FULL-TIME! Gritty effort from the Storm to beat the Premiers 15-14 in the first of the double header.
Melbourne Storm 15-14
UNFORCED ERROR NORTH QUEENSLAND COWBOYS: Johnathan Thurston makes an unforced error.
Thurston shapes for it on last.. defenders rush up, he jinks and is tackled before he can kick! Storm ball!
Melbourne Storm 15-14
Smith goes himself on last.. but it's too big. Now Cowboys have a seven tackle set.
Melbourne Storm 15-14
UNFORCED ERROR NORTH QUEENSLAND COWBOYS: Gavin Cooper makes an unforced error.
Second error of the night from Cooper. He was taken ball-and-all.
Melbourne Storm 15-14
UNFORCED ERROR MELBOURNE STORM: Nelson Asofa-Solomona makes an unforced error.
Asofa-Solomona loses it! Cowboys with a full set inside the Storm half.
Melbourne Storm 15-14
SUCCESSFUL FIELD GOAL MELBOURNE STORM: Field goal attempt by Cameron Smith successful.
A seven tackle set for the Storm. They roll up field with ease, as both halves go within an inch! It is played back to Smith for his second ever field goal.
Melbourne Storm 15-14
WHAT A PIECE OF RUGBY LEAGUE! Thurston somehow got it away to Morgan link with Winterstein who spied the open line but Munster/Harris combine to hold him up.
14 all
UNFORCED ERROR MELBOURNE STORM: Dale Finucane makes an unforced error.
Smith tried to bullet it to Finucane who copped it almost in the face. Knock on.
14 all
What a manic minute of footy! Cowboys on the charge but after the ball bounces around, Vunivalu sprints away and is ankle tapped by who else Johnathan Thurston! Cowboys hold on for the set and we're still deadlocked.
14 all
SUCCESSFUL CONVERSION NORTH QUEENSLAND COWBOYS: Conversion attempt by Johnathan Thurston successful.
Thurston locks us up. 14 all.
14 all
TRY NORTH QUEENSLAND COWBOYS: Scored by Michael Morgan. Kick to come.
That was quick! GREEN LIGHTS.. what a circus pass from Granville as well to get it to the five-eighth.
Melbourne Storm 14-12
BUNKER TIME! Morgan has dived over.. checking the obstruction.
Melbourne Storm 14-8
A great grab from Coote and a PENALTY for Cowboys. Just what they need after defending two sets on their line.
Melbourne Storm 14-8
PENALTY on the last! Storm are rolling through the premiers here and they need to hold down longer.. too long in fact.
Melbourne Storm 14-8
SUCCESSFUL PENALTY GOAL MELBOURNE STORM: Penalty goal attempt by Cameron Smith successful.
Smith duly puts it between the sticks to make it half a dozen the difference.
Melbourne Storm 14-8
PENALTY Storm! Inside ten metres, Smith opts to go six ahead.
Melbourne Storm 12-8
UNFORCED ERROR NORTH QUEENSLAND COWBOYS: Antonio Winterstein makes an unforced error.
Winterstein saw the defensive line approachin and spilled his lollies.
Melbourne Storm 12-8
Storm kick-off, and here we go, here we go, here we go again!
Melbourne Storm 12-8
We're back! Storm hold a slender four-point advantage against a Cowboys team that loves to pile it on in the final twenty minutes. We are set for a thrilling second forty!
Melbourne Storm 12-8
PENALTY Storm! Hats off to Vunivalu - he dropped his first bomb and has been excellent since. HALFTIME.
Melbourne Storm 12-8
UNFORCED ERROR MELBOURNE STORM: Nelson Asofa-Solomona makes an unforced error.
Big man in the air! Asofa-Solomona with some air and almost came up with it. Thurston of course, is there to recover though.
Melbourne Storm 12-8
UNFORCED ERROR NORTH QUEENSLAND COWBOYS: Justin O'Neill makes an unforced error.
Justin O'neill tried to get rid of it like he stole it but fumbled it onto Feldt.
Melbourne Storm 12-8
SUCCESSFUL CONVERSION MELBOURNE STORM: Conversion attempt by Cameron Smith successful.
An acute angle for Smith but he makes it 2/2.
Melbourne Storm 12-8
TRY MELBOURNE STORM: Scored by Kevin Proctor. Kick to come.
