‘Unbelievable’: NRL loses it for utterly insane semi-final madness

The NRL has been left shocked by one of the wildest finishes imaginable to the semi-final after a Hail Mary moment saved the day.

Will Warbrick has done the unthinkable. Photo by Kelly Defina/Getty Images

The Melbourne Storm have pulled off an unthinkable play with two minutes left in the match to claim an 18-13 win over the Sydney Roosters.

The Storm will play another preliminary final under coach Craig Bellamy as they travel to Sydney to play the two-time defending premier Penrith Panthers after pulling off a clutch finish.

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After the Roosters hit the lead 13-12 with nine minutes to go, the Storm had not been able to get an even-up field goal, with Tyran Wishart’s only attempt hitting his own teammate in the back of the head.

But with time almost up, Cameron Munster went across field after he was too shallow for an attempt at the one-point, kicking to former Olympic Rugby Sevens silver medallist Will Warbrick to break the Roosters’ hearts.

After nabbing the ball out of the sky, Warbrick still had work to do, getting over and slamming the ball down.

“An unbelievable finish,” Mat Thompson said on Channel 9.

Will Warbrick has scored the match winner with two minutes left. Photo by Kelly Defina/Getty Images

Munster said he just backed himself to pull off the right kick at the death.

“Will is obviously really good in the air, we have trained all year in those scenarios,” he said on Channel 9.

“Obviously we’ll remember that moment for a long time.”

On the other side of the equation, Roosters captain James Tedesco said it was a “disappointing finish”.

“It was a great performance, it’s just disappointing at the last minute, but that’s finals footy,” Tedesco told Channel 9.

“It comes down to the big moments and big plays. It’s just a great finals match. Both teams gave it their all, congrats to Melbourne and good luck next week.”

Wow! Rugby League does it again 🙌🏻

— Chad Townsend (@chadtownsend10) September 15, 2023

Best ever 🤝

— Chad Townsend (@chadtownsend10) September 15, 2023

It was a low scoring clash with points at a premium, with fans left fuming after a first half call which swung the game in the Storm’s favour.

A clear knock on from Harry Grant in front of his own posts was not seen by referee Ashley Klein, who was in the perfect position to see it.

However, after clearing the play, the Storm were then piggybacked down the field off a penalty before Grant hit Marion Seve to make it 10-0 after 25 minutes.

The Roosters hit back when Brandon Smith scored just before halftime to make it 10-6 at the break.

The second half was an arm-wrestle with a penalty goal in the 58th minute giving the Storm a six-point lead, before the Roosters came back to hit the lead with nine minutes left — until Warbrick’s try broke their hearts.

The agony and ecstasy. Photo by Daniel Pockett/Getty Images

That's how close the match was. Photo: Fox Sports

Speaking on Fox League, Michael Ennis said that the finish was about as close as it could possibly get.

“You talk about moments deciding games and a season coming down to that — poor (Fetalaiga) Pauga, it’s millimetres from saving the Roosters’ season and taking it to seven straight wins and through to an incredible prelim,” Ennis said.

NSW coach and Roosters great Brad Fittler said the club would never have thought it would be beaten by a matter of millimetres in week two of the finals.

“Think about the pre-season, they were the big favourites going into the year, got beaten by the Dolphins in the first round, distractions all across the season, which didn’t help at all,” he said.
“If you look at the Roosters’ attack they were 15th, scoring tries, so many stars littered across their team. So to get here, week two of the semi-finals and get beaten at the last minute, is a great finish to a horror season.”

9.29pm — Roosters hit the lead

It’s been an absolute arm-wrestle of a match in this second half but the Roosters have somehow hit the lead.

After the Storm kicked a 58th minute penalty goal, it opened a 12-6 lead.

But as the game was kept close, it left the door open for the Roosters to run through.

In the 65 minute, Sandon Smith came into dummy half and through a floaty pass to Lindsay Collins which put the prop straight through the hole next to the post.

It levelled the scores up and in a replay of last week, Sam Walker booted another field goal, giving the Roosters a 13-12 lead with nine minutes to go.

8.45pm — Knock on disgrace savaged

It’s a four-point ball game at the break but while it’s been a tense clash in the sudden death fixture, all the talk was the knock on that led to the Storm’s second try.

Broncos great Corey Parker said: “It’s hard enough to win semi-finals playing within the rules but that right there, that is a blatant knock on every day of the week.

“And off the back of that they roll down the other end of the field and Marion Seve was able to come up with a try.

“That is a horrible decision from Ashley Klein, should never have been made, it should have been pulled up, he was right in a good spot.”

Michael Ennis added: “You can give the referee some leeway but that one was blatant. It was right in front of Ashley Klein, he was two or three metres away. It’s such a significant moment. They are so hard to find points in these types of games and it was a big blunder.”

8.32pm — Brandon Smith keeps Roosters alive

It’s back to being a four point game after former Storm star Brandon Smith scored from close range to make it a 10-6 game in the 35th minute.

Close to the line, the Roosters went side to side before taking a tackle, but leaving the Storm defence not quite settled.

The New Zealand representative hooker then used his brute strength to find his way to the line.

“That’s a Brandon Smith special,” Cameron Smith said.

And Smith celebrated as you’d expect.

Smith strikes against his former club! 🐓#NRLStormRoosterspic.twitter.com/mWtAohaBY1

— NRL (@NRL) September 15, 2023

8.26pm — ‘What are you looking at?’: Blunder slammed

A monster blunder from referee Ashley Klein has all but handed the Storm a 10-0 lead after 25 minutes after he missed a blatant knock on which ended up in a try at the other end of the field.

