The Storm have gripped on to win a thrilling contest against the Bulldogs, locking in a home qualifying final.
Melbourne held on to win 20-14 after Bulldogs captain Stephen Crichton was denied a potential game-levelling try in the 79th minute.
Crichton was ruled to have knocked the ball on before grounding it.
“That’s a matter of millimetres,” Dan Ginnane said.
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It moves the Storm two games clear of the third-placed Bulldogs, who have an inferior points difference and will need a miracle to steal second.
The Storm’s rugged defence was a highlight all night as Bulldogs five-eighth Matt Burton tested them time and again with his stellar field kicking, but the key moment came in a spectacular chase down tackle from Storm winger Xavier Coates to deny Harry Hayes a metre from the line late in the second half.
Coates, who is in remarkable form, scored what would be the game’s winning try, benefitting from a stellar build up that was one of the team tries of the season.
With Grant in the sin bin, Storm created some breathing space on the back of a 30 metre dash and chip from Grant Anderson, which connected with Nick Meaney, who’s perfect four-from-four from the goal kicking tee was crucial.
On the next play, Storm young gun Jonah Pezet produced a perfectly weighted cross field kick to find Coates unattended, who posted his 12th try in his past nine home games.
The Bulldogs huffed and puffed with Crichton coming so close to a late try, but could just never take the lead as Storm held on with one of their best defensive performances of the season.
BIG HITS
Storm front up
The opening 40 was arguably Storm’s best defensive half of the season.
The home side’s defence was called on time and again to stop the Bulldogs in dangerous positions and answered every question with Storm forward Trent Loiero leading the way with 48 tackles.
Storm utility Tyran Wishart, who has the enormous job of filling in at halfback for Jahrome Hughes, left two Bulldogs in his wake, breaking the line to put forward Eliesa Katoa into a hole for the opening try of the game.
The pressure continued for the Bulldogs when fullback Connor Tracey fumbled under a high and put the Storm immediately back on the attack.
The hosts made him pay with interest as the fleet footed Ryan Papenhuyzen slid in to score with Meaney converting from the sidelines to make it 12-0 at half time.
It was not like the Bulldogs were without their chances.
They forced the Storm to make 18 tackles inside their attacking 20, but they were impenetrable, while the Dogs attack was disjointed.
Burton battles through pain
Burton was in the wars in the first half.
There was a worrying moment when Burton hyperextended his already strapped left knee and stayed down for 30 seconds, but got up and into the defensive line much to the relief of Dogs fans.
Burton’s woes continued when he was again left on the deck, this time from a fierce tackle with his ribs wide open from Storm enforcer Tui Kamikamica, which winded him.
But he is one of the toughest Bulldogs there is and he tried his utmost to get his side over the line under duress.
Storm stress
In a disastrous five minutes after half time for the Storm, they lost Tui Kamikamica to a head injury and lost Grant to the bin.
All of a sudden it was game on when young Bulldogs hooker Bailey Hayward crossed from dummy half to halve the deficit.
The Bulldogs came oh so close to another try with Grant in the bin, only for winger Jacob Kiraz to fail in his put down attempt.
In a controversial moment, Burton knocked on but a ruffling of his helmet by Meaney and Anderson, saw referee Adam Gee reverse the play with a penalty and the Dogs hit back through Viliame Kikau.
The spectacular chase down tackle from Coates to deny Hayes just centimetres from the line was the game’s defining moment.
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