Cooper Cronk could be in doubt Origin selection after being placed on report.
The Melbourne Storm have broken out of their mini form-slump after beating the Sydney Roosters 26-18 at Allianz Stadium.
After failing to win in their last three outings the reigning premiers needed to make a statement and they did so against the Roosters, who had won their previous six games in a row.
But there was little sign of that form by the tri-colours as their discipline with the ball let them down often, gifting scoring chances to the Storm.
Melbourne opened their account off the back of a Cooper Cronk kick, with lax defence by the Roosters allowing Justin O’Neill to score untouched.
Cameron Smith slotted the conversion from the sideline and already the premiers showed a lot better energy early in the clash, something which had been lacking in their last three weeks.
Melbourne dominated possession in the early stages with the Roosters their own worst enemy
with their completion rate only 60 per cent.
Off the back of a soft penalty for a shoulder charge, the Storm easily opened up the Roosters on their own line as Maurice Blair slide across.
To date the Roosters were the best defensive side in the NRL but their defensive line had plenty of holes in it early as Melbourne made the lead 12.
Sydney struggled to get out of their own half, and perhaps worryingly for the NSW Origin side,
James Maloney and Mitchell Pearce struggled with their respective kicking games.
Three sets in a row for the Roosters led to Luke O’Donnell crashing over under the posts
to cut the margin to just six.
Michael Jennings scored a bizzare try for the home side in the shadows of half-time, after Sisa Waqa lost control off the ball allowing the Roosters centre to scoot over the line from close range.
Maloney slotted the conversion and after a slow start, the home side drew level with just three minutes left to the break.
However, a try to Storm hooker Smith just before half-time however crucially gave the visitors the six-point lead.
Both sides struggled to hang onto the ball early in the second half as ball control suffered in the greasy conditions.
Jordan McLean was denied a try on debut for the Storm after he was ruled to have been held
up by the on-field referees.
Cronk and Queensland staff hearts when into their mouths when the halfback was placed on report for a lifting tackle in the 59th minute, however, the Storm and Queensland won’t have too many sleepless nights as it was not severe enough to warrant a suspension.
Sis Waqa intercepted a pass and made a 70 metre dash down field before being cut down in a tackle, but off the back of the charge, Will Chambers scored after fending off a soft effort by Jennings.
Amazingly the Storm had won 158-162 games when leading at half-time since Craig Bellamy took
control of the side and the streak looked set to continue.
Smith’s conversion hit the upright and stayed out but the Storm still earned a vital 10-point lead
with just 17 minutes left.
Sydney gave away a penalty in the play-the-ball area as Smith slotted the easy shot for goal to give his side a two-converted try lead.
However, a short kick-off saw the Roosters get the ball back before they shifted the ball to the opposite side of the field to see Roger Tuivasa-Sheck dive into the corner.
Maloney showed nerves of steel to hurriedly convert from the sideline to bring his side back to within
six with two minutes left.
On the restart the Roosters spread the ball wide on the first tackle before Shaun Kenny-Dowall popped a perfect pass to a Storm player, ending the home side’s chances of victory.
COMMENTS