Storm hang on for victory

The Melbourne Storm have produced an outstanding defensive performance to defeat the North Queensland Cowboys 12-10 at Dairy Farmers Stadium on Saturday night.

Although the Cowboys dominated possession for the majority of the match and enjoyed a lop-sided penalty count (11-2), the Storm held firm to register the win in an entertaining contest between two of the most exciting team's in the competition.

The victory was even sweeter for the Storm, who were forced to play the final 60 minutes of the match without star fullback Billy Slater.

Cowboys halfback Johnathan Thurston accidently poked Slater in the eye after 20 minutes and the former jockey was forced to watch on for the remainder of the match.

However, his team-mates stepped up in his absence to produce a superb effort under constant pressure from a fired up Cowboys outfit in front of a parochial North Queensland crowd.

It didn't take long for the match to live up to its pre-game hype, with Greg Inglis crossing over for the opening score of the night after seven minutes.

Slater picked up the ball and ran 70 metres to put the Storm in excellent field position, before the visitors worked the ball to the left and Inglis bustled over to score.

Cameron Smith added the extras to give the Storm a 6-0 lead and Inglis could have had a double just moments later, but the video referee judged a penalty against the visitors in the lead-up.

It was end-to-end stuff for the remainder of the half, with the Cowboys making some handling errors close to the line and the Storm defence holding firm.

The Cowboys held the edge in the penalty count (5-0) at the break, but the Storm held sway (6-0) in the only score that matters.

With Slater looking on from the sidelines, the Cowboys continued to attack and they were rewarded for their persistence after 51 minutes when John Williams crossed over for a try wide on the right wing.

Williams found himself on the end of an overlap as first Thurston and then Matt Bowen made pinpoint passes to set up the winger.

Thurston's conversion hit the upright, leaving the Cowboys trailing by two (4-6) with a little under half an hour remaining.

With the Cowboys dominating possession, it looked like being only a matter of time before the home side took the lead, but it was the Storm who scored next.

Melbourne picked up a rare penalty and worked the ball out to the right and Israel Folau took on three defenders to plant the ball down.

Smith nailed a tough conversion to give the Storm an eight-point lead (12-4), but the Cowboys hit back shortly after when Mark Henry planted down on the left wing.

Thurston made the conversion from the sideline to make it 12-10 to the Storm and it was 'game on' for the final 10 minutes.

However, the Storm's defence remained in control and the reigning premiers held on to win their fourth consecutive game.

North Queensland Cowboys 10
Tries: Williams, Henry
Conversions: Thurston
Penalty goals:

Melbourne Storm 12
Tries: Inglis, Folau
Conversions: Smith 2

Sportal's NRL Player of the Year:
3 - Greg Inglis (Storm)
2 - Johnathan Thurston (Cowboys)
1 - Will Chambers (Storm)