As the Roosters attacked the Storm line, a defused bomb was touched by Harry Grant who Klein believed had made a miracle catch.

However, he very clearly hadn’t.

Klein, who was positioned a matter of metres away and with clear vision ruled play on, confusing the commentators.

“He’s done a remarkable job to get that before it touched the ground Harry Grant,” Greg Alexander said on Fox League.

“Looks at this, looks like it’s headed for the ground — oh it has. He hasn’t done it.”

Andrew Voss added: “Couldn’t have had a better view of it.”

A frustrated Trent Robinson remonstrated from the coach’s box as the Roosters then gave away a penalty.

On Nine, Mat Thompson yelled: “Ashley, what are you looking at?” to which his co-commentators added: “Obviously something different to Robbo.”

And from halfway, the Storm strolled over at the end of the set through Marion Seve.

He can... and he will... but he shouldn't.

— The Mole (@9_Moley) September 15, 2023

Try all came about from that piece of Klein "magic"

— The Mole (@9_Moley) September 15, 2023

I’m watching in potato quality on my phone and I saw that knock on

— NRL PHYSIO (@nrlphysio) September 15, 2023

How do we miss such a big call like that?

— Jamie Soward (@sowwowofficial6) September 15, 2023

How does Klein miss that? About as blatant as Broads edge to first slip.#NRLStormRoosters

— Elliott Lovejoy (@ElliottLovejoy) September 15, 2023

8pm — Tyran Wishart scores for Storm

Tyran Wishart is filling the big shoes of Jahrome Hughes and has given the Storm the perfect start.

In the eighth minute, the halfback dummied Luke Keary and outpaced Brandon Smith to slice through the line.

But it stays 4-0 after Nick Meaney had a shocker of a kick for goal.

Wishart with the footwork! 🕺#NRLStormRoosterspic.twitter.com/CtudZfVpAR

— NRL (@NRL) September 15, 2023

However, if Brandon Smith wanted to start well against his former team, he’s had a rough start with Mat Thompson saying on Channel 9: “Brandon Smith has missed a couple of tackles in the first nine minutes.”

7.15pm — Storm’s shock switch in do-or-die clash

Storm coach Craig Bellamy has taken a page out of Billy Slater’s Origin playbook, pushing Harry Grant to the bench in a surprise move ahead of the sudden death final.

It brings Bronson Garlick into the starting line-up for the fifth time in his 20 game career.

While the move is not necessarily the most shocking move week-to-week, with the season on the line, it’s a bold call from Bellamy.

But it also comes after Grant was savaged for his “worst performance” in a Storm jersey in last week’s loss to Brisbane last week.

“It was the worst performance I’ve seen Harry Grant play. His timing out of dummy half is one of his strong suits and it just wasn’t there,” The Daily Telegraph’s Michael Carayannis said.

“Something must have happened to him in the warm up. In the first set of six he gets up pushing Carrigan. That’s way out of character,” NRL great Gorden Tallis added.

“You watch him in Origin he doesn’t get up pushing when someone gets under his skin.”

With Tyran Wishart coming in for the injured Jahrome Hughes and Nelson Asofa-Solomona pushing club captain Christian Welch to the bench, it’s a big move from Bellamy.

But it could also be an attempt to take the heat out of the match with the Roosters’ No. 9 former Storm star Brandon Smith lining up opposite with something to prove a year after they chose Grant over him.

For the Roosters, they’re 1-17, except Fletcher Baker has dropped to the bench with Egan Butcher to start.

Storm fans trust in Craig Bellamy. Photo: NRL Pics

The Storm are on a rare finals losing streak, having lost their last three, but supercoach Craig Bellamy has never lost four in a row and has one gone out of the finals in straight sets once before.

The coaches have had to make a heap of changes from last week with hefty injury lists for both sides.

Garlick didn’t play last week, replaced by Alec McDonald but will be thrust into a No. 9 duel with ex-Storm star Brandon Smith.

PNG international Justin Olam will be in the centres to replace Young Tonumaipea, who suffered a head injury last week, and Reimis Smith will cover Xavier Coates.

For the Roosters, Paul Momirovski and Corey Allan will play centres in the place of the injured Joey Manu and Billy Smith, while Jaxson Paulo will play win for Joseph Suaali’i.

STORM: 1. Nick Meaney 2. William Warbrick 3. Marion Seve 4. Justin Olam 5. Reimis Smith 6. Cameron Munster 21. Tyran Wishart 8. Tui Kamikamica 19. Bronson Garlick 16. Nelson Asofa-Solomona 11. Trent Loiero 12. Eliesa Katoa 13. Josh King

Interchange: 9. Harry Grant 10. Christian Welch 15. Tom Eisenhuth 17. Tariq Sims

Reserve: 18. Grant Anderson

ROOSTERS: 1. James Tedesco 2. Fetalaiga Pauga 3. Paul Momirovski 4. Corey Allan 5. Jaxson Paulo 6. Luke Keary 7. Sam Walker 15. Egan Butcher 9. Brandon Smith 10. Lindsay Collins 11. Siua Wong 12. Nat Butcher 13. Victor Radley

Interchange: 8. Fletcher Baker 14. Sandon Smith 16. Terrell May 17. Angus Crichton

Reserve: 18. Drew Hutchison