Match Centre

FULL TIME! Cowboys 38 Storm 30

SCRUM Cowboys: Ativalu Lisati knocks on and we may not even pack the scrum.

Big run by rookie Ativalu Lisati as he sprints 40 meters swatting away defenders to go over, as the Bunker has a look.

ERROR Cowboys: The ball goes over the line, and the Storm have one last chance from their 20m.

Last set kick, and Cowboys catch it in goal to charge back down the field.

PENALTY Cowboys: Alec MacDonald goes high on a slipping Kyle Feldt to earn the penalty and a fresh set from Melbournes 30m.

Cowboys force the Storm to work it off their own line.

SIX AGAIN Cowboys: Cowboys bring the counter and push Melbourne to their quarter.

INTERCHANGE Cowboys: ON- Sam McIntyre OFF- Griffin Neame

Bunker says drop out and its play on.

CAPTAINS CHALLENGE Cowboys: The Cowboys say a Melbourne hand was in their first!

It's exciting play as Melbourne pushes up to the Cowboys line to get a line dropout.

INTERCHANGE Storm: ON- Lazarus Vaalepu OFF- Tristan Powell

The Cowboys mount some good pressure, but they knock on in goal, and Strom gets a seven tackle set from their 20m.

PENALTY Cowboys: Griffin Neame cops high contact from Joe Chan, and the Cowboys start from the Storms 40m line.

INTERCHANGE Cowboys: ON- Reuben Cotter OFF- Jason Taumalolo

They will have a look, but the Cowboys scramble in attack to pounce on a loose ball in goal.

An unusual out-on-the-full from Cameron Munster, and the Cowboys start on half way.

It's a hot potato from the drop out, but the Storm get a penalty fro being tackled without the ball. Fresh set from Cowboys 30m

INTERCHANGE Storm: ON- Christian Welch OFF- Alec MacDonald

Sustained pressure from the Storm gains them a line dropout from the Cowboys.

INTERCHANGE Cowboys: ON- Harrison Edwards OFF- Reuben Cotter

The Cowboys show resolve as an unconventional attack down the Storm's left gets shut down by Tom Dearden.

PENALTY Storm: Tepai Moeroa slips and cops a high hit from Reuben Cotter 20m out and in front.

SCRUM Storm: Jason Taumalolo fumbles and gifts the Storm the feed on the Cowboys 30m

Change over as a no-look pass by Young Tonumaipea sends the ball over the line, Cowboys from Melbournes 40m

Reece Robson probes with a run through the middle and the Storm now have to work the ball off their line after a kick.

Jason Taumalolo looks to set the standard with a big charge to get the Cowboys in command early.

TIME ON! The action continues as the whistle blows for the Cowboys to run it up first

The big news is that Ryan Papenhuyzen is out for the game with a corked leg, and Marion Seve is also out for the game with an injury.

HALF TIME! Cowboys 18 Storm 16

A bomb by Scott Drinkwater cant be contained by Sualauvi Faalogo and its a fresh set in the red zone for Cowboys!

SCRUM Storm: The end of the set kick is too much for Kyle Feldt and Melbourne get the feed 10m from the line

SCRUM Storm: A lethal Cowboys move down their left comes unstuck as Murray Taulagi fails to hold the pass. Storm from their 20m

INTERCHANGE Storm: ON- Tepai Moeroa OFF- Christian Welch

SCRUM Cowboys: Storm are unsuccessful and Cowboys get the ball on their 40m

Dean Ieremia makes a 20m break but loses the ball, but Storm want a look upstairs.

SCRUM Cowboys: Storm throw a forward pass early in the set and give the Cowboys the ball 20m out

Just as the Storm were looking dangerous, Valentine Holmes knocks the attack down, and Storm with the ball only meters away.

PENALTY Storm: Cameron Munster hit high 10m from the Cowboys line and chose to run it in.

ERROR Cowboys: Valentine Holmes drops the ball, and Sualauvi Faalogo gets another 30m break, and the Storm go on the attack

INTERCHANGE Storm: ON- Tristan Powell OFF- Lazarus Vaalepu

INTERCHANGE Cowboys: ON- Griffin Neame OFF- Sam McIntyre

SCRUM Cowboys: The fast pace is getting some players unstuck as Joe Chan knocks on; Cowboys 40m out from the Storms line.

SCRUM Storm: Melbourne gets lucky, and a Cowboys error gives them the feed from their 20m

A breack by Sualauvi Faalogo of 30m goes bad as he loses the ball and Cowboys are back in the Storms quarter

INTERCHANGE Cowboys: ON- Jason Taumalolo OFF- Jordan McLean

INTERCHANGE Storm: ON- Ativalu Lisati OFF- Marion Seve

TIME OFF: up to the Bunker to see if the Storms attack down their right comes up with the chocolates

PENALTY Cowboys: Storm inside the 10m and Cowboys attack from Storms 30m

INTERCHANGE Storm: ON- Keagan Russell-Smith OFF- Ryan Papenhuyzen

PENALTY Storm: Reece Robson goes high on Marion Seve earns some free yardage, starting from halfway

PENALTY Cowboys: On the last tackle Marion Seve catches Heilum Lukis's head in a crusher and Cowboys attack from Storms 20m

An early kick on the 4th by Scott Drinkwater looks for a 40/20, but swift work from Ryan Papenhuyzen gets the Strom out of trouble

Cowboys roll the dice and get the ball back to work from their quarter

Storm mount some impressive pressure early and earn a drop out from the Cowboys line

40/20 from Tyran Wishart as he proves his worth getting the Storm up to the Cowboys 10m

SIX AGAIN Storm: That's two in a row the Cowboys are in the 10m as the Strom attack

ERROR Cowboys: Murray Taulagi copies Val Homes and drops the ball early, Storm on the 20m

ERROR Cowboys: Valentine Holmes makes a mistake early in the set,, a dropped ball os pounced upon by the Strom,in the Cowboys red zone

KICK OFF! Grant Atkins blows time as the Melbourne get first use of the ball

Valentine Holmes will hit the field for his 200th NRL appearance.

Melbourne are 1-17.

A couple of changes to the hosts' lineup with Taumalolo benched and Kulikefu Finefeuiaka out of the side. McIntyre starts prop, Purdue joins the bench.

The 2024 minor premiers Melbourne Storm travel a little lighter in strength to Queensland Country Bank Stadium to take on a well-rested North Queensland Cowboys to open round 26 this Thursday night.