It is Fulltime! Melbourne go through to the Preliminary Final following a commanding 40-12 thrashing of the Sea Eagles. Stay tuned for the Match Report and 3,2,1's @LeagueUnlimited.
Ryan Papenhuyzen drills a 2 point field goal to rub salt into the wounds!
Ryan Papenhuyzen converts to rack up 22pts for himself tonight.
Justin Olam crashes over off a brilliant offload from Nelson Asofa-Solomona.
Cameron Munster with a superb 40/20. Storm tap 20m out.
Tom Trbojevic is stopped close to the line and knocks on trying to offload.
CAPTAIN'S CHALLENGE - STORM - Unsuccessful challenge as Christian Welch knocks on a lose pass. Manly scrum 20m out.
Penalty Storm - Against Reuben Garrick for pushing a player in the back before diving on the ball. Melbourne on the attack 30m out.
Ryan Papenhuyzen loses the ball on the attack and Manly survive the latest wave of attack from the Storm.
Ryan Papenhuyzen with a deft grubber on the last and Jason Saab bats the ball dead. Manly dropout.
Ryan Papenhuyzen now makes the lead very difficult for Manly.
Penalty Storm - High tackle from Tom Trbojevic on Jahrome Hughes in front of the posts.
Reuben Garrick loses the ball as Tom Trbojevic started to look dangerous. Melbourne ball deep in their own half.
Cameron Munster with a poor kick on the last which is too deep and gives the Sea Eagles a seven tackle re-start.
Penalty Storm - Lifting tackle from Josh Schuster on Jahrome Hughes. Melbourne find the line15m out.
Reuben Garrick converts and Manly have a pulse.
Manly needed to roll the dice and Reuben Garrick puts a deep kick off a twenty metre tap. Isaac Lumelume then slips and loses the ball. Jason Saab collects the crumbs to score under the posts!
Reuben Garrick gets a handy kick back on the inside on the last and Harry Grant is tackled in goal for a line drop out.
Ryan Papenhuyzen converts and the Storm make a big statement in this Semi Final!
Justin Olam makes a bust and find Harry Grant in support, who then finds a flying Ryan Papenhuyzen who puts on an in and away on the cover defence to score under the posts!
Penalty Manly - Tom Trbojevic picked up and driven into touch and Storm penalised - rough call. Manly find the line just short of halfway.
We are underway in the Second Half at Sunshine Coast Stadium!
Melbourne have been their clinical selves in the first to lead 24-6 at the break. Can Tom Trbojevic score his 3rd second half hat-trick in a row? We will find out shortly. Stay tuned for all the Second Half action @LeagueUnlimited!
Ryan Papenhuyzen converts his own try to make it 24-6 at halftime.
Ryan Papenhuyzen slices through the Manly defence close to the line and scores a crucial try before halftime!
Morgan Harper loses the ball and the Storm have a scrum just over halfway.
Dylan Walker regains the ball off the short dropout following an error from Ryan Papenhuyzen!
Harry Grant with a neat kick out of dummy half for the goal line and Tom Trbojevic is there to bat the ball dead. Dropout Manly.
Tom Trbojevic knocks on at the play the ball. Melbourne scrum on halfway.
INJURY UPDATE - Brandon Smith has failed his HIA and will NOT return.
Reuben Garrick converts to narrow the score for the Sea Eagles.
Daly Cherry-Evans kicks high for the tall reach of Jason Saab on the last, who leaps over Isaac Lumelume to score!
Back to back penalties for Manly and they are camped 10m out from their line with another set of six.
Penalty Manly - Against Jahrome Hughes for an escort and Manly with a chance 13m out!
Felise Kaufusi tackled on the last by Brad Parker and Manly are off the hook!
Penalty Storm - High tackle from Morgan Harper on Dale Finucane and Storm find the line 30m out.
Ryan Papenhuyzen takes the two points on offer.
Penalty Storm - Against Jake Trbojevic for holding down Jahrome Hughes close to the line. Ryan Papenhuyzen points to the posts.
Manly with a poor finish to a good set, as the ball goes to Haumole Olakau'atu who puts a kick on the last straight down the throat of Ryan Papenhuyzen in goal for a 7 tackle re-start.
INJURY UPDATE - Brandon Smith leaves the field with a HIA.
Ryan Papenhuyzen converts and the Storm are racing the clock!
Christian Welch crashes over for just his 5th career try, when he hits a lovely flat ball out of dummy half from Brandon Smith close to the line!
CAPTAIN'S CHALLENGE - Cameron Munster with a one on one strip but then loses the ball! Replay shows Haumole Olakau'atu pushed Munster and it is a penalty. Storm go for the tap 10m out!
Ryan Papenhuyzen misses the conversion from out wide.
Cameron Munster with a neat ball out the back close to the line and Kenny Bromwich wrestles his way over to score!
Penalty Storm - Against Martin Taupau with a high shot on Jahrome Hughes which undoes all the hard work for Manly. Storm over halfway.
Daly Cherry-Evans gets a decent kick away on the last and Isaac Lumelume is pinned just metres from his own try line on the first tackle.
Ryan Papenhuyzen converts and Melbourne are off to a flyer!
Daly Cherry-Evans gets a poor pass away to Morgan Harper which hits the deck. Brandon Smith picks it up and offloads to Isaac Lumelume who streaks away for the first try of the game!
Storm with no fear of Tom Trbojevic as Cameron Munster kicks to the Manly fullback on the last and he flings the ball wide to Reuben Garrick who is tackled 13m from his own line.
We are underway @Sunshine Coast Stadium! Manly with a nervous start as they let the kickoff roll in the in goal but Martin Taupau picks it up and just manages to get out of his own in goal!
Welcome to Sunshine Coast Stadium for the first Semi Final of 2021! An absolute blockbuster awaits as the Melbourne Storm face fierce rivals the Manly Sea Eagles. Can the Storm stop Tommy Turbo? Can the Sea Eagles stop Munster and the one, two punch out of dummy half of Brandon Smith and Harry Grant? Is it a Dessie ambush? Huge questions to be answered in 80 minutes time. Stay tuned for all the action @LeagueUnlimited! Kickoff not far away!
Referees & scorers:
Referee: Grant Atkins
Touch Judges: Todd Smith, Peter Gough
Video Referee: Ashley Klein
MELBOURNE STORM (40)
Tries: Isaac Lumelume, Ryan Papenhuyzen (2), Kenneath Bromwich, Christian Welch, Justin Olam
Two Point Field Goals: Ryan Papenhuyzen (1/1)
Conversions: Ryan Papenhuyzen (5/6)
Penalty Goals: Ryan Papenhuyzen (2/2)
MANLY-WARRINGAH SEA EAGLES (12)
Tries: Jason Saab (2)
Conversions: Reuben Garrick (2/2)