Melbourne and the Warriors are preliminary finalists after contrasting semi-final wins: the Storm edged past the Roosters and the Warriors rock and rolled the Knights infront of a jubilant home crowd.
MELBOURNE 18, SYDNEY ROOSTERS 13
Melbourne has booked a preliminary final against Penrith.
In a tight and controversial semi-final at AAMI Park, the Roosters led 13-12 in the 71st minute after Sam Walkerโs second field goal in two weeks.
With two minutes left, the Storm were on the attack when Harry Grant was taken high by Walker, but no penalty was awarded. Though Melbourne hit the lead a couple of tackles later: Will Warbrick scored off a Cameron Munster bomb with a grab that wouldnโt be out of place at the neighbouring MCG.
Melbourne shot out to a 10-0 lead (tries to Tyran Wishart and Marion Seve), but the Eastern Suburbs side hit back with a try to former Melbourne player Brandon Smith.
Seve’s try came shortly after a seemingly obvious Grant knock on (on his goal-line) was missed: and, to make it worse for the Roosters, Grant threw the final pass for Seve to score.
The Storm led 10-6 at half-time and extended it to 12-6 with a Nick Meaney penalty goal. The Roosters tied the score – with 15 minutes remaining – with a Lindsay Collins try.
Melbourne will play Penrith next Friday night, most likely at Accor Stadium. The Storm return to the preliminary finals after missing out last season.
This loss ended the Roostersโ six-game winning streak, which saw them charge into the finals with plenty of momentum.
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September 15, 2023
18 - 13Full Time |
Storm
| Player | T | G | FG | 2FG |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Nick Meaney | 0 | 3 | 0 | 0 |
| Will Warbrick | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Marion Seve | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Justin Olam | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Reimis Smith | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Cameron Munster | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Tyran Wishart | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Tui Kamikamica | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Bronson Garlick | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Nelson Asofa-Solomona | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Trent Loiero | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Eliesa Katoa | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Josh King | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Harry Grant | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Christian Welch | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Tom Eisenhuth | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Tariq Sims | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Grant Anderson | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Total | 3 | 3 | 0 | 0 |
Roosters
| Player | T | G | FG | 2FG |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| James Tedesco | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Fetalaiga Pauga | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Paul Momirovski | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Corey Allan | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Jaxson Paulo | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Luke Keary | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Sam Walker | 0 | 2 | 1 | 0 |
| Lindsay Collins | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Brandon Smith | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Egan Butcher | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Siua Wong | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Nat Butcher | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Victor Radley | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Fletcher Baker | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Sandon Smith | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Terrell May | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Angus Crichton | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Drew Hutchison | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Total | 2 | 2 | 1 | 0 |
Venue
| AAMI Park |
|---|
| Melbourne VIC 3004, Australia |
Details
| Date | Time | League | Season | Match Day | Full Time |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| September 15, 2023 | 19:50 | Telstra National Rugby League Premiership | 2023 | SemiFinals | 80' |
NZ WARRIORS 40, NEWCASTLE 10
The Warriors have made their first preliminary final since 2011.
‘The Wahs’ responded to the massive Mt Smart Stadium crowd, scoring seven tries.
Tries to Charnze Nicoll-Klokstad, Addin Fonua-Blake, and Marcelo Montoya gave the Warriors a 16-0 lead after 13 minutes.
Greg Marzhew scored for Newcastle as the Warriors led 16-4 at half-time. And then Dylan Lucas cut the lead to 16-10 early in the second half.
But it was all Warriors from there, with tries to Dylan Walker, Rocco Berry, Dallin Watene-Zelezniak, and Bayley Sironen. Adam Pompey kicked six goals from seven.
The Warriors travel to Lang Park to face Brisbane next Saturday night. And they’re bound to get a lot of support from neutral fans and Queensland-based New Zealanders.
For Newcastle, it’s the end of the road after a magnificent 10-game winning streak.
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September 16, 2023
40 - 10Full Time |
Warriors
| Player | T | G | FG | 2FG |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Charnze Nicoll-Klokstad | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Dallin Watene-Zelezniak | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Rocco Berry | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Adam Pompey | 0 | 6 | 0 | 0 |
| Marcelo Montoya | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Te Maire Martin | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Shaun Johnson | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Addin Fonua-Blake | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Wayde Egan | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Mitchell Barnett | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Jackson Ford | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Marata Niukore | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Tohu Harris | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Dylan Walker | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Jazz Tevaga | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Bayley Sironen | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Josh Curran | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Taine Tuaupiki | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Total | 7 | 6 | 0 | 0 |
Knights
| Player | T | G | FG | 2FG |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Kalyn Ponga | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| Dominic Young | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Dane Gagai | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Bradman Best | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Greg Marzhew | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Tyson Gamble | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Adam Clune | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Jacob Saifiti | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Phoenix Crossland | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Leo Thompson | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Tyson Frizell | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Dylan Lucas | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Adam Elliott | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Kurt Mann | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Jack Hetherington | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Mat Croker | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Brodie Jones | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Fa’amanu Brown | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Total | 2 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
Venue
| Go Media Stadium |
|---|
| Pikes Point, Southdown, Maungakiekie-Tฤmaki, Auckland, 1061, New Zealand |
Details
| Date | Time | League | Season | Match Day | Full Time |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| September 16, 2023 | 16:05 | Telstra National Rugby League Premiership | 2023 | SemiFinals | 80' |
