Back on the road for Melbourne this week, with all roads leading to Stadium Australia for the FIFA Women’s World Cup Final1… but first there’s a match against the Dragons in Wollongong to take care of. This week it’s all about vibes though and final minute drama…
S17E06 – Melbourne Storm vs St George Illawarra Dragons
As far as infamous Melbourne Storm matches against the Dragons go, this one is right up there. The April visit to AAMI Park by the Dragons on a Monday night that might have just broke the Dragons forevermore.2
Melbourne went into this match on the back of consecutive losses, including losing to the Titans at AAMI Park the previous weekend. After three straight wins to start the 2014 season, there was an air of something not being totally right with Melbourne conceding an average over 25 points per game.
From the selected team, Ben Hampton would be replaced by Ben Roberts in what was his second game for the club after coming from 2013 wooden spooners Parramatta. This match was played in front of a small crowd at AAMI Park with 13,130 in attendance, but something special was afoot.3
Rewatching matches from this area is an interesting exercise in hindsight. Melbourne were extremely structured in attack during this era, with Cooper Cronk and Cameron Smith often running set plays involving Billy Slater and the edge forwards. Any ad-lib football was verboten which does beg the question as to why the club experimented with Ben Roberts.
Melbourne would get off to a poor start in this match, Roberts would drop the ball coming out from the try line and the Dragons almost immediately converted the field position into points. Dylan Farrell scoring the try following quality passing from Gareth Widdop and Michael Witt. The bright start from the visitors coming on the back of a string of penalties against Melbourne, but it would be a few penalties coming Melbourne’s way that gave Melbourne their first points through a try to Jesse Bromwich. JBrom crashing over after Ryan Hoffman tapped back a Cronk high ball to Young Tonumaipea. With Smith converting the try, Melbourne had the lead for the first time.
Melbourne started to find their rhythm, but would be denied a try when the officials were fooled by a Cronk pass to Kevin Proctor that they called forward. It wasn’t forward, but alas the decision went against the home team. Melbourne’s second try eventually coming through Will Chambers, with the centre latching onto a Slater kick that was fumbled by Dragons fullback Josh Dugan. Chambers just reeling in the Steeden before the dead-ball line, extending Melbourne’s lead to 10–4.
The visitors would hit back soon after though with a try to Brett Morris coming off a Slater error. Slater unable to cleanly catch the high ball under the pressure of the AAMI Park Seagull, with Morris awarded the 103rd try of his career. The Dragons would also take a penalty goal in the final minute of the half when Chambers was penalised for a shoulder charge, for the visitors to take a 12–10 lead at half time.
Coming straight out from the break, the visitors would go on the attack leading to a try to Gerard Beale, who would reach out to score to extend the Dragons lead. The second controversial refereeing moment of the game came just a few minutes later when Trent Merrin was awarded a try by the video referees despite Dugan being clearly in front of the kick from Witt and pressuring Sisa Waqa4 into dropping the ball. Video referee Steve Clark explaining that there wasn’t sufficient evidence to overturn the on field decision, despite the overwhelming evidence to the contrary. The score giving the Dragons a 24–10 lead with over 25 minutes to play. As Brett Kimmorley said in commentary “that decision was a little bit disgraceful.”
With plenty of time left, Melbourne quickly tried to work their way into the match, but it would take until the 67th minute for the Storm to crack the Dragons line, Chambers scoring his second try of the match. Chambers crossing the line after a perfect pass from Cronk to put him through a massive hole. On the next set from the restart, Cronk himself would score to put Melbourne within two points, backing up a Roberts line break to score under the posts. It was Roberts best work all game and with ten minutes to go it was all to play for.
In the final ten minutes, the Dragons had a golden opportunity slip by when Ben Creagh couldn’t grab a high ball cleanly against Waqa, but with the home fans raising the volume it would come down to the final few minutes.
Slater had a fumbled play-the-ball with less than 120 seconds left, but the Dragons couldn’t run the clock out, handing over the ball with 50 seconds left with the ball just inside the Melbourne half. With seconds remaining, Melbourne had a chance down the left flank, but desperate defence kept Tonumaipea just short of the line.
Ignore the music on this version, but just drink in the magic moment:
TONUMAIPEA TONU-MAI-PEA
THAT’S INCREDIBLE
THAT’S AMAZING
(You are kidding)
THAT’S RIDICULOUS
AFTER THE SIREN. MELBOURNE. YOU JUST CAN’T BELIEVE THE WAY IT UNFOLDED.
Pandemonium at AAMI Park. The Miracle of Swan Street. One of the loudest roars heard in that stadium.
Smith would convert the try for a 28–24 win.
