So-so Storm do enough to down Knights

v BYE

A very rough looking Melbourne Storm side has secured equal top spot of the NRL ladder after an 18-14 win over the Newcastle Knights at AAMI Park in front of 11,443 fans.

Whilst it was a performance that the Storm would want to forget the Knights do have plenty to take out of the match after being the dominant team for the majority of the match.

The opening points came in the 13th minute when the Knights scored through Jacob Safiti after getting the beautiful offload from Uate who showed the Knights training with the Collingwood Magpies midweek wasn't in vain. The Storm levelled the scores five minutes after Cooper Cronk took advantage of the lack of Knights defence outwide and he strolled through for the first of his double in the afternoon. A penalty goal in the 30th minute from Trent Hodkinson restored the Knights lead which saw them go to the break leading 8-6.

The second half wasn't pretty but the Knights made most of the running with plenty of field position but a lack of execution and the giving away of stupid penalties deep inside the Storm half meant that the Knights were never able to kick clear of the Storm.

The Knights did however manage to extend the lead out to 8 points as the clock struck the hour mark when Korbin Sims flew through to get the grounding of the kick which caught Cameron Munster out who was waiting for it to go dead, after our only visit to the bunker this afternoon it was confirmed.

Cooper Cronk showed his class when he got the Storm back within two points after he just sliced through the Knights defence that was just unable to slide back when the hole opened up. A Cam Smith penalty goal levelled the scores after yet another penalty against the Knights. The Storm sealed the deal with eight minutes left after the Knights defence rushed up too quickly and left an overlap that Tohu Harris and Richie Kennar took advantage of to take the lead and seal the win.

The Storm get to have a 9 day break until they take on the Bulldogs next Monday night at AAMI Park, whilst the Knights have an 8 day break, taking on the Wests Tigers at home in Newcastle on Sunday.