Storm leave it late

A 76th minute try to centre Will Chambers has enabled the Melbourne Storm to escape with a fortunate 18-14 victory over the Newcastle Knights at a slippery Olympic Park on Saturday night.

The Knights enjoyed 60 per cent of possession during the match and appeared on track for a well deserved victory at 14-12 up until a Chris Houston dropped ball late in the game gave the Storm a rare attacking opportunity in good field position.

From the ensuing set, the Storm played the numbers game to the right for Greg Inglis to send fellow centre Chambers diving over for what proved the match-winner.

Skipper Cameron Smith converted from the sideline to complete the scoring before the Storm survived a couple of tense moments in the final seconds to hold on for victory.

The win opens up a three point gap between the fourth-placed Storm and the sixth-placed Knights on the NRL ladder.

Newcastle went into the game minus experienced duo Adam MacDougall (knee) and Steve Simpson (flu), while the Storm were left to operate without five-eighth Brett Finch for a great part of the match after the former NSW Origin rep suffered a rib/shoulder injury in the first half.

The Storm's 'big four' were all involved in the opening try of the night in the sixth minute with Cameron Smith, Cooper Cronk and Billy Slater all providing the lead-up for Inglis to race over.

The Knights had several repeat sets on the Storm line during the next 20 minutes of play, but they couldn't find points until the 30 minute mark when a Slater fumble off a Jarrod Mullen grubber presented Newcastle interchange back Wes Naiqama with the easiest of tries.

Skipper Kurt Gidley landed the mid-range conversion to level the scores at 6-6.

Gidley was on hand to slot a 40m penalty on the stroke of half-time to put his side two points up at the break.

Slater atoned for his earlier error with a try in the 48th minute, bumping off Gidley on his way to chasing down a perfectly executed Cronk grubber kick.

But the Knights regained their advantage five minutes later when Melbourne allowed a Ben Rogers' bomb on the final tackle to bounce uncontested, presenting Newcastle with a second opportunity to go aerial.

Hooker Isaac De Gois produced another bomb for winger Aku Uate to spectacularly take on the fly for a converted try and a 14-12 lead to the Knights.

The Knights looked headed for their fourth-straight victory until Houston's critical error resulted in Chambers crossing for the match-deciding try.

Melbourne Storm 18
Tries: Inglis, Slater, Chambers
Conversions: Smith 3

Newcastle Knights 14
Tries: Naiqama, Uate
Conversions: Gidley 2