Raiders’ Storm stunner comes at a cost with stars in doubt for preliminary final

Canberra are one win away from their first decider in 24 years — but Ricky Stuart’s men face an anxious wait with a trio of stars in doubt for the grand final qualifier.

Raiders players celebrate John Bateman’s matchwinning try against the Storm. Picture: AAP

• Player ratings: ‘Fought them half-blind and won’

• Bulldogs’ bold poaching raid for Canberra star

Canberra are one win away from their first grand final in 24 years after shocking the Melbourne Storm with a come from behind 12-10.

The result also means there will be no grand final rematch between the Storm and Roosters, who are now grouped on the same side of the draw. While the Storm live another day, this result was all about the green machine.

The dramatic match swayed in the Raiders favour with just three minutes left when Joey Leilua scooped up a dropped ball by Josh Addo-Carr before passing to John Bateman for the match winner.

Stream every match of the 2019 NRL Telstra Premiership Finals Series before the Grand Final Live & On-Demand on KAYO SPORTS. Get your 14 day free trial and start streaming instantly >

Raiders players celebrate John Bateman’s matchwinning try against the Storm. Picture: AAP

MORE NRL FINAL COVERAGE

‘I couldn’t open my eyes’: Raiders star’s freak eye injury

The Raiders led 6-2 at half-time but conceded 10 points in as many minutes in the second half as the Storm started with a flurry.

“I’ve been on the receiving end of lack of talent for years and told I can’t coach,” Raiders coach Ricky Stuart said.

“It’s nice to have talent. I’m not trying to keep a lid on things. I’m not downplaying the win.

“We won’t get involved in the Canberra bubble. There is a lot of excitement and a lot of hype. We will not be distracted. We have to live in our own bubble.

“As you put a roster together you know yourself how good a footy team can be. They have to buy into the vision. I‘s bloody hard. You only have to be off for 10 minutes like we did in the second half which could cost you the win.”

Raiders players celebrate their win over Melbourne at AAMI. Picture: Getty Images

CRUCIAL CALL

The Storm were robbed of an opportunity to get another chance to snatch the lead back when Suli Vunivalu was incorrectly ruled to have placed his hand over the touchline. The Fijian winger claimed a short kick-off and should have given the Storm a late opportunity if it had not been for a touch judge error in front of 20136 fans.

“I can’t say nothing,” Storm coach Craig Bellamy said.

“I only had the one look.”

Bellamy critical of the on-field officiating with 21 penalties blown.

“It was disjointed,” Bellamy said.

The Storm were stunned by the Raiders at AAMI Park. Picture: AAP

“Without a doubt. Everyone can see that. I don’t know how long it took to play. It was like a game of AFL with how long it took to play.

“A few things didn’t go our way. We didn’t make a few things go our way. There was a lot of stopping the games for whatever (reason).

“Disappointing. I don’t know what else to say. We struggled with our completions at times.”

The Storm were rightly denied an opening try because of a Nelson Asofa-Solomona double movement.

PROBLEMS FOR RAIDERS

The victory could come at a heavy cost for the Raiders who have an anxious wait to found out if Jordan Rapana and Joe Tapine will be suspended after being placed on report.

Rapana was on report for a first half dangerous throw on Cameron Munster while Tapine for a chicken wing. The Raiders also lost Nick Cotric midway through the first half with a badly broken nose and cut lip after getting a stray boot. Back-rower Elliott Whitehead was also struggling with a knee injury.

CANBERRA 12 (J Bateman B Simonsson tries J Croker 2 goals) bt MELBOURNE 10 (S Vunivalu try C Smith 3 goals) at AAMI Park. Referee: Chris Sutton, Ashley Klein. Crowd: 20,136

Originally published as Raiders’ Storm stunner comes at a cost with stars in doubt for preliminary final