A late try to Joe Stimson has given the Storm a dramatic 16-13 win over the Roosters after it appeared a Luke Keary field goal had sealed the deal for the Roosters.
When Keary kicked a 73rd minute field goal it looked like the Roosters would tople the Storm at AAMI Park, but Melbourne rallied and Stimson crashed over with just three minutes remaining to claim the most dramatic of victories.
The win means the Storm are six points clear at the top of the NRL Telstra Premiership ladder and are all but certain to finish as Minor Premiers.
The Storm had taken a four point lead into the break in a fiery and controversial first half at AAMI Park.
The biggest talking point was a penalty try awarded to Storm winger Suliasi Vunivalu after he was illegally taken down by Roosters centre Latrell Mitchell.
That try took the Storm's lead out to 10-0 after Cam Smith had kicked two penalty goals, before a try to Roosters five-eighth Luke Keary gave the Tricolours something to take into the half-time break.
Jake Friend grubbered from dummy half for Keary to ground the ball and cut the deficit to four.
The Roosters were handed a heavy scare as Blake Ferguson looked to have suffered a serious shoulder injury after landing from a high leap for a try but played out the remaining five minutes.
It was clear both sides understood the importance of the top of the table clash with the two teams coming face to face in heated exchanges during a rowdy half.
And to top off the action-packed half, Melbourne captain Cameron Smith passed Jason Taylor on the all-time point-scoring list with his six-point bag in the first stanza moving him to third on the list.
The Storm extended their lead 12-6 after the break as Smith kicked the side’s third penalty goal in the 53rd minute.
The momentum suddenly turned after a bizarre act where Vunivalu tried to jump over the opposition while bringing the ball back from a kick and conceded a penalty for the dangerous act.
The visitors capitalized on the opportunity with Mitchell Aubusson finishing a right shift of the ball to score in the corner and level the scores 12-all with 20 minutes remaining.
With time winding down, an unexplainable spilled catch by Billy Slater gave the Roosters a golden opportunity to take the lead as Keary nailed the one-pointer but after returning from a concussion test, Stimson proved to be the hero with the clinching try in a scintillating performance.
Melbourne Storm 16 (Suliasi Vunivalu, Joe Stimson tries; Cameron Smith 4 goals) def. Sydney Roosters 13 (Luke Keary, Mitchell Aubusson tries; Latrell Mitchell goals; Luke Keary field goal) at full-time at AAMI Park.
NRL.com unofficial votes: 3 points: Cameron Smith. 2 points: Joe Stimson. 1 point: Connor Watson
