FULL TIME - An absolute thriller and the Storm win a seesawing affair 29-28. Full wrap to come. Thanks for joining me!
John Sutton's pass goes to ground and the Storm will win!
Just a minute to go! Cameron Smith short to Cheyse Blair who is tackled. Rabbitohs work it out from inside their own 10.
Sam Burgess with a risky offload and Cheyse Blair dives on it! Melbourne should hold on!
Suliasi Vunivalu flies above them to take it off the short restart! Melbourne already in the South Sydney half on the third and Cameron Munster is taken 30 out. Jesse Bromwich then with a settler before Munster drills it to Campbell Graham who does very well to take it and link with Alex Johnston. Souths deep inside their own half. They need something here!
Cameron Munster links inside with Billy Slater who steams through the middle and he is pulled up 40 out. Munster then snaps the field goal!
We are level again!
What a reply from Melbourne! Josh Addo-Carr steams down the left edge and kicks inside for Blair who scores next to the posts!
Souths will all the momentum and they are on halfway on the last. Adam Reynolds goes high but Billy Slater is under it. Josh Addo-Carr with the next carry up towards the 30 before Suliasi Vunivalu works it up to the 40 and finds Felise Kaufusi who offloads to Brodie Croft and Melbourne are in the Rabbitohs' half.
Reynolds pilots it through.
Cameron Murray beats Joe Stimson and surges over for a very soft try! The forward pass call may have been harsh but that's a poor response from Melbourne in defence.
Cameron Munster with an awkward, spiralling bomb on the last but Alex Johnston does very well to take it. Souths into the Melbourne half after a John Sutton run. Adam Reynolds goes high on the last and Josh Addo-Carr has it. He, for some reason, links with Billy Slater but the ball is forward! Rabbitohs scrum fee 10 out.
Smith hooks it to the right.
And Melbourne hit back! They spread it left and Blair goes over!
Dane Gagai holds on too long in the tackle and Melbourne have a full set 30 out after earning a penalty.
Reynolds hooks it.
Too easy! They shift it left and Jennings crosses over as Melbourne fail to number up. Cody Walker holds up the pass and then spreads it to Greg Inglis who draws and passes to his winger.
Cody Walker beats Brodie Croft and sprints down the touchline. He is taken over the sideline by Curtis Scott but the centre is penalised. Souths 10 out with a full set to come!
Melbourne working it out from deep inside their own half through their outside backs. Cheyse Blair with a strong carry and they are over halfway. Cameron Munster rushes an awkward kick but Alex Johnston is under it and Souths work it up towards halfway.
Cameron Smith clears it out of dummy-half towards Alex Johnston who finds Campbell Graham and Souths begin the set on their own 20. Robert Jennings works it up to the 30 before Greg Inglis picks up five metres from dummy-half. Souths 40 out from the Melbourne line on the last. Adam Reynolds with a towering bomb for Josh Addo-Carr who is under it.
George Burgess with the opening run off the restart before brother Sam takes it up over the 10-metre mark. John Sutton with a strong charge past the 30 before Cody Walker turns it inside to Greg Inglis who is pulled up just short of halfway. Adam Reynolds goes high on the last and Billy Slater does brilliantly to take it.
Reynolds locks us up again!
Are we at the MCG? Inglis soars above to take the Adam Reynolds and crashes over despite a great attempt at tackle by Billy Slater.
George Burgess back out there and the Bunnies only conceded two points with him off the field. They'll be very pleased as they go on the attack off the dropout.
South Sydney very bunched in this set. They need something as they are looking tired in attack. Adam Reynolds with a lovely grubber and Brodie Croft is trapped in-goal. Nice play.
Brandon Smith ruled to have dragged the ball forwards in the tackle with Cameron Murray. Rabbitohs scrum to pack 40 out from the Melbourne line.
Robert Jennings takes the bomb on the last and forces a dropout. Great play by the winger and an important one as it is more time to soak up with George Burgess in the bin.
Damien Cook earns his side a late-tackle penalty and the Rabbitohs begin the set 20 out from the Melbourne line.
Suliasi Vunivalu collects the clearing kick from Adam Reynolds and Melbourne are already in the South Sydney half on the third play. They shift it right to Curtis Scott who is taken 30 out. Cameron Munster short to Joe Stimson and the Storm are 20 out on the last. Suliasi Vunivalu with a touch on the kick on the last and Alex Johnston cleans it up. Souths need to hold onto this 18-12 deficit. They can't concede any more.
