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Live NRL Scores Round 15 2017: Storm v Cowboys, Sharks v Tigers

Follow live for all the action from the NRL on Stupid Saturday.

Jason Taumalolo will be vital in the Origin-depleted Cowboys match against ladder leaders Melbourne.
Jason Taumalolo will be vital in the Origin-depleted Cowboys match against ladder leaders Melbourne. Photo: Ian Hitchcock

Goonight!

What did we get out of that? Perhaps the Origin period really is a blessing and not a curse. Good clubs get such a psychological boost from winning under adversity at this time of year. Melbourne and Cronulla outstanding - and their opponents not far behind. Here's the latest podcast on autoplay! '

Fulltime at Southern Cross Stadium: CRONULLA 24 WESTS TIGERS 22

A LAST-ditch Jayson Bukuya try has given premiers Cronulla their gripping victory over a desperately unlucky Wests Tigers.

Wests Tigers led 12-4 at halftime and 22-14 with just eight minutes to go. Winger Edrick Lee's try put the beaten World Club Challenge finalists back into the game and then replacement Daniel Mortimer provided the kick for Fiji international Bukuya's winner.

It's just the latest in a long line of come-from-behind victories for the Sharks this season. They're second on the ladder with 10 wins and four losses.

COMMENT: Hard to swallow if you're a Wests Tigers fan. They did everything but win.

 

Photo: Picasa

77 min: Bukuya try

New Shark Daniel Mortimer dabs a perfect kick into the southern in-goal and Fiji international Jayson Bukuya races through to dot down for the match winner! Another gripping finish and the premiers pocket the points. The Bunker was consulted and the green light flashed after the grounding was checked. Dramatic stuff. Chad Townsend's conversion comes from just the the left of the posts - actually it's a fair way out - and he misses. Cronulla 24-22.

73 min: Lee try. Townsend goal

Edrick Lee makes sure of a nervous few minutes for Wests Tigers fans by scoring in the south-western corner. Now Chad Townsend converts from the touchline and we are two points short of further golden point! Wests Tigers 22-20.

68 min: Watene-Zelezniak try, Lolohea goal

Kevin Naiqama lobs an absolutely pretty cutout pass to Wests Tigers winger Malakai Watene-Zelezniak in the north-western corner and and there is no doubt he gets the ball down cleanly, despite the Bunker being consulted. Green light. Tui Lolohea pilots the conversion just inside the left upright from the sideline. Eight point margin now. Wests Tigers 22-14.

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61 min: Capewell try

Kurt Capoewell - I keep wanting to say Luke - get his second try. It's 'no try' on the field but the replay shows the Shark bouncing over and keeping control of the ball. He had Edrick Lee unmarked outside him. Chad Townsend's conversion is off to the left. Wests Tigers 16-14.

52 min: Townsend try, goal

Chad Townsend heads for line, seems to be tackled short, but the Cronulla halfback rolls out of tackle and scores. Perhaps there was an attempted one-on-one strip there? Townsend converts. Tonight's crowd: 11,695. Wests Tigers 16-10.

45 min: Liddle try

Lidl sell cheap groceries and Jacob Liddle has just scored a very cheap try for Wests Tigers. Just darts over from close range. The conversion attempt was relatively simple but Tui Lolohea has missed. Wests Tigers 16-4.

Our final half of football for the day is now underway. Both sides have had a touch of the ball. Cronulla carting the ball out of the northern end. Wests Tigers 12-4.

Halftime at Southern Cross Stadium: WESTS TIGERS 12 CRONULLA 4

WESTS Tigers have overcome being reduced to 12 men for 10 minutes to hold an eight-point lead at halftime in the round 15 NRL match against premiers Cronulla.

Forward Ava Seumanufagai was sent to the sin bin for a professional foul just a few minutes into his 100th first grade appearance and Cronulla posted an early 4-0 lead via a maiden NRL try for threequarter Kurt Capewell.

But the joint venture has responded with consecutive touchdowns to captain Elijah Taylor and rookie Esan Marsters, each converted by mid-season signing Tui Lolohea.

COMMENT: Cronulla look to be missing their Origin players - but we said that about Melbourne, too, didn't we?

