Cronk slots victory for Melbourne

A Cooper Cronk 79th minute field goal was the only difference between the Melbourne Storm and the Sydney Roosters in a 17-16 victory at a rain soaked AAMI Park. 12,860 fans braved the conditions as both side played a free-flowing, yet grinding game.

Marika Koroibete, a stand out in the Melbourne back line, opened the points account for the Storm in the 14th minute courtesy of a Cooper Cronk cross field kick.

The Roosters shortly replied through, as he Mitchell Aubusson sailed over for their first points via James Maloney, Mitchell Pearce combination. The Roosters ahead, 6-4 at the mid-way mark of the first half.

Maloney extended the Roosters lead to 10-4 with two penalties in the 22nd and 27th minutes.

Felise Kaufusi locked up the game at 10-all at half time as his power running had him surge through the Roosters goal line defence in the shadows of the break.

The Roosters forward pack dented as Jared Waerea-Hargreaves failed to return due to a pectoral injury. He will have scans to determine the extent of the injury leading into their ANZAC Day clash with the St. George Illawarra Dragons next weekend.

Cameron Smith sparked the game to life after 33 grinding minutes of football in the second half. His wide angled, acting half pass which secured four points for Will Chambers, to give the Storm an 16-10. Michael Jennings left grabbing at his jersey as the sliding defence failed to cover the Smith pass.

Pressure was on the visiting Bondi boys as points were at a premium. Daniel Tupou took the game to 16-all as his he took a bullet pass from James Maloney. Despite enquiry from referee, Ashely Klein, a possible eight point try was not given with questions over whether Cameron Munster slid across with knees to the back of Tupou.

After missing his first attempt a minute previous due to a Boyd Cordner charge down, Cooper Cronk slot the winning points with a field goal in the 79th minute.

The Melbourne Storm climb to the top of the NRL Ladder on 10 competition points with a superior points differential over St. George Illawarra Dragons and Brisbane Broncos.

Match Details

Melbourne Storm 17 Sydney Roosters 16
Venue: AAMI Park
Crowd: 12860
Halftime Score: Melbourne Storm 10 Sydney Roosters 10

MELBOURNE STORM (17)
Tries: Marika Koroibete, Felise Kaufusi, Will Chambers
Field Goals: Cooper Cronk (1/2)
Conversions: Cameron Smith (2/3)
Penalty Goals:

SYDNEY ROOSTERS (16)
Tries: Mitchell Aubusson, Daniel Tupou
Field Goals:
Conversions: James Maloney (2/2)
Penalty Goals: James Maloney (2/2)

LeagueUnlimited.com Players of the Match:

3 points - Cameron Smith
2 points - Marika Koroibete
1 point - Roger Tuivasa-Sheck

LeagueUnlimited.com Live Commentary

LATE MAIL: Melbourne Storm - The hosts take the field, 1-17. Ben Hampton, Kenneath Bromwich, Hymel Hunt and Tom Learoyd-Lahrs drop off the extended bench.

Sydney Roosters - Willie Manu replaces Matt McIlwrick on the interchange bench

Welcome to AAMI Park in Melbourne as the Storm host the Sydney Roosters in the final Super Saturday clash. The Storm are still without their star fullback, and while Cameron Munster has talent, his class saw them struggle in the first half against Canberra in Round 6. The Roosters will be looking to continue their winning ways with a tough trip down South.

Standing by for kick off at a rain soaked AAMI Park as the team finish up their pre-game warm ups.

We are UNDERWAY as Cameron Smith kicks off for the Melbourne Storm.

1: Good opening sets from both sides, controlled play early in the wet conditions

2: First penalty of the game goes to the Roosters, too long in the ruck from Tohu Harris for crowding.

3: Change over for the Storm, Nene Macdonald juggles the cross field kick off the boot from Mitchell Pearce. Storm with possession down in their 10m zone.

