Storm sneak past courageous Canberra in thriller to book GF berth

v BYE

Despite their bravery, the Raiders have fallen to a clinical Storm side, with Melbourne prevailing 14-12 in front of over 28,000 fans at AAMI Park to set up a Grand Final clash with the Cronulla Sharks next Sunday.

It was a fiery opening to the clash with both sides desperate to qualify for the big one, and some early penalties foreshadowed what would be a quite hotly contested opening half. Cooper Cronk looked good early in his 300th NRL match when he sliced through in the 10th minute, only to drop it in attempting to ground the ball.

Jarrod Croker would remain down with his leg buckled in the previous tackle and as a result the Raiders' captain would be unable to kick goals for the rest of the game.

A grubber by Sezer saw Cronk run away again and a subsequent penalty resulted in Cameron Smith taking the shot for two to put Melbourne in front in the 15th minute. However, Melbourne would be the next to display signs of ill-discipline and a result the Raiders gained field possession twenty metres out. Joseph Leilua threatened to strike early but Whitehead cut him out and it paid dividends with Jordan Rapana grabbing a try out wide and giving the away side the lead. Aidan Sezer nullified any concerns regarding his goal kicking abilities by nailing one from the sideline and Canberra took a 6-2 lead after 24 minutes.

Cronk looked likely to spark Melbourne again shortly after, with Jack Wighton demonstrating impeccable one on one defence to deny a silky try off a Cronk kick to Tohu Harris. Yet Canberra would be unable to hold on as Cronk dived over in the 30th minute for a deserved try off a select Smith pass. The Storm would camped themselves in the Raiders' half in the last five minutes courtesy of a couple of penalties and a late try would prove vital in the context of this game. However, the Raiders exhibited brave defence to hold out the Storm, with the home side heading into the break with an 8-6 lead, largely due to an impeccable completion rate of 20 from 21 sets in slippery conditions. The Raiders were quite dangerous in attack in the opening half but the clinical control of Melbourne's ball handling and defence was proving just a bit too good. 

The second half opened in similarly tense fashion. Both sides traded blows early but neither side could break away early with both sides displaying commendable desperation in both attack and defence.

Defending his line, a pass would pop up for Edrick Lee, it was a tough one to take but he would have been away and instead Melbourne had another set ten metres out.

The Storm grabbed another penalty but Smith didn't opt for two, regrettably so, he would throw an awful ball from dummy half. Yet the biggest call of the game would come a couple of minutes later. Munster left a spiraling bomb which would bounce up for him, and he linked up with Koroibete who would race away! Wighton, who was a defensive rock all game, was then penalised for holding Koroibete down and saw himself sin binned.

From there, it was too simple for the Storm who would utilise the extra man on the overlap to send Cheyse Blair over in the 60th minute. Smith, missed the kick to give Canberra fans hope. He then heaped further pressure on the Raiders when he forced a goal line drop out following the kick off and a try would more likely than not seal it.

Next, Hodgson was pinged for a penalty after a dangerous tackle and Smith would send it over to put his side in front by eight with fifteen to go. Blair looked to have crossed again minutes later, only for an obstruction to be called with Christian Welch taking out Whitehead in the build-up.

The game would go on the line after a mistake by Chambers in the 71st minute gifted the Raiders a full set ten metres out. Off the scrum, Edrick Lee bombed a certain try in the corner, in a terrible error from the Raiders winger. Yet Canberra would make sure it would be a nail biter to finish with Whitehead crossing over out wide in the final five minutes, and Sezer would set up a thriller by converting it from the sideline with just three left.

It wasn't to be for the Green Machine though - a forward pass by Austin would be ruled in the closing minutes, and Smith forced consecutive line dropouts to strangle the Raiders chances. In the end Canberra would not get another shot and despite their immense bravery fell short in the end to a well-drilled Storm side. 

The Storm now travel to ANZ Stadium for the Grand Final to take on the Sharks whilst the entertaining Raiders are left to ponder a bitterly disappointing loss, with many fans lamenting the elimination of such a positive and expansive footy side. Their efforts are hard to criticise, an away trip to Melbourne and pushing the hosts hard despite the sin binning of Jack Wighton - the future looks bright in the Capital.

Make sure to tune in next Sunday for the battle between Cronulla and Melbourne as the Sharks look to claim their first premiership in what is sure to be a classic against one of the best modern era NRL outfits.