ROOSTERS SNATCH VICTORY
MITCHELL Pearce has helped erase his State of Origin demons by nailing a 35-metre field goal to lead the Roosters to a 25-24 golden point victory against Melbourne.
The Storm looked destined for a shock victory. But Pearce, after coming under fire for failing to close out Wednesday’s State of Origin game, stepped up to secure victory for the Roosters.
He laid on two tries but it was a Luke Keary early-tackle kick which helped sink the hearts of the Storm. Keary kicked for winger Blake Ferguson in the final play of the game, allowing for a Michael Gordon near sideline conversion to set the game into golden point. It was Gordon’s third sideline conversion of the match.
“It felt special,” Pearce said. “I’m just lucky it went over.
“A win is a win. The Lord is on my side, How good is that.”
It keeps the Roosters in the minor premiership race – They sit two points behind Storm.
It was a cruel blow for a Melbourne side who battled bravely. Origin players Billy Slater, Cooper Cronk, Camer- on Smith and Will Chambers were all sidelined against a Roosters side who had Blues skipper Boyd Cordner missing. The Roosters had Origin players Mitchell Pearce, Blake Ferguson and Dylan Napa playing.
Cameron Munster pushed his claims for an Origin debut laying on two tries.
The Roosters dominated the opening exchanges and should have had more than a six-point lead midway through the first half.
Pearce laid on the first try when he delivered a pass to Mitch Aubusson, whose foot- work confused opposite Young Tonumaipea to give the Roosters a 6-0 lead after 16 minutes.
The match changed for the Roosters when Storm winger Josh Addo-Carr raced 60 metres after intercepting an Aidan Guerra pass in the 25th minute. The Storm scored again two minutes later via Croft after he supported a Felise Kaufisa line-break.
Melbourne led 12-6 at halftime and wasted no time to extend their lead.
Addo-Carr had his second try just two minutes into the second half thanks to a Munster cut-out pass.
The Storm went 14 ahead when winger Suliasi Vunivalu completed a nice interchange of passing on the right edge.
The Roosters struck back via Latrell Mitchell in the 61st minute to trail by eight.
The joy was short-lived when Slater fill-in Jahrome Hughes scored eight minutes later.
Daniel Tupou crossed via a Pearce pass in the 73rd minute before Ferguson’s last play try.
After the Roosters trailed by 12 points with eight minutes to play, Michael Gordon kicked a conversion from the sideline to send the match into golden point.