S28E14 Preview – Ride at dawn
6pm Friday is far from an ideal time for rugby league
Back to AAMI Park for a winter rodeo with the Cowboys in town for the first time in a long time.
The Cowboys don’t get to visit Melbourne all that often, especially in the cold Victorian winter. Their second to last visit was in June 2017 during the final representative season for Cameron Smith.
S20E15 – Melbourne Storm vs North Queensland Cowboys
This match was played on the weekend before the second State of Origin match after NSW had opened the series with a 28–4 win at Lang Park. Will Chambers, Cooper Cronk and Cameron Smith had played in that match, and joining them for game two were Billy Slater and Tim Glasby. It left an undermanned Melbourne up against the Cowboys who were also without Jonathan Thurston, Gavin Cooper, Michael Morgan and Coen Hess.
While the visitors went with their named line-up, Melbourne moved around the magnets shifting Cameron Munster to fullback, Young Tonumaipea to the wing, Tohu Harris to the second row, while bringing in Brodie Croft at halfback. This was to be Croft’s second NRL match after making his debut the previous season against the Dragons. Also in his second match was Brandon Smith and on debut for Melbourne from the bench was Dean Britt in what was his only NRL match in Storm colours. Jesse Bromwich tossed the coin as captain for just the second time in his Storm career.
Top of the table, Melbourne had lost just twice to start the 2017 season, putting together a five match winning streak to start the season, and came into this match on a three match winning streak, beating 2016 premiers Cronulla at The Swamp the previous weekend.
It was a pretty expansive start to this match with both teams looking sharp in the dewy conditions. The kicking game from both teams looked good, Lachlan Coote taking the responsibility for the Cowboys, while Croft and Munster were probing for Melbourne.
An error coming out from their own half put Melbourne on the back foot though and they compounded that with a penalty from 28m out that was duly taken by Kyle Feldt to put the Cowboys on the scoreboard. That 2–0 lead was taken out to eight points straight from the restart. A raid down the right flank led by Jake Granville and Justin O’Neill from the Cowboys side of midfield was finished off by Feldt who beat Josh Addo-Carr to the corner.
Melbourne looked to hit straight back after an error from the restart, but it would be 20 minutes of missed chances and grinding footy from the visitors who were pretty much perfect with the ball in completing their sets and tiring out the Melbourne defence. To my eye the visitors (who had extended their lead to 10 points with another penalty goal) were well on top with the replacements not able to get the job done for the Storm.
It wasn’t until Brandon Smith came on that the Storm looked a little more dynamic in the middle of the field. He made a great bust down the middle that almost resulted in a try, but it was a frustrated Melbourne unit as the half wore on.1 Eventually though the Storm broke through on the back of faster play and offloads. Croft and Munster combining in the right channel for Curtis Scott to beat Coote to score his first NRL try in his third match.
The try lifted Melbourne and they looked like they had another try in them before the break. That almost came to pass just a minute out from half time when Ryley Jacks crossed the line only for the try to be denied by the video referee General Bias. Somehow he determined that Addo-Carr was in front of Munster’s kick.
Returning from the sheds it would be the Cowboys who scored first with Coote grounding a Granville grubber kick that evaded Croft. Melbourne caught out by the left edge this time and the deft kick from Granville that somehow got through the defenders.
Down by eight points after Feldt’s kick hit the post and was waved away, Melbourne hit back with three tries in a ten minute blitz. The first try was scored by Smith who twisted out of a tackle at dummy half to crash over and score. From the restart the Storm went the length of the field scoring after a barnstorming run from Croft who burst through the line to link with Kaufusi to throw the final pass to Scott for his second try of the match. Croft’s run reminiscent of Cooper Cronk at his best.
Turning the game on its head, Melbourne’s lead was eight points when Kaufusi dived over down the right edge on a simple play after Smith isolated Ray Thompson with a great pass from dummy half.
The final 20 minutes initially saw the game fluctuate back in favour of the visitors with possession swinging back towards them. Melbourne though held firm, maintaining their lead deep into the final five minutes. But a forward pass from Suliasi Vunivalu at midfield turned over possession to give the Cowboys a chance. It was greedily accepted by Kane Linnett who crashed over the line on a short side raid led by Thompson. Feldt adding the conversion to cut Melbourne’s margin to two points with less than 80 seconds to play.
On the last tackle just Melbourne’s side of halfway Ben Cummins blew a penalty as a result of one of the silliest things seen at AAMI Park. Jake Granville was taken out as he went for an innocuous little chip kick, Feldt sending the game to extra time with a 35m penalty goal.
With a draw apparently not an acceptable result, the golden point period saw the Cowboys earn a penalty to put them in with the chance to end the match before Melbourne touched the ball. Coote’s shot though was wide and marked by Munster for a 20m restart. With an extra tackle Melbourne were able to get deep into Cowboys territory, but the defence were able to pressure Croft into a chip kick rather than a field goal attempt on the last tackle. His kick somehow pulled up inside the dead-ball line and on the next set Croft iced the game with a field goal on the third tackle of the set from just inside the 30m line.
Melbourne would also play golden point the following weekend in Adelaide. While these two teams met in a game with much higher stakes to end the 2017 season.
Melbourne – 23 (Scott 31', 54', B Smith 52', Kaufusi 58' tries; Munster 3/3 goals; Croft 85' field goal)
North Queensland – 22 (Feldt 9', Coote 46', Linnett 78' tries; Feldt 5/6 goals)
Stat attack
Melbourne have only played once before on 6 June beating the Panthers 20–0 at Penrith back in 2015.
