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The Canberra Raiders scored two quick tries in the latter stages of the first half to take a 16-8 lead into the break against the Melbourne Storm at AAMI Park.
But the Storm have since hit back in what is a seesawing classic to kick off Saturday’s finals action.
Read below for the latest recap on all the key moments from the first half!
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59TH MINUTE: Rampaging Asofa-Solomona puts Storm in front
After a few scheming plays earlier in the first half, Harry Grant was at it again as he capitalised on a change of direction and quick play-the-ball from Jesse Bromwich.
Grant caught a few slow Raiders defenders out and then passed it to Nelson Asofa-Solomona who simply could not be stopped that close to the line.
“The big giant charging, rampaging and getting the Storm in front,” Michael Ennis said in commentary.
“What a weapon this man is,” added Dan Ginnane.
“You take away some of the stuff that has got him on the back page, he is an awesome player.”
Ennis, meanwhile, called on the Raiders to get fullback Xavier Savage more involved after a quiet opening to the game.
“He’s their X-factor. They’ve got to get him pushing around the footy,” he said.
45TH MINUTE: Coates scores his THIRD as Storm rue missed goals, Hughes blow
The Storm have scored 21 tries from inside their own half — the most in the league — and showed no hesitation to spread it early and strike first in the second.
In this instance, Cameron Munster and Jahrome Hughes quickly fired the ball to Marion Seve who beat Sebastian Kris and raced down the right edge.
Munster was then backing up through the middle and found winger Xavier Coates back inside who reached out to score his third try of the game.
A dangerous tackle from Joseph Tapine on Jahrome Hughes then saw the Storm gifted a shot at penalty goal but Munster hooked it as the halfback went up the sheds for a H.I.A test, later passing it.
35TH MINUTE: Raiders go back-to-back as Storm left ‘rattled’
The decision to shift Cameron Munster to fullback had paid dividends in attack but in defence, Nick Meaney continued to be targeted by the Raiders.
It proved a successful strategy once again before halftime as Zac Woolford passed to Joseph Tapine who threw it short to Elliott Whitehead who burst through.
“Joe Tapine is putting on a show tonight,” Ennis said in commentary.
“They are going straight through the middle. Bellamy has rolled the dice [having Meaney defending in the front line].”
“Defensively Meaney has been caught twice so far,” added Shane Flanagan.
“Dan Ginnane said Melbourne was “under siege” while Ennis added that the “unpredictability” of the Raiders was “torturing” the Storm.
“They are scattered defensively, they are frustrated,” Ennis said.
“They are rattled here the Storm.”
31ST MINUTE: Fogarty embarrasses Melbourne’s defence
The Raiders were at risk of falling apart as the Storm dominated the middle stages of the second half — that was until the home side conceded an uncharacteristically soft try.
On this occasion, Jamal Fogarty took on the line off a scrum and beat three Melbourne defenders, with Nick Meaney sliding off.
“Can you believe it. One of the best defensive units has seen the halfback waltz through off the scrum,” Ennis said.
23RD MINUTE: Storm spine combines for ‘magnificent’ Coates try
Within the space of four minutes Xavier Coates had two tries to put the Storm in front after a slow start.
In this instance it was scheming work from Harry Grant that sparked the try, with the crafty rake darting out to the left of the ruck before turning back to Cameron Munster who ran in the opposite direction.
Munster then quickly shifted it to Jahrome Hughes who “put it on a platter” for Coates as Dan Ginnane said in commentary.
“Magnificent, Xavier Coates scores another but it is Jahrome Hughes who puts it on a platter and the Storm go bang, bang,” Ginnane said.
“Harry Grant is tormenting the Raiders,” added Ennis.
“It’s incredible the spine of the Storm, their ability to react. The minute they get momentum, they throw structure out the window.”
Fox League expert Shane Flanagan also put the try back to the brilliance of Grant at dummy-half.
“The spine of the Storm connecting beautifully,” he said.
“He jumps out runs to the left the Raiders overchase… the change of direction from Grant caused that whole left edge to come in.”
