, both for family reasons. PENRITH lose hooker James Segeyaro, who is with family after the passing of his father while MELBOURNE lose Jesse Bromwich, who is back in Melbourne, with his partner who is expecting their first child overnight. Our condolences to James on his loss and congratulations to Jesse on his new arrival.
0 all
Referees & scorers:
Referee: Ben Cummins, Gavin Morris
Touch Judges: Brett Suttor, Adam Reid
Video Referee: Steve Chiddy, Steve Folkes
PENRITH PANTHERS (10)
Tries: Dallin Watene Zelezniak, Jamal Idris
Field Goals:
Conversions: Jamie Soward (1/1), Matt Moylan (0/1)
Penalty Goals:
MELBOURNE STORM (24)
Tries: Marika Koroibete, Will Chambers, Ben Roberts, Billy Slater
Field Goals:
Conversions: Cameron Smith (3/4)
Penalty Goals: Cameron Smith (1/1)