Since 2021 the Storm seem to be contractually obliged to host one 6pm Friday match each season. Last year was against the Bulldogs (round 6), 2023 was against the Tigers (round 4), 2022 was against the Titans (round 21), 2021 against the Sharks (round 8). The average attendance is 12,168.
The Cowboys have only visited AAMI Park on eight previous occasions and haven’t travelled to Victoria since 2019. Their two wins came in 2012 and the 2015 preliminary final.
North Queensland have won the past three matches between these teams (two refereed by Grant Atkins), equalling their longest winning streak against Melbourne set back in 2005–2006.
Cowboys forward Jordan McLean played 86 matches for the Storm including the 2016 and 2017 Grand Finals, while Cowboys fullback Scott Drinkwater famously played one NRL match during his three and a half years with the Storm. Drinkwater played 29 matches for the Thunderbolts scoring 23 tries and won the Cooper Cronk Feeder Club Player of the Year award in 2018.
Referee Grant Atkins is set to officiate his 300th NRL match. Melbourne have won 17 of 28 matches controlled by him since the resumption of the 2020 season, including the last three.
Team line-up
Ryan Papenhuyzen
Grant Anderson
Jack Howarth
Nick Meaney
Xavier Coates
Cameron Munster
Jahrome Hughes
Stefano Utoikamanu
Harry Grant ©
Josh King
Shawn Blore
Eliesa Katoa
Trent Loeiro
Tyran Wishart
Bronson Garlick
Tui Kamikamica
Nelson Asofa-Solomona
Ativalu Lisati
Sualauvi Fa’alogo
Alec MacDonald
Joe Chan
Kane Bradley
Referee: Grant Atkins (Bunker: Ashley Klein)
Preview
Melbourne Storm vs North Queensland Cowboys
— AAMI Park, 6:00pm Friday 6 June 2025
Apparently Harry Grant is going to play. That’s nice. Xavier Coates is also back, so it appears that Grant Anderson is switching sides back to the right wing, while Jack Howarth retains his spot at left centre as he looks to build from his first game back last week. Alec MacDonald has been named as a reserve, but I can see the logic in holding him back until after the club’s third and final bye for the season coming up after this match.
For the Cowboys they’ve made no changes to the team that beat the Tigers thanks to scoring five tries while on the power play. Conceding four second half tries at even-strength must be a concern though coming out of their narrow 32–28 win at home. It’s the North Queenslanders first trip outside of Queensland since April having played three straight home matches. Their record south of the Tweed has them with two wins from four matches, with one of those wins coming from their trip to Perth against the Bunnies.
A couple of direct player versus player battles to look for this week with Harry Grant taking on NSW hooker Reece Robson and Cameron Munster dueling against Tom Dearden. The playmakers should have a big role in deciding this match, but as always the supporting cast is usually where the match is won or lost.
If Melbourne are to maintain their top four spot, this is the kind of game that needs to be won. Faltering here could mean any chance of finishing higher than third is lost and it puts Melbourne in a precarious position going forward, especially given the reverse fixture in a month is more than likely a defeat. While I don’t think this game will be a shootout, it would be nice if there is some kind of defensive battle won by the Storm and that points aren’t as difficult to come by as they have been in some matches this season.
It will be interesting to see what kind of attendance figure is posted on Friday. This time slot is second only to Thursday nights in being unsuitable for rugby league. I do echo the thoughts of the players on the 167 podcast that it would be nice if the Storm fans could take the record attendance from the A-League Men Grand Final on the weekend at some point this season, but I doubt this is the week to achieve that.
What else is going on?
The top of the table Jersey Flegg Cup Storm squad take to AAMI Park on Friday afternoon (kickoff 3:30pm) against the Panthers. Coach Mark Russell has the team overcoming hurdles both on and off the field at the moment, and a win here against the fifth-placed Panthers would be a big result.
The Bears also play Penrith at North Sydney Oval on Sunday (kickoff 5pm) and will be looking to back up their winning effort against Manly last weekend. Gabriel Satrick has been named to come off the interchange bench and there could be another couple of Storm players join him come Sunday afternoon.
As discussed in the latest Maroon Observer, there is smoke that Melbourne might be about to have their second conscious uncoupling from their QRL affiliates.2 There was an oddly-worded statement from the club that didn’t amount to a denial, but for now it’s situation normal for Easts and the Sunshine Coast. As much as it pains me to think that the Courier-Mail had some kind of scoop on the situation, it does feel like there might be something to the story at some level. Watch this space maybe?
Up north this weekend the Falcons are at home on Saturday evening (kickoff 5pm) against the Capras. The Falcons found themselves back in the top eight last weekend and could have the services of both Sua Fa’alogo and Lazarus Vaalepu this week. At Coorparoo the Tigers will be up against defending Queensland Cup premiers and current ladder leaders Norths on Sunday afternoon (kickoff 3pm). Kane Bradley and Keagan Russell-Smith will likely be in action for Easts in what will be a tough ask.
There’s a Melbourne Derby in the Super Netball at John Cain Arena on Sunday afternoon (first pass 2pm), while the Sunshine Coast Lightning are up against the struggling Firebirds in the Queensland Derby on Saturday (first pass 5pm). Courtney Bruce is set to play her 150th national league match for the Lightning in her second season with the club after crossing the continent from the Fever. The Lightning sit third on the ladder behind the undefeated Swifts and one win behind the Fever. The girls can’t afford to drop this one and in front of a packed Nissan Arena will need to be at their best to continue their winning streak against their rivals.
There’s a swinging arm tackle from Felise Kaufusi on Scott Bolton in the 29th minute that I’m still shocked as to how it was only penalty sufficient.
If Melbourne do bring a reserve grade team back, may it last longer than one season this time.