19TH MINUTE: Coates scores as Storm make up for crucial missed chances
Melbourne missed two crucial chances earlier in the game but Coates made sure to capitalise on his opportunity as he raced over in the corner.
On that occasion in the 19th minute, Munster and Jahrome Hughes combined while Nelson Asofa-Solomona’s lead run drew the Raiders defence in, creating space out wide.
That allowed Coates to get the early start on Sebastian Kris in cover defence, who just could not get there in time.
It came after Melbourne wasted two crucial try-scoring opportunities earlier in the half.
First, the Storm had their best chance of the night to put points on the board when Kenny Bromwich put in a deft grubber close to the line in the 13th minute.
Five-eighth Nick Meaney was racing onto it and got first crack at the football but it spilled out.
Bromwich took the correct option that time but shortly after he decided to kick once more when a pass could have seen unmarked winger David Nofoaluma race over.
“A real chance gone begging there,” Ennis said in commentary.
7TH MINUTE: Timoko swats away Munster to score
The Raiders had just 20 per cent of the ball after five minutes having been forced to defend multiple sets on their own line.
But then Tapine offloaded for Wighton who exploded through the middle, beating multiple Storm defenders before passing to Xavier Savage who linked with Matthew Timoko.
The Canberra centre then fearlessly fended Munster away to storm over in the corner and score the opening try of the game.
“The class stands up and it is Jack Wighton through the middle of the field… what a moment, what a start from the Green Machine and it is Timoko getting a semi-final try,” Ennis said.
“Tapine is on another level at the moment. He is so dominant.”
“Melbourne looking a little off-kilter,” added Dan Ginnane after Melbourne failed to put points on the board early.
“Wighton is looking deadly.”
FULL PREVIEW:
Craig Bellamy’s Storm face an in-form Canberra Raiders for a sudden-death clash at AAMI Park.
The veteran coach has shifted Tui Kamikamica and Brandon Smith into the starting side in place of Josh King and Felise Kaufusi, while Jahrome Hughes’ return from a calf injury has been confirmed.
Nick Meaney was officially named at fullback but as expected Cameron Munster shifted back there to start the game.
Ricky Stuart’s side have won their last four games, including a 56-10 point rout of the struggling Tigers without key players Jack Wighton and Elliott Whitehead.
The team from the nation’s capital completed a stunning charge to the finals and are one of the form teams of the competition coming into this contest.
Meanwhile, Melbourne were afforded nine days to rest and prepare for this crucial clash after a season filled with injuries.
Bellamy is without Ryan Papenhuyzen, Christian Welch and George Jennings, while Hughes had been battling a calf injury.
The Storm are still red-hot favourites to proceed through to the next week of finals, with marquee man Cameron Munster a key man to shut down for the Raiders.
Canberra has won four-straight games at AAMI Park and are looking to become the first team to win five in a row against the Storm in Melbourne.
The Storm has not defeated Canberra in Melbourne since 2018, however three of the four losses since have been by four points or less.
A loss in this match would also see Melbourne have two separate three-game losing streaks in the same season for the first time under Bellamy and for just the third time in their history (2000 and 2002).
TEAMS
Storm: 1. Nick Meaney 2. David Nofoaluma 3. Marion Seve 4. Justin Olam 5. Xavier Coates 6. Cameron Munster 7. Jahrome Hughes 8. Jesse Bromwich 9. Harry Grant 10. Nelson Asofa-Solomona 15. Tui Kamikamica 12. Kenny Bromwich 14. Brandon Smith 13. Josh King 11. Felise Kaufusi 16. Trent Loiero 17. Chris Lewis 18. Young Tonumaipea 19. Jordan Grant
Raiders: 1. Xavier Savage 2. Nick Cotric 3. Matthew Timoko 4. Sebastian Kris 5. Jordan Rapana 6. Jack Wighton 7. Jamal Fogarty 8. Josh Papali’i 9. Zac Woolford 10. Joseph Tapine 11. Hudson Young 12. Elliott Whitehead 13. Adam Elliott 14. Tom Starling 15. Emre Guler 16. Corey Horsburgh 17. Corey Harawira-Naera 18. Albert Hopoate
FINALS PLAYER RATINGS
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