NRL: Storm leave it late to overcome Raiders

Melbourne Storm players celebrate after Billy Slater scored a try. Photo / Getty Images

Storm 24
Raiders 19

A brilliant late try from Billy Slater gave Melbourne Storm a hard-fought 24-19 NRL win over Canberra but the star fullback faces a nervous wait after going on report for a high shot on opposite number Josh Dugan.

Trailing 19-18 with four minutes remaining, Storm halfback Cooper Cronk went to the air with Slater bringing down the bomb with a perfectly timed leap to score a converted try next to the posts in driving rain at Canberra Stadium.

Melbourne's thrilling win was offset by Slater's first half hit on Dugan when he flung out an arm and struck the flying Canberra fullback high.

Last year's minor premiers led for most of the season-opener against the Raiders, but were in danger with 20 minutes to go when Canberra scored through Glen Buttriss to level at 18-18.

Dugan put the home side up for the first time with seven minutes remaining when he slotted a field goal to put the hosts up 19-18 in front of 7862 spectators.

Brave Canberra were set a tough challenge early in the match, when the visitors piled two tries in the space of just seven minutes to set up a 12-0 lead.

The first would have sent a shiver up Canberra coach David Furner's spine, with Slater cruising through the Raiders' defence from close range in the third minute.

But the Raiders weren't to be denied, claiming back a heap of possession which was rewarded in the 14th minute when Shaun Fensom rocketed onto a David Shillington pass two metres out.

It swung the momentum Canberra's way and saw them score another try through Josh McCrone, who benefited when Melbourne couldn't scoop up a Terry Campese grubber.

MELBOURNE 24 (B Slater 2 C Cronk J O'Neill tries C Smith 4 goals) bt CANBERRA 19 (G Buttriss S Fensom J McCrone tries J Croker 3 goals J Dugan field goal) at Canberra Stadium. Referee: Gavin Badger, Brett Suttor. Crowd: 7,862.