NRL LIVE updates: Grant injured but Storm lead Souths after Fa’alogo stunner

Some great passing from the Rabbitohs down the right, after a couple of strong runs and offloads from Jack Wighton and Keaon Koloamatangi, unleashes Thomas Fletcher down the right sideline. He looks like going clear but is brought down by a Tyran Wishart ankle tap.

But the Bunnies aren’t done yet, and a a few tackles later Cody Walker gets within five metres of the try line then Brandon Smith burrows his way over from dummy-half between the goal posts.

This is shaping up to be a good contest.

Storm 16, Rabbitohs 12 with 30 minutes left

Souths kick off the second half and Melbourne produce an excellent first set, getting all the way to the Rabbitohs’ 30-metre line before putting up a bomb that is well defused by Matt Dufty.

The Bunnies were brilliant for the first 10 minutes of this game but have lost the ascendancy since then, although the absence of Harry Grant due to a hamstring injury could hurt the visitors’ chances.

Grant won’t return tonight and could miss the next few weeks for Melbourne.

Storm 16, Rabbitohs 8 with 39 minutes left

A Daly Cherry-Evans match-clinching field goal and a treble from James Tedesco have propelled the Sydney Roosters to a thrilling 23-22 win over an injury-smashed Newcastle.

In one of the games of the season, the host Knghts were brave throughout, while losing Origin backrower Dylan Lucas to a dislocated and suspected broken left ankle in the first period, and star half Dylan Brown to a worrying knee injury early in the second.

If the title favourites Penrith have wobbled over the weeks around State of Origin, the high-flying Roosters have been building, and Friday night’s win was their fifth in a row – the competition’s best record in that period.

Tedesco was brilliant for the victors in a wonderful return from the Origin series and concussion.

Read the full match report and watch the highlights

Bad news for Melbourne with Harry Grant suffering a leg injury and limping off to the change rooms. That could be big news for their season.

But in the immediate future, there’s a brilliant solo try from Storm fullback Sua Fa’alogo. The dynamic fullback wriggles out of a tackle, then from a standing start explodes upfield, beating one defender, and another, then turning Matt Dufty inside out with a weaving run to the tryline. Sensational stuff.

And Wishart adds the extras.

Storm 16, Rabbitohs 8 at half-time

The Storm have a successful captain’s challenge, overturning a knock on decision (Rabbitohs halfback Ashton Ward got a hand to the ball first), so the visitors get a scrum feed 10 metres out from South Sydney’s line.

The Rabbitohs’ defence holds firm for one, two, three tackles, before Ashley Klein signals a six-again for offside. The Storm keep coming, Jahrome Hughes turning a dangerous inside pass for Alec MacDonald, and when MacDonald gets a quick play-the-ball away the ball touches the hand of Rabbitohs forward Lachlan Hubner lying in the ruck, and it’s a penalty to Melbourne.

Finally we have a goal tonight, Tyran Wishart slotting an easy one, and the visitors have the lead for the first time.

Storm 10, Rabbitohs 8 after 34 minutes

A gargantuan run from Stefano Utoikamanu has levelled the scores here, the Storm prop crashing through two defenders from 40 metres out then charging upfield, holding off Souths fullback Matt Dufty and offloading to Oryn Keeley for a spectacular try.

It’s still not been a good night for these team’s back-up goal-kickers, Tyran Wishart off target again.

Rabbitohs 8, Storm 8 after 22 minutes

Harry Grant is on early for the Storm – the decision to start the star hooker on the bench hasn’t worked out great so far – and he receives a penalty after rival rake Brandon Smith jumps out of marker and bats the ball out of his hands.

That’s a penalty this season, for unknown reasons, and the Storm have a golden opportunity to strike.

And strike they do, Jahrome Hughes sending a pass to dynamo fullback Sua Faalogo, who steps inside one defender then sends winger Siulagi Tuimalatu-Brown over for his first career try.

Tyran Wishart doesn’t get particularly close with his sideline conversion attempt but Melbourne are back in this one.

Rabbitohs 8, Storm 4 after 18 minutes