This win was Melbourne’s 13th in a row against the Dragons in Victoria.5
And Brandy, I believe in hoodoos
Melbourne – 28 (Chambers 30', 67', J Bromwich 16', Cronk 69', Tonumaipea 80' tries; Smith 4/5 goals)
St George Illawarra – 24 (Farrell 5', B Morris 36', Beale 46', Merrin 53' tries; Widdop 4/5 goals)
Stat pack
Melbourne have played five previous matches on 19 August for a 4–1 record. Those matches include a tight 8–6 win over the then reigning premiers Dragons in 2011, while last year on this date Melbourne put the sword through Brisbane, whipping the Broncos 60–12 at Suncorp Stadium.
This is Melbourne’s 13th visit to Wollongong, with the Storm winning on six previous occasions, including the only meeting with the Steelers back in S01E01.
Melbourne have won on their past two trips to WIN Stadium, after ending a three match losing streak at the venue. Melbourne’s last visit a 16–14 win in July 2019.
In 40 previous matches against the merged Dragons, Melbourne have won 28 times and there was one 30–all draw back in 2002 at WIN Stadium.
St. George Illawarra have not won in Victoria since their 1999 qualifying final victory.
The 70–10 and 4–50 point games in 2000 between these two teams was only bettered this year as the biggest turnaround (106 points) in NRL history by the Cowboys and Tigers wacky games (122 points).
Nick Meaney needs just six points to become the fourth Melbourne Storm player to score 200+ points in any NRL season. He would join Matt Geyer (1999), Matt Orford (2001), and Cameron Smith (2018 & 2019) in reaching that mark. Geyer’s club record is 242 points in the 1999 season.
Team line-up
Nick Meaney
Reimis Smith
Marion Seve
Young Tonumaipea
Xavier Coates
Cameron Munster
Jahrome Hughes
Tui Kamikamica
Harry Grant
Christian Welch ©
Trent Loiero
Eliesa Katoa
Josh King
Bronson Garlick
Tom Eisenhuth
Tepai Moeroa
Nelson Asofa-Solomona
Alec MacDonald
Will Warbrick
Jonah Pezet
Tariq Sims
Tyran Wishart
Referee: Peter Gough (Bunker: Ashley Klein)
Preview
With the Dragons eliminated from finals contention, Melbourne will need to be wary of playing down to their level. The old adages ring true. On the team news front, there’s a possible return for Will Warbrick from his minor neck complaint that kept him out of the game against the Raiders. That was the first game that Warbrick has missed all season, leaving only Trent Loiero and Josh King as the only Storm players to have featured in every match this season, with both forwards hardly missing a minute either.
With Warbrick on the extended reserves list, there’s an element of depth to this Melbourne squad, especially in the backs. Justin Olam is still biding his time with the Sunshine Coast Falcons, and with the NRL return for Ryan Papenhuyzen looming, there’s going to be some unlucky players sitting in the stands come finals time. I know Storm fans are prone to second guess where players will end up when everyone is fit, but at this stage its almost impossible to predict what Melbourne’s back five will look like in a few weeks.6
Editor’s note: Cameron Munster could also be out this week pending the birth of his second child. Best wishes to Bianca and Cameron.
I’m getting used to Alec MacDonald missing out at the moment, I’m not liking it, but I can see why the coaches are opting for Tepai Moeroa at the moment. Both players offer similar impact when coming off the bench, and Tom Eisenhuth offers a little more cover in case of injuries.
Looking at the Dragons, Zac Lomax returns from injury and joining him is Francis Molo. With the notable exception of Ben Hunt, there’s not much to fear from this Dragons line-up, especially that forward pack. The Dragons have won just twice since parting ways with Anthony Griffin in May, with their last victory coming against fellow strugglers Wests Tigers back in round 21.
After almost putting 50 past Canberra, it would be nice if Melbourne could do something similar against the Dragons this week. It’s predicted to be reasonable weather over the weekend in Wollongong, so hopefully Melbourne can get the job done in style to keep a hold of that top four spot on the ladder.
Meanwhile, the Sunshine Coast Falcons have a virtual elimination final in the final round of the Queensland Cup away to the Seagulls (Tweed version) on Saturday afternoon. Win and the Falcons will jump into the finals at the expense of the Seagulls, which would be a nice result after a bit of a mixed season for the Sunshine Coast boys. Melbourne’s other Queensland Cup affiliate Brisbane Easts Tigers had a bye last week, and will look to finish the season safely in the top four. They are also away to the Seagulls (Wynnum-Manly version) on Sunday afternoon, with a win they will finish third, but a loss could see them finish fourth. Possible opponents in week one of the finals will be either Souths Logan Magpies or Burleigh Bears.
Unfortunately, unlike the Matildas I will be there.
You love to see it. St Merge have made the finals twice since then for one victory.
Back when Fox tried to make a big deal of Monday night matches; Warren Smith, Greg Alexander, Brett Kimmorley and “Mr Monday Night” Andy Raymond on commentary.
2015 Canberra Raiders marquee signing.
That streak is now 17.
The scary prospect though is that the coaches might be in the same boat, which wouldn’t be a first for Melbourne.