Source : the age
A long, winding kick return from Sua Faalogo gets Melbourne back on the attack and Trent Toelau – starting at hooker tonight – puts in a neat grubber to force another dropout. The Roosters give away a penalty – their third of the night – for an illegal steal and set themselves for even more defending on their own tryline.
Faalogo almost squeezes through the defensive line on the left, Jahrome Hughes bombs to the right, and Will Warbrick gets a hand to the ball before it goes over the dead-ball line so the Roosters survive again.
Storm 0, Roosters 0 after 17 minutes
The Storm go wide to the right and Ativalu Lisati gets over the tryline, but Billy Smith does superbly to bat the ball out of Lisati’s hands as he attempts to score. But the Roosters were offside anyway and it’s penalty Melbourne.
The multiple sets are stacking up, but the Roosters are defending well. Jahrome Hughes puts up a final-tackle kick and Will Warbrick brings it down, but Smith wraps him up just short of the tryline and it’s a turnover.
Storm 0, Roosters 0 after 13 minutes
The Roosters’ Maroons centre Robert Toia is caught by a late hit from Moses Leo and stays down, but hopefully just winded as play continues with no whistle from the referee.
The rain starts now and both teams are playing it pretty safe with error-free footy. The Roosters chance their arm now, with a few offloads down the left, but young Melbourne forward Cooper Clarke does well to shut down James Tedesco on the last tackle.
Now the Storm surge back into Roosters territory, and Cameron Munster kicks early in the set and traps Tedesco in the in-goal.
Storm 0, Roosters 0 after 10 minutes
Sualauvi Faalogo kicks things off for Melbourne in tonight’s final game, and Naufahu Whyte comes charging back for the Roosters’ first hit-up. Big test for the Storm up against one of the league’s powerhouses, but this will also be a challenge for a Tricolours side with several stars backing up from Origin I.
The Storm don’t have the best first set, only making it to their own 40-metre line on the last tackle before Jahrome Hughes miscues his kick. The Roosters get into Melbourne territory but Siua Wong spills the ball for the game’s first error.
Storm 0, Roosters 0 after two minutes
It’s time to turn our attention to the 7.35pm game, with several State of Origin stars backing up in this one. Cameron Munster, Trent Loiero, James Tedesco, Robert Toia, Sam Walker, Reece Robson and Victor Radley will start, while Harry Grant and Lindsay Collins will come off the bench.
Melbourne Storm
1. Sualauvi Faalogo 2. William Warbrick 3. Jack Howarth 4. Nick Meaney 5. Moses Leo 6. Cameron Munster 7. Jahrome Hughes 8. Stefano Utoikamanu 14. Trent Toelau 10. Josh King 15. Cooper Clarke 12. Ativalu Lisati 13. Trent Loiero.
Bench: 9. Harry Grant 11. Alec MacDonald 17. Josiah Pahulu 18. Joe Chan 19. Manaia Waitere 20. Jack Hetherington
Sydney Roosters
1. James Tedesco 2. Billy Smith 3. Hugo Savala 4. Robert Toia 5. Cody Ramsey 6. Daly Cherry-Evans 7. Sam Walker 8. Naufahu Whyte 9. Reece Robson 15. Spencer Leniu 11. Angus Crichton 12. Siua Wong 13. Victor Radley.
Bench: 10. Lindsay Collins 14. Connor Watson 16. Nat Butcher 17. Salesi Foketi 18. Reece Foley 19. Egan Butcher
Madcap stuff in the final minutes as the Bulldogs attack in waves and get multiple repeat sets as the Tigers defenders get their hands to the ball.
But the Tigers’ defence is outstanding – Starford To’a brings down Bronson Xerri one-on-one on the right flank, then Jarome Luai cuts the rampaging Sitili Tupouniua down on the left. Tupouniua loses the ball in that tackle, and the Tigers get possession with a minute left.
They are out on their feet, having defended their own half for most of this second half, but they’re going to win this one. It’s a gutsy way to end a losing streak.
Full-time: Wests Tigers win 22-16
Alex Twal is down receiving treatment in backfield and now leaves the field after a typically huge stint at lock for the Tigers, having made 55 tackles and more than 100 run metres, and it’s been a rough night on the injury front for the Tigers with Heamasi Makasini and Sione Fainu already out.
The Bulldogs are pressing for points and there’s a bizarre moment now as Matt Burton puts up a bomb that goes up – straight up – and Burton is the one who catches it in the middle of the field. He loses control of the ball as he tries to get an offload away and the Tigers hold on for now.
Tigers 22, Bulldogs 16 with four minutes left
Action at both ends now. The Tigers go on the attack when Jarome Luai sends Sunia Turuva down for a line break down the left, but Jock Madden’s last-tackle kick is collected on the full in the in-goal by Jethro Rinakama for a seven-tackle set.
The Dogs are down the other end in a blink of an eye, Stephen Crichton unleashing Enari Tuala down the right with a flick pass. But Jahream Bula pulls off a great try-saving tackle on Tuala.
The Bulldogs have had 22 tackles inside the Tigers’ 20-metre zone, compared with the Tigers’ seven, and really need to convert their pressure into points now. They get a six-again (they’ve dominated those 7-0 tonight), and finally get over the line through Lachie Galvin.
The on-field referee awards a try, though replays suggest Turuva may have got his hand under the ball, but the bunker confirms the four-pointer. Stephen Crichton converts.
Tigers 22, Bulldogs 16 with nine minutes left
The Tigers have lost Sione Fainu to a failed HIA, joining Heamasi Makasini (shoulder) on the sidelines, but on the field they get the chance to extend their lead when Jacob Kiraz spills a bomb forward and Josh Curran takes the ball in an offside position.
Jock Madden slots the penalty goal from right in front, and the Tigers lead by 12 going into the final quarter of the contest.
Tigers 22, Bulldogs 10 with 19 minutes left