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33 min: Marsters try, Lolohea goal

Esan Marsters dives over from dummy half and the man playing the ball, Luke Brooks, is cleared of obstructing the defence. Marsters, a Kiwi, was a late inclusion. Tui Lolohea now with the conversion and it's there. Wests Tigers 12-4.

26 min: Taylor try, Lolohea goal

Wests Tigers get their chance in enemy territory and Elijah Taylor's incisive run just to the left of the posts carries him over the tryline to the left of the posts. Paul Gallen's cousin, Matt Eisenhuth, laid on the ball and he did manage to fool Gallen in the process. Tui Lolohea converts. Wests Tigers 6-4

19 min: Capewell try

Kurt Capewell accepts a pass from Edrick Lee, who Wests Tigers thought they had well-held in the north-eastern corner, and Chad Townsend is trying for a sideline conversion. Was there a forward pass in there? No, say the match officials. The conversion attempt misses. Cronulla 4-0.

Teams - SHARKS v TIGERS

CRONULLA: Gerard Beale; Sosaia Feki, Kurt Capewell, Ricky Leutele; Nu Brown, Chad Townsend; Paul Gallen ©, Jayson Bukuya, Luke Lewis, Matt Prior, Jayden Brailey, Sam Tagataese. Res: Daniel Mortimer, Chris Heighington, Jeremy Latimore, Joseph Paulo.

WESTS TIGERS: Kevin Naiqama; David Nofoaluma, Esan Marsters, Moses Suli, Malakai Watene-Zelezniak; Tui Lolohea, Luke Brooks; Elijah Taylor, Kyle Lovett, Suaso Sue, Ava Seumanufagai, Matt McIlwrick, Tim Grant. Res: Michael Chee Kam, Matt Eisenhuth, JJ Felise , Jacob Liddle.

5 min: Seumanufagai SIN BIN (professional foul)

In his 100th first grade game, Ava Seumanufagai is sent to the sin bin for holding down - a professional foul - and Wests Tigers are at an early disadvantage. 0-0.

 

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And, right into the next game, it's Cronulla with first use of the ball running from the south at their home ground of Southern Cross Stadium. Cronulla 0 Wests Tigers 0. 

Fulltime at AAMI Park: MELBOURNE 23 NORTH QUEENSLAND 22 in golden point time

A 40-metre field goal from youngster Brody Croft has given Melbourne golden point victory over North Queensland and left little doubt who will replace Cooper Cronk in the purple number seven jersey next year.

In a spectacular, see-sawing contest, the Cowboys opend up a 10-0 lead earlier before the Storm looked safe at 22-14 with three minutes left in regulation time.

But centre Kane Linnett then forced his way over, clutch specialist Kyle Feldt converted from the sideline and then added a penalty goal after the end of regulation time.

COMMENT: Fantastic game in which Melbourne's recruiting prowess was highlighted perhaps the best it has been in the club's entire history.

84 min: Croft field goal

And young Brody Croft lands a 40 metre field goal to win it for Melbourne. I think we know who Cooper Cronk's replacement is! Melbourne 23-22. 

End of regulation time at AAMI Park: MELBOURNE 22 NORTH QUEENSLAND 22

A MELBOURNE-North Queensland game being played without nine State of Origin stars is going into overtime.

The Cowboys scored via centre Kane Linnett with less than three minutes remaining, with winger Kyle Feldt converting from the sideline. Stormer Nelson Asofa Solomona then conceded a penalty by taking out Jake Granville seconds short of the end of regulation time.

North Queensland have first use of the ball in golden point time.

COMMENT: A spectacle worthy of a few more minutes despite the absentees.

80 min: Feldt goal

Penalty to North Queensland in kicking distance after Nelson Asofa-Solomona takes out Jake Granville chasing his own chip kick. Kyle Feldt has a 37 metre kick. It's fulltime. It's there! 22-22.