4: 5' VIDEO REFEREE for the Roosters, NO TRY… looked like a clear knock on live. Mitchell Aubusson came flying through off a Pearce grubber

5: NO TRY is the call. Knock on in goal against Mitchell Aubusson. 20 metre restart is the call for the Storm.

6: Will Chambers toes through a grubber on last tackle and it just finds the sideline, scrum will pack for the Roosters 10 metres out from their own try line.

8: Penalty to the Storm, strip the call against Jared Waerea-Hargreaves. Still nil-all as the Storm attack 25 metres out from the free kick

10: Line drop out for the Melbourne Storm, repeat set to build some pressure on the Roosters try line now.

11: Mahe Fonua unable to hold onto possession from the Cronk cross field kick and it's a change over for the Roosters deep in their own half.

12: Penalty to the Storm, James Maloney holding in the ruck. Cameron Smith finds the sideline to put the Storm on the attack from half way

13: Siosiua Taukeiaho ruled to have stripped the ball in the ruck, Storm mounting pressure inside the Roosters 10 metre zone now.

14: TRY MELBOURNE STORM
Scored by Marika Koroibete. Kick to come.
Marika Koroibete out jumped the Roosters defence with a brilliant leap has scored a classy four-pointer. Cronk put on a great chip kick to set up the try.

16: UNSUCCESSFUL CONVERSION MELBOURNE STORM
Conversion attempt by Cameron Smith unsuccessful.
Cameron Smith with the conversion attempt hits the uprights as the rain continues to hammer down. Storm hold a 4 point lead

18: Penalty to Roosters, Harris conceding. Pearce finds the line and the Roosters attack 35m out

19: TRY SYDNEY ROOSTERS
Scored by Mitchell Aubusson. Kick to come.
Mitchell Aubusson has sailed into a yawning gap of the Storm line as Mitchell Pearce and James Maloney link together to set up the four-pointer. the Roosters making the Storm sliding defence look silly

20: SUCCESSFUL CONVERSION SYDNEY ROOSTERS
Conversion attempt by James Maloney successful.
James Maloney with the conversion slots the extras to give Roosters a 2 point lead

21: Cameron Smith sends the kick off OUT ON THE FULL! Not how you back up after conceding points

21: Penalty to the Roosters, high tackle from Will Chambers on Jake Friend. Penalty goal coming up for the tri-colours.

22: SUCCESSFUL PENALTY GOAL SYDNEY ROOSTERS
Penalty goal attempt by James Maloney successful.
James Maloney takes the gift two points on offer to extend their lead over the Storm to 4 points after the high tackle on Jake Friend.

25: Just missing the 40/20 as the ball slid just shy of the sideline. RTS covering at the back to return the set back the 20m line!

25: Penalty to the Roosters, Cameron Smith taking out Roger Tuivasa-Sheck in the kick chase

27: SUCCESSFUL PENALTY GOAL SYDNEY ROOSTERS
Penalty goal attempt by James Maloney successful.
James Maloney makes it a 6 point lead after Cameron Smith took out RTS in the run through on the kick chase.

32: Unlucky for Founa, Tupou's defection off the cross field kick not helping Mahe's run. Scrum for the Roosters 10 metres out from the Storm line.

33: 20 metre tap for the Storm, the defence chasing strongly to hold out off the Roosters attack.

35: Roger Tuivasa-Sheck! Skills! Incredible foresight to put the ball inside before going out. Roosters getting the Storm caught.

35: Marika Koroibete on his bike after taking the cross field kick in goal, he bolts to the 20 metre tap.

36: Penalty to the Storm, Cam Smith kicks for touch and Melbourne the advance to the 20m line.

37: Juggle in the ruck, but a penalty comes for a hand in from Aubusson. Storm 10m out from the Roosters try line.

38: TRY MELBOURNE STORM
Scored by Felise Kaufusi. Kick to come.
Felise Kaufusi comes with the surging run and bolts under posts to give the Storm fans something to cheer about

39: SUCCESSFUL CONVERSION MELBOURNE STORM
Conversion attempt by Cameron Smith successful.
Cameron Smith with the conversion attempt from beside the uprights makes it a 10 point all game!

