In a nutshell
Melbourne claimed their second narrow victory in as many weeks, as Cooper Cronk’s field goal proved the difference to ensure the Storm picked up another win.
How it unfolded
First half: Melbourne piled the pressure on early, with several repeat sets finally paying off as Kevin Proctor crashed over, before Mahe Fonua scored the Storm’s second try to put them 8-0 up. However, Kevin Naiqama managed to get the Panther’s first points of the evening, before a penalty from Peter Wallace levelled it up. Sisa Waqa then reopened a lead for the home side with the Storm’s third try of the evening.
Second half: There was only one try in the second period, and it came from the Panthers. Josh Mansour’s 44th minute effort and subsequent conversion nudged the Panthers into a 16-14 lead. A penalty from Smith soon tied it up – before the first of three field goals. Cooper Cronk slotted the one-pointer, before Wallace replied with one of his own to make it 17-17. Cronk then hit back with his second field goal of the evening to secure the most dramatic of wins for Melbourne.
