NRL 2024: Melbourne Storm win 18-12 over Sydney Roosters despite Cameron Munster sin bin

Trent Robinson’s fury over two controversial tries in the Roosters-Storm match were put to bed by NRL head of football Graham Annesley.

Xavier Coates once again stole the show for Melbourne, with another brilliant try to seal victory late in the game. Picture: NRL Imagery

The NRL has backed the bunker over two contentious Melbourne Storm tries on Thursday night and will now turn their attention to a series of calls that fell in favour of the Sydney Roosters as they complete their review of the opening game of the round.

NRL head of football Graham Annesley listened to the bunker audio on Friday morning in relation to Storm tries involving Eli Katoa and Xavier Coates and revealed he was comfortable with the process that led to Melbourne being awarded both in their narrow 18-12 win at Allianz Stadium.

Sydney Roosters coach Trent Robinson claimed in his post-match press conference that Nelson Asofa-Solomona had acted as a driver in the lead-up to Katoa crossing the line and also suggested Reimis Smith had illegally taken out a Roosters player prior to Coates scoring.

Annesley was satisfied with how both tries were handled.

“The game will be reviewed in detail over the coming days, but having listened to the bunker audio from last night, I’m very comfortable with the process the bunker went through to support the on-field decision in both tries,” Annesley said.

The NRL wasted no time investigating the two Storm tries because Robinson cried foul on both occasions. Melbourne coach Craig Bellamy was more sanguine about the officiating but he had every reason to be concerned as well given at least one of the Roosters’ tries was not without controversy, centre Michael Jennings appearing to lose control of the ball before Joey Manu scored.

Graham Annesley supported the decision of the bunker over two contentious Melbourne Storm tries. Picture: Albert Perez/Getty Images

It is understood Annesley has taken a look at the incident but wasn’t in position to comment with any authority on Friday morning given he was waiting for further camera angles.

There were also suggestions that Roosters captain James Tedesco was lucky to avoid the sin-bin as well for a trip on Storm fullback Ryan Papenhuyzen - he was charged by the match review committee on Friday morning and served with a fine.

Roosters prop Lindsay Collins also appeared to knock on from a short kickoff at the back end of the game but the incident was missed by referee Ashley Klein.

Robinson was given an officials warning by NRL chief executive Andrew Abdo last week after scathing comments following his side’s loss to the Bulldogs in round four, where Victor Radley was sin-binned and Dom Young was sent off.

Robinson was highly critical of both decisions - Radley was subsequently exonerated while Young is still on the sidelines after being suspended.

Abdo reviewed a transcript of Robinson’s comments and the Roosters coach was fortunate to escape with only a warning. It is understood his comments after Thursday night’s game were not enough to warrant further action from the NRL but there is growing frustration within Rugby League Central at the criticism of match officials and their decisions by not just Robinson, but other coaches across the NRL.

Invariably, they come from the losing camp.

James Tedesco and Jared Waerea-Hargreaves have escaped suspension. Picture: Cameron Spencer/Getty Images

ROOSTERS DUO ESCAPE SUSPENSION

- David Riccio and Michael Carayannis

Roosters stars James Tedesco and Jared Waerea-Hargreaves have escaped match suspensions despite being charged by the NRL match review committee.

Tedesco came under the microscope for allegedly tripping Storm fullback Ryan Papenhuyzen during Thursday night’s clash.

In a major relief for the Roosters captain, the NRL match review committee have slapped Tedesco with a $750 fine.

Waerea-Hargreaves will also avoid missing any game time after he was hit with an $1,800 fine for a grade one dangerous contact charge for his high shot on Storm forward Christian Welch.

Coates magic steals the show as Robbo fumes over dubious tries

-Martin Gabor

Xavier Coates continues to be the king of the freaky finishes this year, with the Storm winger coming up with another stunning solo effort to seal a thrilling 18-12 win over a Roosters side that has some major issues in attack.

There were 22 errors and 17 penalties on Thursday night in what should have been one of the games of the season, but a dour contest was saved by a bit of Coates magic after teammate Cameron Munster had a moment of madness which could have cost his side dearly.

Coates has already wrapped up try of the year for his absurd effort against the Warriors, while he flew high against the Broncos with a grab that won mark of the week in the AFL.

Xavier Coates once again stole the show for Melbourne, with another brilliant try to seal victory late in the game. Picture: NRL Imagery

His effort on Thursday was slightly more conventional but was just as important, with the winger pouncing on a Harry Grant grubber on the zero tackle before he fought through several tackles and slammed the ball down to send the Storm top of the table.

Munster would have been the happiest man on the planet after he was sent to the sin bin 20 minutes earlier for tackling James Tedesco off a 20-metre tap when the Storm were adamant that Jahrome Hughes had been tackled off the ball.

ATTACK GOES COLD

The game was won in those 10 minutes with the Roosters unable to take advantage of the extra man.

They looked to have scored when Joseph Manu put Victor Radley into a gap, but the pass was called forward.

This is an attack that should be humming, but they look out of sorts – something not helped by the fact halfback Sam Walker was missing for the second week in a row following a head knock.

Manu killed it at fullback with Tedesco out of the side last week, but he was limited to just 30 metres in the first half before he roared to life and scored a try that tied things up.

The Roosters didn’t have a single line-break against the Storm, with all four tries coming off kicks, while Tedesco also inexplicably kicked on the third tackle to turn the ball over late in the game.

The Roosters struggled in attack, unable to crack the Storm defence despite a one man advantage with Cameron Munster in the sin bin. Picture: NRL Imagery

HALF NELSON

He made his NRL return after a short stint in reserve grade, but Nelson Asofa-Solomona didn’t have the colossal impact Storm fans were expecting from the man mountain.

The towering prop was listed to start but came off the bench having missed the start of the season over some pre-season fitness concerns, but he wasn’t at his destructive best in a game that never hit the heights that we all expected.

Asofa-Solomona had just five carries for 38 metres in his first stint, missed a few tackles and was penalised for a cannonball on Daniel Tupou in the second half.

While he was quiet, he was helped out by fellow forward Eliesa Katoa who threw a cracking pass for Hughes to open the scoring and then scored one of his own.

ROBBO DRIVEN MAD

The Katoa try wasn’t without controversy, with Roosters coach Trent Robinson irate that his side wasn’t awarded a penalty.

Katoa did well to reel in a Munster bomb and then fought off three would-be defenders to score, but he did appear to get a little assistance from Asofa-Solomona who acted as a driver and made contact.

Roosters players weren’t happy either with the Coates try, adamant that Reimis Smith had pushed a player in the chase.

Roosters coach Trent Robinson was furious after an Eliesa Katoa try was confirmed despite a hint of a driver by Nelson Asofa-Solomona. Picture: NRL Imagery

REPORT CARD

The Roosters have other things to worry about with Jared Waerea-Hargreaves on report for a very late shot on Christian Welch that could have easily seen him sent to the sin bin.

The veteran prop is set to break the club’s appearance record in his final season, but he can’t afford any suspensions, especially with the blockbuster Anzac Day clash coming up.

Tedesco also faces a nervous wait after he was put on report for tripping Ryan Papenhuyzen on a kick return.

Originally published as NRL 2024: Melbourne Storm win 18-12 over Sydney Roosters despite Cameron Munster sin bin