MELBOURNE STORM 22 GOLD COAST TITANS 18
TOM SMITH, AAMI Park, Sunday
NICK MEANEY’S 79th-minute try settled a thriller for Melbourne over Gold Coast to close out Round 19.
Jayden Campbell and Keano Kini helped the Titans reel in a 18-6 deficit in the second half, before Meaney scored from dummy-half to clinch victory and keep the Storm in the top-eight race.
Halfback Jahrome Hughes returned from a hamstring injury to assist two tries, while halves partner Tyran Wishart shone in the absence of Cameron Munster, who was rested after Origin.
Maroons quartet Harry Grant and Trent Loiero for Melbourne plus Jojo Fifita and Tino Fa’asuamaleaui for Gold Coast all backed up.
Ex-Storm winger Dean Ieremia played his first NRL game since 2024 for the Titans while referee Tyson Brough also made his first-grade bow.
A pin-point Hughes kick on the end of a Wishart bust set up Melbourne’s first try through Will Wabrick, although Gold Coast replied via Moeaki Fotuaika.
The Bunker denied Oliver Pascoe and AJ Brimson – instead, Jack Howarth gave Melbourne the half-time lead.
The hosts were up by twelve once Hughes sent Alec MacDonald crashing over.
However, Campbell intercepted a Grant pass to race the length of the field then Kini sliced through, and Campbell’s clutch goal-kicking made it 18-all.
But with two minutes left, Sualauvi Faalogo’s brilliant kick return gave Meaney, who also kicked three goals, his opportunity to snatch the win.
The Storm have now won twelve of their last 13 against the Titans.
STORM: 1 Sualauvi Faalogo, 2 Will Warbrick, 3 Jack Howarth, 4 Nick Meaney, 21 Siulagi Tuimalatu-Brown, 14 Tyran Wishart, 7 Jahrome Hughes, 8 Stefano Utoikamanu, 19 Trent Toelau, 10 Josh King, 11 Cooper Clarke, 15 Joe Chan, 13 Trent Loiero. Subs: 9 Harry Grant, 12 Alec MacDonald, 16 Jack Hetherington (not used), 17 Josiah Pahulu, 18 Oryn Keeley, 23 Hayden Watson (not used)
Tries: Warbrick (13), Howarth (30), MacDonald (45), Meaney (79); Goals: Meaney 3/4
TITANS: 1 Keano Kini, 2 Dean Ieremia, 3 Jojo Fifita, 4 AJ Brimson, 5 Phillip Sami, 6 Jayden Campbell, 7 Zane Harrison, 8 Moeaki Fotuaika, 9 Oliver Pascoe, 10 Tino Fa’asuamaleaui, 11 Arama Hau, 12 Beau Fermor, 13 Chris Randall. Subs: 14 Kurtis Morrin, 15 Josh Patston, 16 Klese Haas, 17 Cooper Bai, 18 Sam Verrills (not used), 19 Jaylan De Groot (not used)
Tries: Fotuaika (18), Campbell (54), Kini (62); Goals: Campbell 3/3
SCORING SEQUENCE: 6-0, 6-6, 12-6; 18-6, 18-12, 18-18, 22-18
Rugby Leaguer & League Express Men of the Match
Storm: Tyran Wishart; Titans: Jayden Campbell
Penalty count: 3-4; Half-time: 12-6; Referee: Tyson Brough; Attendance: 12,386