GREEN LIGHTS.. TRY! Proctor with the magic hands, scooped it cleanly and dived over!
Melbourne Storm 10-8
BUNKER TIME! Lachlan Coote couldn't handle it and Proctor couldn't believe his luck!
North Queensland Cowboys 8-6
SUCCESSFUL CONVERSION MELBOURNE STORM: Conversion attempt by Cameron Smith successful.
Smith nails his first conversion. Some solace for Melbourne there - it was their first foray into the Cowboys 20 and they reaped maximum reward.
North Queensland Cowboys 8-6
TRY MELBOURNE STORM: Scored by Tohu Harris. Kick to come.
That was simple. A few charges from the guys up front then Smith drifts left, finds a rushing Harris to burrow over.
North Queensland Cowboys 8-4
PENALTY Storm! Glasby has it dislodged and judged to be stripped.
North Queensland Cowboys 8-0
SUCCESSFUL PENALTY GOAL NORTH QUEENSLAND COWBOYS: Penalty goal attempt by Johnathan Thurston successful.
He duly pilots it through.
North Queensland Cowboys 8-0
PENALTY Cowboys! Taking out the chaser.. Thurston points to the sticks.
North Queensland Cowboys 6-0
UNFORCED ERROR MELBOURNE STORM: Marika Koroibete makes an unforced error.
That was a devilish punt, more suited to the 'GABBA! Thurston just launched one and Koroibete couldn't grasp it.
North Queensland Cowboys 6-0
UNFORCED ERROR NORTH QUEENSLAND COWBOYS: Kane Linnett makes an unforced error.
Ben Hampton with solid one-on-one contact to force a Linnett error.
North Queensland Cowboys 6-0
Vunivalu has kept his head up since the early error. He gathered a quick grubber from Thurston to save the Storm. Six more for the Cowboys.
North Queensland Cowboys 6-0
JT collared trying to sneak down the right. Called high and more danger imminent.
North Queensland Cowboys 6-0
PENALTY Cowboys! They are making inroads on the Storm, and now, they get a free shot headed into the Storm half.
North Queensland Cowboys 6-0
SUCCESSFUL CONVERSION NORTH QUEENSLAND COWBOYS: Conversion attempt by Johnathan Thurston successful.
Thurston will take the first conversion, eventually.. after some issues with the kicking tees. He lines it up and nails it.
North Queensland Cowboys 6-0
TRY NORTH QUEENSLAND COWBOYS: Scored by Gavin Cooper. Kick to come.
GREEN LIGHTS.. TRY! No problem with his grounding, and the Cowboys get a gift lead.
North Queensland Cowboys 4-0
BUNKER TIME! Vunivalu spills it and Cooper has possibly scored.
0 all
Here we go! KICK-OFF!
Here come the visitors? North Queensland in their resplendent gray jersey get some mild cheers as they come onto the turf. They are followed by the home side - Melbourne in their usual purple jerseys to receive the kick-off.
TEAM CHANGES:
MELB: Some positional change bingo played by Craig Bellamy - future Wallaby Marika Koroibete is back onto his wing shifting Cheyse Blair into centre and Tohu Harris into the forwards. Others changes is Tim Glasby into prop and Jordan McLean to the bench.
NTH Q: Thankfully there is only one change for the premiers. Rory Kostjasyn starts in place of Jake Granville.
Welcome to Suncorp Stadium, yes you read that right! We have a double header in the sunshine state with Melbourne Storm taking their home game to Queensland, and take on the reigning premiers North Queensland. These two met in the preliminary final last season and North Queensland were victorious and went to claim their maiden premiership. Kick-off is 10 minutes away! Join us right here at LeagueUnlimited.
Referees & scorers:
Referee: Gerard Sutton, Adam Devcich
Touch Judges: Michael Wise, Rohan Best
Video Referee: Bernard Sutton, Ben Galea, Jason Robinson
MELBOURNE STORM (15)
Tries: Tohu Harris, Kevin Proctor
Field Goals: Cameron Smith (1/1)
Conversions: Cameron Smith (2/2)
Penalty Goals: Cameron Smith (1/1)
NORTH QUEENSLAND COWBOYS (14)
Tries: Gavin Cooper, Michael Morgan
Field Goals:
Conversions: Johnathan Thurston (2/2)
Penalty Goals: Johnathan Thurston (1/1)