Adam Blair of the Storm runs with the ball. Photo / Getty Images
Melbourne Storm 29
Brisbane Broncos 22
Gritty Melbourne halfback Cooper Cronk looked liked he'd gone 10 rounds with Mike Tyson after sparking his side to a thrilling 29-22 NRL win over a courageous Brisbane at Suncorp Stadium.
The game was in the balance until the final minute when Storm winger Anthony Quinn won a mad scramble
for a Cameron Smith grubber kick.
Minutes earlier Cronk had split the uprights with a 40-metre field goal to break a 22-all deadlock.
Sporting some battle wounds from Friday night's rugged Test win over the Kiwis, Cronk was easy to spot, his head wrapped in bandages after an early collision had opened him up.
The game evolved into a cracker after Melbourne led 12-0 early and 22-12 with 20 minutes remaining.
Brisbane fullback Gerard Beale couldn't get a start for New Zealand in Friday night's Test but the classy youngster served up two tries as the Broncos charged back into the game.
Another of Brisbane's young nursery, winger Dane Gagai, provided a piece of magic in the 71st minute which tied the scores at 22-22.
After a Peter Wallace bomb into the left corner, which Storm winger Anthony Quinn got both hands on, Gagai plucked the ball from Quinn's grasp and planted it one handed for a try that ignited the 34,000-strong crowd.
Brisbane took the field without their four Test guns - headed by skipper Darren Lockyer, watching from the stands along with Justin Hodges, Sam Thaiday and Ben Hannant.
As they watched on Brisbane's young crop showed their fans there would be life after Lockyer with a tenacious display highlighted by two comebacks when Melbourne looked like breaking the game open.
Beale, Jack Reed - who scored the try of the match after beating three Storm defenders to the line in the second half - and David Hala all impressed.
Cronk, Smith and fullback Billy Slater turned in whole hearted performances backing up 24 hours after playing their hearts out for Australia.
The trio was magnificent, Smith and Cronk combining to open Brisbane up through the ruck and Slater making big metres.
For Brisbane Wallace was great, probing with the ball, kicking cleverly and defending stoutly despite being smashed several times by Storm defenders.
MELBOURNE 29 (C Cronk R Hinchcliffe D Nielsen A Quinn S Waqa tries C Smith 4 goals C Cronk field goal) bt BRISBANE 22 (G Beale 2 D Gagai J Reed tries C Parker 3 goals) at Suncorp Stadium. Referee: Shayne Hayne, Tony De Las Heras. Crowd: 34,175.
- AAP