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Match Tracker

Melbourne Storm
North Queensland Cowboys
H1
6
10

    Melbourne Storm Events

  • 31 mins - Try, C.Scott
  • 33 mins - Conversion, C.Munster

    Melbourne Storm and North Queensland Cowboys Events

  • 8 mins - Penalty goal, K.Feldt
  • 9 mins - Try, K.Feldt
  • 11 mins - Conversion, K.Feldt
  • 26 mins - Penalty goal, K.Feldt
H2
16
12

    Melbourne Storm Events

  • 52 mins - Try, B.Smith
  • 53 mins - Conversion, C.Munster
  • 55 mins - Try, C.Scott
  • 56 mins - Conversion, C.Munster
  • 58 mins - Try, F.Kaufusi

    Melbourne Storm and North Queensland Cowboys Events

  • 46 mins - Try, L.Coote
  • 79 mins - Try, K.Linnett
  • 79 mins - Conversion, K.Feldt
  • 80 mins - Penalty goal, K.Feldt
ET
0
0

    Melbourne Storm Events

    Melbourne Storm and North Queensland Cowboys Events

Scorers

Melbourne Storm
North Queensland Cowboys
Goal Scorers Melbourne Storm North Queensland Cowboys
Tries Scott (2), Smith (1), Kaufusi (1) Feldt (1), Coote (1), Linnett (1)
Conversions Munster (3/4) Feldt (2/3)
Penalty Goals Feldt (3/3)
Field Goals Croft (1/1)

Team Statistics

Melbourne Storm
North Queensland Cowboys

Statistics

Melbourne Storm North Queensland Cowboys
Tries 4 3
Conversions 3 2
Penalty Goals 0 3
Field Goals 1 0
Melbourne StormGoal Scorers
Players R RM OF LB TA K T MT PC ER
J.Addo-Carr 12 128 1 0 0 0 1 1 1 1
N.Asofa-Solomona 6 63 0 0 0 0 21 1 1 1
D.Britt 6 49 0 0 0 0 8 0 1 0
J.Bromwich 19 160 3 0 0 0 44 3 1 0
K.Bromwich 15 129 0 0 0 0 23 2 0 1
B.Croft 4 36 0 1 0 8 16 2 0 0
D.Finucane 9 74 0 0 0 0 28 1 0 0
S.Griffin 5 56 0 0 0 1 28 0 0 1
T.Harris 13 141 1 0 0 0 52 1 3 0
R.Jacks 4 33 0 0 0 5 26 0 0 0
F.Kaufusi 7 90 0 2 1 0 28 5 2 3
C.Munster 15 153 0 0 1 3 6 1 0 1
M.Nicholls 4 57 0 0 0 0 20 1 1 0
C.Scott 9 84 0 1 0 0 18 0 1 0
B.Smith 3 25 1 1 1 0 29 1 0 0
Y.Tonumaipea 13 102 0 0 0 0 8 5 0 0
S.Vunivalu 10 87 2 0 0 0 0 0 0 1
North Queensland CowboysGoal Scorers
Players R RM OF LB TA K T MT PC ER
J.Asiata 13 101 0 0 0 0 24 7 0 0
S.Bolton 20 182 0 0 0 0 40 2 0 0
J.Bowen 10 89 0 0 0 1 5 0 0 0
L.Coote 9 47 1 0 0 8 8 4 0 0
K.Feldt 14 125 0 0 0 1 2 1 2 0
S.Fensom 8 63 0 0 0 1 29 1 0 0
J.Granville 1 11 0 0 1 2 31 1 0 0
B.Hampton 3 45 0 0 0 0 12 0 0 0
C.Jensen 2 10 0 0 0 0 11 0 0 0
K.Laybutt 3 27 1 0 0 7 16 1 0 2
K.Linnett 11 90 0 1 0 0 24 3 2 0
E.Lowe 16 169 0 0 0 1 32 3 0 0
J.O'Neill 14 96 2 1 1 0 12 1 1 0
B.Spina 2 13 0 0 0 0 9 0 1 0
J.Taumalolo 25 268 3 0 0 0 34 4 0 0
R.Thompson 4 24 0 0 1 1 10 3 0 1
A.Winterstein 7 77 0 0 0 0 2 2 0 1

Match Details

Melbourne Storm
North Queensland Cowboys
START TIME
3:30PM
WEATHER
Clear
VENUE
AAMI Park
Referees
Adam Gee, Ben Cummins, Jason Walsh, Luke Patten, Steve Chiddy, Tim Roby