FULL TIME @ Melbourne Rectangular Stadium and it was a battle for the most part but the Storm show too much class for a 34-18 victory
CAPTAINS CHALLENGE: Storm challenge is surrounding the knock-on ruling against Alec McDonald; It's a knock-on confirmed by the bunker
Braydon Trindall sees a gap in front of him on the last and goes for the line but the defence shuts him out
Justin Olam loses the ball over the line and the bunker confirms the NO TRY
BUNKER: Justin Olam goes over under the posts but Grant Atkins says NO TRY...
Ryan Papenhuyzen slots the penalty goal from right in front
PENALTY STORM: Kick chaser was taken out well off the ball by Cam McInnes and the Storm will add another 2
No issues for Ryan Papenhuyzen hitting the penalty goal sweetly
PENALTY STORM: Justin Olam hit high on a good run and the Storm will look to extend their lead, as Papenhuyzen kicks from 5m in from touch, about 25m out
Ryan Papenhuyzen converts from close range
Harry Grant looked as if was held up but still with momentum in the tackle as he fights his way to the line and grounds it after going out of dummy half
It took 60-odd minutes but Jack Williams costs the Sharks with a poor play the ball and it's the first uncompleted set for the Sharks
Nicho Hynes conversion is perfect to close the gap to 6
The Sharks having fun down their left as the silky hands of Siosifa Talakai out to Ronaldo and who runs a good angle back inside and scores
PENALTY SHARKS x2: Ruck interference both the calls from Grant Atkins
Justin Olam charging at the ball ruled to have knocked it on and it's fair falcon as well
Well that was a first... a mutual infringement called by Grant Atkins after the bomb hit the wires of Spider Cam...
PENALTY SHARKS: For the second time tonight, Felise Kaufusi is on report this time it's a crusher tackle that is rthe ruling
Ryan Papenhuyzen converts his own try
Cameron Munster take a bow - Just throws the dummy, skips on the outside of the defence and then goes through, finds Papenhuyzen back on the inside to score
Off the upright for the second time tonight for Nicho Hynes with the boot
Ronaldo Mulitalo scores out wide with a beautiful swan dive and grounds it out in the corner despite it initially going to the bunker on no try
The Sharks make some good metres down the right before Jack Williams offload goes 20m backwards; The Storm are offside giving them a set restart
Ryan Papenhuyzen converts from close range
Well there hasn't been a tackle in the second half in the opening 2 minutes but we've got a try as Justin Olam gets over after some great play from the Storm out the back of the scrum
SECOND HALF IS GO! The Storm who kicked off get first use of the ball as Cam Munster's kick lands between Siosifa Talakai & Ronaldo Mulitalo and goes into touch
Nicho Hynes penalty goal starts right and fades back to hit the upright, it bounces up and Cam Munster just takes it dead to end the half
PENALTY SHARKS: A late hit on Ronaldo Mulitalo after he kicks by Ryan Papenhuyzen is ruled by Grant Atkins, looks a 50/50 call but the Sharks take the option for 2, 10 in from touch
PENALTY STORM: On the attack after some interference in the ruck, Sharks had a big chance to re-take the lead but now it's the Storm on the attack
Remis Smith jumps high for a kick and isn't anywhere near it and the ball just bounces into touch
Ryan Papenhuyzen converts from about 15m from the uprights
Lily & Herman would be proud of their namesakes efforts on that one, just creates something out of nothing off the back of a penalty and six again and Cam Munster scores
Nicho Hynes from out wide starts the conversion on target and keeps it going that way which sees it through the middle of the uprights.
WHAT A PLAY - Started mid-set by a kick from Nicho Hynes and then next play the ball is kept alive and the Sharks swing from right to left and it ends up with Sifa Talakai to get over untouched out wide
WHAT A PLAY - Started mid-set by a kick from Nicho Hynes and then next play the ball is kept alive and the Sharks swing from right to left and it ends up with Sifa Talakai to get over untouched out wide
Poor kick back towards the middle from Nicho Hynes as it's taken by Jahrome Hughes in goal and races out to the 20
Josh King loses the ball as he is falling to the ground just short of halfway
Ryan Papenhuyzen strikes the conversion sweetly and puts it through the middle of the uprights
Justin Olam is almost unstoppable (Panthers can do it to save a match) that close to the line as a well worked Melbourne play goes right with some good passing and space opening up out wide.
PENALTY STORM: Cam McInnes penalised for a high shot on Harry Grant and the Storm on the attack
PENALTY STORM: Talakai hits Papenhuyzen in the air as the Storm fullback was taking the bomb, no malice in it and Papenhuyzen takes the apology
Scrappy play on the last from the Sharks almost comes off but some good work at the back from the Storm sees them survive
The flags of the two Nicks (TJs Morel & Pelgrave) are up as Hynes' kick scrapes the left upright with the penalty goal
PENALTY SHARKS: Nicho Hynes hit late after he passed and Felise Kaufusi goes ON REPORT
PENALTY SHARKS: Blayke Brailey milks a penalty beautifully as he makes it as hard as possible for himself to get around an offside player and Grant Atkins obliges with a penalty
Nicho Hynes kicks on tackle 4 and it's a touch awkward for Nick Meaney but he cleans it up
GAME ON! Melbourne have the ball first at AAMI Park in this battle between 2nd & 3rd
Referees & scorers:
Referee: Grant Atkins
Touch Judges: Nick Morel, Nick Pelgrave
Video Referee: Matt Noyen
MELBOURNE STORM (34)
Tries: Justin Olam (2), Ryan Papenhuyzen, Cameron Munster, Harry Grant
Conversions: Ryan Papenhuyzen (5/5)
Penalty Goals: Ryan Papenhuyzen (2/2)
CRONULLA-SUTHERLAND SHARKS (18)
Tries: Siosifa Talakai, Ronaldo Mulitalo (2)
Conversions: Nicho Hynes (2/3)
Penalty Goals: Nicho Hynes (1/2)