STONE COLD GOOD LUCK
TWO of the most remarkable bounces in the career of Ray Stone secured Parramatta a stunning golden-point win over Melbourne Storm at AAMI Park on Saturday.
A rebound off the post as Mitchell Moses attempted a field-goal in extra time landed in the lap of Stone who was charging towards it and he scored a try to secure the 28-24 win. It was Stone’s second try in a stunning final 10 minutes which included him scoring after juggling a high bomb from Moses which rebounded off the head of Storm prop Nelson Asofa-Solomona.
TWO of the most remarkable bounces in the career of Ray Stone secured Parramatta a stunning golden-point win over Melbourne Storm at AAMI Park on Saturday.
A rebound off the post as Mitchell Moses attempted a field-goal in extra time landed in the lap of Stone who was charging towards it and he scored a try to secure the 28-24 win.
It was Stone’s second try in a stunning final 10 minutes which included him scoring after juggling a high bomb from Moses which rebounded off the head of Storm hardman Nelson Asofa-Solomona to give his team a 24-18 lead.
It looked like sealing the game before Melbourne, which would not be denied, levelled the score 24-all with just four minutes left on the clock after Ryan Papenhuyzen finished off a midfield break from Brandon Smith.
A second dropped bomb from Parra winger Waqa Blake, who was playing out of position as both teams went in with makeshift backlines, then handed Storm the first chance at a penalty goal inside the final two minutes.
But Papenhuyzen’s attempt was charged down, Parra marched up the field and a two-point attempt from Moses sailed wide, sending the game to extra time.
Storm lost possession in the opening set of extra time and Eels captain Clint Gutherson, who was enormous all night for his team, carried the ball to halfway, before the Moses kick which hit the upright, eluded Melbourne’s Jerohme Hughes and ended up in Stone’s hands.
“Geez we make it hard on ourselves; last week dumb stuff lost us the game,” Moses told Fox League after the win. “We were lucky to get away with it. Stoney came up with two big plays to win us the game.
“We pride ourselves on our effort and he (Stone) leads it, he does all the extras, he’s the fittest guy in the squad and he turns up for the biggest play.”
It was Parramatta’s third straight win over Melbourne, with the tables turned on the Storm who won in golden point against South Sydney in round 2.
A swinging arm from Melbourne enforcer Asofa-Solomona on Eels forward Makahesi Makatoa in the
Stoney came up with two big plays Eels star Michell Moses
second half could come under scrutiny despite going unpunished during the match by referee Ashley Klein.
The pair had exchanged words after consecutive dropped balls, first by Makatoa, and they didn’t miss each other in ongoing collisions.
But it was the late effort of AsofaSolomona in a tackle on Makatoa which looked like the Storm big man had connected with the back of his opponent’s head, which could be looked at.
After Covid wiped out a hat-trick of hookers, the Storm backline also needed a pre-game reshuffle after Xavier Coates was ruled out with hamstring tightness, replaced by Nick Meaney.
“Whoever won was going to have a bit of luck go their way. It is what it is,” disappointed Storm coach Craig Bellamy said. “I just thought we were inconsistent.”