Faalogo steers Storm to crucial win over scratchy Roosters

Frustration is boiling over for Siua Wong now, as he’s penalised for picking up Cameron Munster and slamming him down in a tackle, after the Storm freely gave away a couple of set restarts by lying in the tackle when defending their own end.

Errors are really creeping into the game in the final moments, with the game effectively out of reach for the visitors.

One last long line break from Sua Faalogo gives the Storm fans a final highlight, and there are some bronx cheers as Sam Walker is sent to the sin bin for a professional foul as the final seconds tick down on the clock. Faalogo kicks another penalty goal after the final buzzer following Walker’s sin-binning.

It’s just the fifth win of the season for Melbourne, and their third since round two, while the Roosters now have back-to-back losses after a run of six straight wins.

Full-time: Storm win 18-4

The Roosters get a rare attacking foray into Melbourne territory, and James Tedesco flings a pass to Cody Ramsey on the right – but when the winger dives for the corner he’s taken over the sideline by a brilliant Sua Faalogo cover tackle.

Cameron Munster complains of a hair pull by Roosters forward Siua Wong – not something you see every day – and while Wong isn’t penalised there he does cough up possession after spilling a Daly Cherry-Evans short ball the next set.

The error count tonight is 14-7 against the Roosters, and Wong is now placed on report for the hair pull as well. It just hasn’t been the Tricolours’ night.

Storm 16, Roosters 4 with nine minutes left

Billy Smith puts down a Jahrome Hughes bomb, and Salesi Foketi grabs the ball from an offside position, so Sua Faalogo steps up to take a penalty goal and give Melbourne an eight-point buffer.

Storm 12, Roosters 4 with 20 minutes left

The game is starting to open up a little now. The Roosters go through the hands down the left and Hugo Savala does superbly well to pop an offload to Billy Smith, before Sam Walker’s last-tackle grubber is cleaned up by the impressive Sua Faalogo.

Then the Storm make a break down the opposite flank through Moses Leo, but his grubber kick for himself trickles over the sideline.

There are more fireworks a couple of minutes later when Faalogo picks up the loose ball from a kick and bursts clear through the middle, only to be chased down by Cody Ramsey. Then Jahrome Hughes kicks across-field to Will Wabrick who scores untouched out wide.

But with Nick Meaney sidelined, Faalogo’s conversion attempt goes wide and the Roosters only trail by six.

Storm 10, Roosters 4 with 26 minutes left

We’re on for the final 40 minutes, after a bit of a strange first half. The Storm did all the little things right, controlled the ball well in the wet, and dominated possession and territory. The Roosters tackled their hearts out. Somehow, that led to a 6-4 half-time scoreline, and it’s obviously anyone’s game from here.

Will the fatigue take its toll on the Roosters or will frustration boil over for Melbourne?

The Roosters start the half with a strong defensive set, Jahrome Hughes getting his clearing kick away just 35 metres from his own tryline.

Storm 6, Roosters 4 with 39 minutes left