Cameron Smith with a lovely kick on the fourth tackle and Campbell Graham brings it back over the 10. Robert Jennings is then hit hard by Suliasi Vunivalu before Dane Gagai surges over the 30. Souths struggling for much here with only 12 men and they will kick from inside their own half. Time off with Angus Crichton down.
Smith sends it through from right in front.
George Burgess binned for interfering with Dale Finucane as he chased onto a kick! Cameron Smith will shoot for two.
Adam Reynolds with another high one to end the set but Billy Slater is under it before being taken by Dane Gagai and Angus Crichton. Josh Addo-Carr with the next carry before Suliasi Vunivalu takes it up towards the 40. The ball spills out backwards and Felise Kaufusi runs onto it and is hit high by George Burgess. Poor discipline.
Kenneath Bromwich with a strong run and Melbourne are 40 out on the last. Brodie Croft sends it high but Alex Johnston takes it and South Sydney work it out from deep inside their own half.
George Burgess takes it over the 10-metre mark before Cameron Murray and Angus Crichton put their hands up for solid carries. Sam Burgess is then smacked by Christian Welch before John Sutton works it up to the 40. Adam Reynolds with a spiraling bomb on the last but Josh Addo-Carr is under it.
Back underway here at AAMI Park.
Adam Reynolds is back and will play.
HALF TIME - It will be very interesting to see whether that try on the buzzer breaks the Bunnies. Adam Reynolds in serious doubt to take part in any more of this one too. Stay tuned for the second half.
Smith slots it.
Adam Reynolds hampered by a shoulder injury and Brodie Croft breaks through and grubbers through for Suliasi Vunivalu who steams onto it and scores in the corner! What a try on the siren!
Reynolds receiving treatment and Gagai takes the kick and misses far to the left.
Robert Jennings flicks it off the ground for Inglis in support who surges over!
Souths want more than just two points. They tap!
Melbourne 40 out on the last. Cameron Smith drills it towards the sideline but Alex Johnston plays at it and is taken five short of his own line. Dane Gagai and Campbell Graham help out their big men with solid runs. Robert Jennings then puts his hand up before Cameron Murray surges towards the 40. Sam Burgess takes it over halfway on the third. They then spread it right and Graham is taken 40 out. Adam Reynolds goes high on the last and he is taken late. Penalty Rabbitohs 20 out.
Smith shanks it quite badly.
Brodie Croft takes them on with speed and Melbourne are 10 out on the last. Cameron Smith to Billy Slater who beats Greg Inglis and Suliasi Vunivalu crosses over out wide!
Souths 40 out from the Melbourne line on the last. Adam Reynolds goes high again and Billy Slater takes it in a diving effort. Josh Addo-Carr and Cameron Munster with the first runs of the set and the latter is taken high by Cameron Murray. Easy metres out of their own half off the penalty.
South Sydney step up in defence and will deny them. Brodie Croft's kick to the corner is too big but Suliasi Vunivalu does well to bat it back inside to Curtis Scott who finds Felise Kaufusi but he is swarmed on. Handover.
Felise Kaufusi nails Sam Burgess and he drops the ball. Melbourne with a full set 20 out. Scrum to pack!
Reynolds sends it through and Souths lead again.
Cameron Munster goes high from inside his own half on the last and Campbell Graham is under it. Souths working it out from inside their own half. A quick spread left and Cody Walker goes short to John Sutton who offloads and George Burgess surges through the middle. He picks up a penalty and Adam Reynolds will shoot for two.
Smith sneaks it in.
Cameron Smith with a lovely cutout ball out of dummy-half and Brodie Croft quickly gives it to Felise Kaufusi who finds Scott out wide and he goes over untouched. Too easy!
Storm begin the set 30 out from the South Sydney line. Felise Kaufusi with the first carry before they go inside to Tim Glasby who is taken 20 out. They now shift it right to Curtis Scott who runs back inside and he is tackled 15 out. Jesse Bromwich with a settler on the third.
Greg Inglis will stay on after being hit in a strong tackle by Suliasi Vunivalu.
Souths spread it left and Robert Jennings comes up with an error and now is penalised for holding Suliasi Vunivalu down. Greg Inglis is down injured receiving support and is in trouble.
Cameron Munster kicks through on the fourth to force a dropout but it goes dead.
Cameron Munster clears it on the last and it ricochets off a South Sydney player. Sam Burgess dives on it but has dropped the ball. Melbourne 40 out from the Rabbitohs' line with the scrum to set.