40: HALF TIME at AAMI Park, we are all locked up at 10-all between the Storm and the Roosters.

41: Second half is UNDERWAY and an immediate penalty to the Storm for Mitchell Aubusson holding in the ruck.

42: James Maloney with a get run for the Roosters, somehow gets out of the in goal area.

45: SO CLOSE! Storm called back for a tap forward. Blake Green almost away to set up Kurt Mann for a long-range four-pointer

45: Scrum with the Roosters now as they attack from inside their red zone.

46: Jared Waerea-Hargreaves will NOT be back tonight. He has a pec injury and needs scans tomorrow. Roosters will be in some trouble with him in the middle.

52: Munster toes it dead. Line drop out to give the Roosters a repeat set, and the pressure remains on the Storm defence.

53: UNFORCED ERROR SYDNEY ROOSTERS
Mitchell Pearce makes an unforced error.
Mitchell Pearce sporting the front-rowers head gear, handles it like a prop and spills it in the wet conditions. Only the second error in this contest.

56: Great take from Daniel Tupou off the kick, but he his limping in back play after the contact with Mahe Founa

58: Penalty to the Storm, Willie Manu holding down. Count is 7-6. Melbourne attack 40 metres out from the Roosters try line from the touch finder.

61: Penalty to the Storm, holding too long in the ruck. Storm attack 20m out

61: VIDEO REFEREE for the Storm, Blake Green is claiming but Klein says NO TRY!

62: NO TRY! Blake Green lost the ball as he reached out and put it down on the foot. 20 metre tap for the Roosters!

64: VIDEO REFEREE! NO TRY is the call, but review needed for Macdonald

64: VIDEO REFEREE says NO TRY! Nene Macdonald is forced over the sideline… still 10-all

67: NO TRY! Beautiful hands from the Roosters but Tupou just short of the try line.

70: Inside the final ten minutes, grinding football in this second half as both teams' handling has been excellent despite the wet conditions.

72: Shaun Kenny-Dowall ruled to have stripped it… penalty to the Storm. Opportunity now for Melbourne 35 metres out from the Roosters try line.

73: TRY MELBOURNE STORM
Scored by Will Chambers. Kick to come.
Will Chambers slides into a gap on the right side as Cameron Smith angled it wide from dummy half to open up the hole. Michael Jennings can't stop the running Chambers

75: SUCCESSFUL CONVERSION MELBOURNE STORM
Conversion attempt by Cameron Smith successful.
Smith makes no issues with the conversion from the sideline and the Storm go up by 6 points

75: Roosters with the short kick off are successful and they are on the attack 30m out now

76: VIDEO REFEREE for the Roosters, Daniel Tupou has a TRY for Klein. POSSIBLE 8 POINT TRY with knees from Cameron Munster across the back.

76: TRY SYDNEY ROOSTERS
Scored by Daniel Tupou. Kick to come.
James Maloney provides a bullet pass for his winger in Tupou who darts over in the corner with an open line in front of him. Cameron Munster can't stop in a sliding effort.

77: SUCCESSFUL CONVERSION SYDNEY ROOSTERS
Conversion attempt by James Maloney successful.
Maloney with the strike from touch! Nails it from the sideline

78: The Storm will have a shot at field goal with a big set...

78: UNSUCCESSFUL FIELD GOAL MELBOURNE STORM
Field goal attempt by Cooper Cronk unsuccessful.
Cronk takes a shot and it's charged down by Boyd Cordner and it's zero tackle now!

79: SUCCESSFUL FIELD GOAL MELBOURNE STORM
Field goal attempt by Cooper Cronk successful.
Cooper Cronk with the successful field goal as Cameron Smith whipped out from dummy half.

80: FULL TIME at AAMI Park and the Melbourne Storm knock off the Sydney Roosters with a late field goal to win 17-16