Star-less Storm pip Cowboys

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North Queensland Cowboys v Melbourne Storm

The Melbourne Storm ended a 3 game losing streak at Queensland Country Bank Stadium despite being without a host of players, against a never-say-die Cowboys side 26-20.

The Storm came into the match without fullback Ryan Papenhuyzen, wingers Xavier Coates and Sualauvi Fa'alogo, five-eighth Cameron Munster, hooker Harry Grant, Lock Trent Loiero and prop Stefano Utoikamanu. The Cowboys weren't exactly full strength, being without winger Murray Taulagi, half Tom Dearden, hooker Reece Robson and back rowers Reuben Cotter and Jeremiah Nanai.

Despite these omissions, both sides played rather well-controlled football. The Storm dominated position and field position early, It wasn't until the 15th minute of the game that the Cowboys eventually got a set inside the Storm half.

The Storm opened the scoring in eighth minute when Eliesa Katoa cleanly claimed a bomb, spun out of a tackle, then slammed the ball down for a try. Nick Meaney converted.

The Cowboys hit back in the 16th minute when Scott Drinkwater on the right side saw Grant Anderson had come up-and-in too far defensively, so he threw a cut-out ball to the unmarked Robert Derby, who got past the defence and dived to score in the corner. Drinkwater converted from the sideline to level the scores.

Melbourne reclaimed the lead when Nelson Asofa-Solomona stormed onto a crash ball near the Cowboys line and he barged over to score. Meaney converted.

With 5 minutes left in the half, Jaxon Purdue received the ball on the left, got outside the defence and then raced away to score a scintillating try in the corner. Jake Clifford nailed the sideline conversion to level the scores at halftime.

The Cowboys took the lead 9 minutes into the second half when John Bateman got a great offload away to Jake Clifford, who stormed onto the ball, bust the line and then passed inside to Drinkwater who raced away to score under the posts. He then converted his own try.

The Storm fullback hit back with a try of his own 5 minutes later when he wrapped around onto a nice ball, broke through the defensive line and raced 25 metres to score. He then converted his try. Five minutes later he kicked a penalty goal to give the Storm a 2 point lead.

3 minutes later Shawn Blore got a great offload away close to the Cowboys line for Meaney who got across for his second try, which he converted.

Drinkwater slotted a quick penalty goal with just under 3 minutes remaining in the game, but the Cowboys couldn't get across the line to send the match to extra time. The Storm defence holding on to give them a 26-20 victory.