Thu 20 Aug 2026 at 9:15pmThu 20 Aug 2026 at 9:15pm

54′ The Panthers are holding firm

The Storm are peppering the Penrith tryline but the Panthers are just repelling shot after shot.

They’ve held firm long enough to get back to 13 vs 13 as Lindsay Smith returns from the sin bin.

Thu 20 Aug 2026 at 9:10pmThu 20 Aug 2026 at 9:10pm

49′ Another chance blown by the Storm

Sua Fa’alogo cuts through the defence on the left and flies upfield to leave the Panthers’ defence in tatters.

The Storm spin it right, but fair too slowly and Jack Cogger rushes up to force the error from Harry Grant.

Grant wanted six again, but I think Cogger’s tackle hit the ball before Grant let go of it, making it a knock-on by the Melbourne hooker.

Thu 20 Aug 2026 at 9:07pmThu 20 Aug 2026 at 9:07pm

46′ Oryn Keeley wastes the chance

The Storm are running out of time against 11, and will miss out on the last set in possession with Liam Martin in the bin after Oryn Keeley knocks on in the play the ball.

Thu 20 Aug 2026 at 9:04pmThu 20 Aug 2026 at 9:04pm

Try! Tyran Wishart takes advantage

Overlaps aren’t the only way to exploit the extra numbers and so proves Tyran Wishart, beating Jack Cogger, faking a pass out to the right and stepping and jinking his way to the tryline under the posts.

The Storm are on the board and will have a few more minutes against 11, followed by a few more against 12.

Thu 20 Aug 2026 at 9:01pmThu 20 Aug 2026 at 9:01pm

41′ The Storm open the second stanza with a 40/20

A superb kick on the fourth tackle from the left side of the field all the way to the right touch line from Tyran Wishart and the Storm will go right on the attack.

Thu 20 Aug 2026 at 9:00pmThu 20 Aug 2026 at 9:00pm

41′ Can Melbourne fire a shot in the second half?

The Storm have first use of the ball after half-time, trailing Penrith 22-0.

Thu 20 Aug 2026 at 8:44pmThu 20 Aug 2026 at 8:44pm

40′ Storm miss their last chance

The Storm try a trick shot with a midfield chip and chase, get a penalty, then Munster tries again with a grubber out to the left, where a diving Moses Leo can’t quite bat it back for Jack Howarth.

Leo faceplants hard into the mud for his troubles too.

Thu 20 Aug 2026 at 8:38pmThu 20 Aug 2026 at 8:38pm

38′ It’s a Harry Grant Special, but he’s knocked it on

Jack Howarth plays the ball 10 metres in from touch, Harry Grant picks it up from dummy half, fakes open and goes blindside, grubbering for himself and speeding past the retreating defence to regather and score.

But here comes the bunker!

And it’s no try!!

Grant bobbled as he contested with Brian To’o and knocked it into the Penrith winger’s hand.

Props to Daniel Pockett for capturing the exact moment. (Getty)

Thu 20 Aug 2026 at 8:37pmThu 20 Aug 2026 at 8:37pm

37′ Liam Martin goes to the sin bin

Sua Fa’alogo tries to grubber through and chase it, but Liam Martin closes the gap and hits him as he chases.

Martin tried to disguise it, but he’s penalised for a professional foul and sent for a 10-minute break.

Thu 20 Aug 2026 at 8:25pmThu 20 Aug 2026 at 8:25pm

26′ Oryn Keeley is sent to the bin

The Storm back rower was just put on report for apparent contact with referee Grant Atkins, and sent to the sin-bin for being too slow in the ruck for the third straight tackle according to Atkins.

Captain Harry Grant is none too pleased.

“It’s frustration. We’re playing rugby league, we’re not playing touch footy. It’s wet, it’s slippery, of course it’s not going to be the cleanest game, but it goes both ways.”

Atkins says he hears him, but the Storm have been “significantly slow”.

Thu 20 Aug 2026 at 8:13pmThu 20 Aug 2026 at 8:13pm

19′ The rain has arrived

The forecast was for heavy rain tonight in Melbourne, and it hasn’t taken long for it to hit AAMI Park.

How will this affect the teams’ play?

Thu 20 Aug 2026 at 8:09pmThu 20 Aug 2026 at 8:09pm

15′ Trading errors

Liam Martin fumbles in a tackle, and then Jack Howarth runs himself into a corner on a left-side shift and panics as he is corralled by defenders close to the sideline and dumps a ball over the top of a tackle, but bounces it straight into the hands off Martin.

Thu 20 Aug 2026 at 8:06pmThu 20 Aug 2026 at 8:06pm

12′ Oryn Keeley pinged for a “late” shot

The Melbourne back rower hits Jack Cogger a fraction of a second after the Penrith pivot passes the ball and Grant Atkins blows a penalty for a late hit.

Pretty harsh call that.