1 week ago
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Storm lose Blore but extend lead with penalty goal
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The Storm have lost Shawn Blore to a failed HIA and it looks like it’s going to be more bad news when Marcelo Montoya crosses the line out wide, but Sua Faalogo does superbly well to hold the winger up over the line.
That’s a turnover and the Storm hold onto the lead with half an bour left.
Then there’s one of those nitpicky penalties as Jahrome Hughes gets a kick away – Matt Burton makes contact with him as he makes the kick, if not before, but is penalised for a late tackle. The Storm take the simple penalty shot from right in front and it’s an eight-point lead.
Storm 20, Bulldogs 12 with 29 minutes left
TRY: Dogs make perfect start to second half
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Will Warbrick is back after leaving the field with a ribs problem in the first half and the Bulldogs kick off the second half. They’ve only managed 17 points per game this season but will need to beat that mark if they are going to earn a comeback win tonight, against a Storm side that has been good but is still missing two big pieces in Harry Grant and Cameron Munster.
The Dogs earn a set restart in their first set of the half, and after a good break from Bronson Xerri down the left, Matt Burton drifts right and almost walks all the way through the Storm defence. But on the next play Sitili Tupouniua charges through a gap and the Dogs have first points of the half.
Storm 18, Bulldogs 12 with 37 minutes left
Stats snapshot: Close contest despite lopsided scoreline
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Both teams have completed their sets well despite the wet conditions, and the stats look pretty even across the board.
Two chaotic Storm tries from kicks – one a Stefano Utoikamanu effort that only travelled a couple of metres but scrambled the Bulldogs’ defensive line, the other a Jahrome Hughes 40/20 effort that Jacob Kiraz kept in play only for Moses Leo to score – are the difference between the sides so far.
Half-time: Storm in control but Dogs not out of it
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It’s been a bit of a chaotic first half in the rain, with injuries, a couple of bizarre tries from kicks and some quality attacking play from both sides, but the Storm are the much happier side at the break with a 12-point lead.
The big news is Canterbury’s loss of Jacob Preston to a broken forearm – a shocking blow for a player who must have been fairly close to NSW Origin selection a week ago. The Storm have also lost winger Will Warbrick to a ribs injury, and have had to reshuffle their backline which could potentially lead to a few defensive lapses in the second half.
Storm 18, Bulldogs 6 at half-time
Dogs down on the scoreboard but showing plenty of fight
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The Bulldogs make a big break down the left through rookie winger Jethro Rinakama, only for Max King to lose possession a play later.
But the home side brings the crowd to their feet a couple of minutes later when hulking bench forward Jack Underhill delivers a crunching hit to topple Alec MacDonald as he loses the ball.
Then there’s another attacking wave down the left as Jacob Kiraz links up with Bronson Xerri. They’re 12 points adrift but the Dogs still have some spark in them tonight.
Storm 18, Bulldogs 6 after 37 minutes
TRY: King busts through to extend Melbourne’s lead
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The Storm go on the attack and the Bulldogs defence opens up, Melbourne taking advantage of a big overlap on the left and Josh King running through Sitili Tupouniua and into a yawning gap for the visitors’ third try of the night.
Again Jacob Kiraz’s inexperience at fullback came back to bite the Bulldogs there, with the defensive line getting their numbers wrong. Lachie Galvin rushing up in defence and leaving Tupouniua isolated didn’t help either.
Storm 18, Bulldogs 6 after 25 minutes
Blow for Bulldogs with Preston out with broken arm
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Injury dramas for both teams. After copping that blow earlier and attempting to play on, Jacob Preston is out of this game and set for a stint on the sideline with what has been confirmed as a broken forearm, while Will Warbrick has gone off with what appears to be a ribs injury.
Storm 12, Bulldogs 6 after 22 minutes
TRY: Bulldogs hit back through Tuala
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Multiple repeat sets have the Bulldogs pinned to the Storm’s tryline, and they strike at last when Lachlan Galvin sends a pass to Enari Tuala who hits half a gap and slides over the line. He hit the ground a couple of metres short but the wet conditions came in handy there with the long slide to the line.
Matt Burton converts from out wide on the right and the Dogs are back in this.
Storm 12, Bulldogs 6 after 20 minutes
TRY: Disaster for Kiraz as Leo grabs a double
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Oh no. Jahrome Hughes attempts a 40-20 kick for the Storm, and it’s about to trickle over the sideline just inside the Dogs’ 20 metres when Bulldogs fullback Jacob Kiraz gets to it and bats it back inside the field of play.
But the only player anywhere near him is chasing Storm winger Moses Leo, and he picks it up and collects the simplest of tries.
Nick Meaney converts and the Storm are in control.
Storm 12, Bulldogs 0 after 15 minutes
Injury concern for Preston as Storm go close
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The Storm get a six-again call for offside and get to the Bulldogs’ 20-metre line, Jahrome Hughes puts up a bomb, and it goes forward from a Bulldogs hand to teammate Bronson Xerri so it’s a Melbourne penalty.
And now in more bad news play stops as Jacob Preston appears to have a forearm injury, having copped a knee to the arm while making a tackle. But the star second-rower is playing on for now.
Harry Grant’s replacement at hooker Trent Toelau tries a Grant-style cutout pass from dummy-half, close to the tryline – but it’s snaffled up by Marcelo Montoya and the Bulldogs come away with it, as Preston gets more treatment in back play.
Storm 6, Bulldogs 0 after 12 minutes
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