Melbourne run it on the last and Brodie Croft shifts it to Cheyse Blair who kicks inside but Souths have it back and work it out from inside their own half. Angus Crichton works it over the 30 on the fourth. Cameron Murray with a strong carry then an offload and Robert Jennings steams over halfway. Adam Reynolds sends it into the air on the last and Billy Slater does very well to take it.
Sam Burgess surges up towards the line and looks certain to go over but has dropped the ball! Close call.
Josh Addo-Carr pushed back by Sam Burgess and he has dropped the ball! South Sydney five out with a full scrum to come!
George Burgess charges up to the Melbourne defensive line and takes it up to the 20. Sam Burgess then works it up past the 30 before Greg Inglis picks up solid metres with a carry. Damien Cook scoots out of dummy-half and then Thomas Burgess takes it up to halfway. Adam Reynolds goes high on the last and Billy Slater is met well by Dane Gagai.
Reynolds extends South Sydney's lead to six.
Jesse Bromwich drops it and now Melbourne concede a penalty 38 out from their own line. Adam Reynolds will shoot for two more.
George Burgess with the first charge off the restart before brother Sam Burgess fends off Cameron Smith and is taken on the 20. John Sutton then works it up to the 30. Angus Crichton then surges past the 40 before Adam Reynolds takes them on and is tackled just shy of halfway. Cody Walker goes high on the last but Suliasi Vunivalu is under it.
Reynolds misses from the sideline.
Gagai nabs the first try of the 2018 finals series!
Rabbitohs 10 out on the last. Adam Reynolds kicks for Campbell Graham. Josh Addo-Carr appears to have dropped it and Dane Gagai scoops up the ball to score out wide. Sent up a try to the Bunker!
Joe Stimson and Dale Finucane with the opening runs to begin this set before they spread it right to Felise Kaufusi who is pulled up 30 out. They now shift it left and Cheyse Blair is taken 20 out from the line. Brodie Croft grubbers through on the last but it's too big and Souths nab a seven-tackle set.
Powerful set here from South Sydney. They are 30 out on the last - Adam Reynolds goes into the air and Josh Addo-Carr is wrapped up just short of his own line. Melbourne struggling for metres here but Billy Slater catches the Bunnies defenders offside. Penalty.
South Sydney defending well in this set and Melbourne will kick from inside their own 40 on the last. Cameron Smith clears it from dummy-half and finds Robert Jennings who takes it up to the 30.
South Sydney working it out from inside their own end through Angus Crichton and Dane Gagai before Sam Burgess surges up towards halfway. George Burgess then takes it into the Melbourne half and the Bunnies are 30 out on the last. Adam Reynolds goes high and Josh Addo-Carr takes it.
Billy Slater steams onto a Cameron Munster grubber and somehow grounds it with one hand! But the video officials rule he planted it on the dead-ball line. Big let off for the Rabbitohs.
Campbell Graham with an error and the Storm pack a scrum just short of halfway.
Jesse Bromwich and Dale Finucane with the first runs to begin. Bromwich with his second carry and Melbourne are over the 30 on the third. Cameron Munster clears it on the last for Alex Johnston who is under it and brings the ball up to the 40.
We are underway in the 2018 finals series!
Kick-off shortly. Given the strength of their pack, I'm taking Souths tonight by six.
One big change for the Storm with Brodie Croft starting at halfback in place of Jahrome Hughes. It means that Sam Kasiano comes onto the bench while Ryan Hoffman misses out.
The winner goes through to the preliminary finals and will be 80 minutes away from the big dance. Meanwhile, the loser prepares to face the winner of the Broncos versus Dragons game.
Good evening and welcome to League Unlimited's live update of tonight's blockbuster clash between the Storm and Rabbitohs.
Referees & scorers:
Referee: Ashley Klein, Adam Gee
Touch Judges: Dave Munro, Michael Wise
Video Referee: Steve Chiddy, Ben Galea
MELBOURNE STORM (29)
Tries: Curtis Scott, Suliasi Vunivalu (2), Cheyse Blair (2)
Field Goals: Cameron Munster (1/1)
Conversions: Cameron Smith (3/5)
Penalty Goals: Cameron Smith (1/1)
SOUTH SYDNEY RABBITOHS (28)
Tries: Dane Gagai, Greg Inglis (2), Robert Jennings, Cameron Murray
Field Goals:
Conversions: Dane Gagai (0/1), Adam Reynolds (2/4)
Penalty Goals: Adam Reynolds (2/2)