{"id":21637,"date":"2025-07-25T17:28:23","date_gmt":"2025-07-25T17:28:23","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/21637\/"},"modified":"2025-07-25T17:28:23","modified_gmt":"2025-07-25T17:28:23","slug":"manly-beats-storm-with-late-penalty-on-harry-grant-shane-flanagan-slates-refs-in-dragons-loss-raiders-beat-eels-to-stay-top","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/21637\/","title":{"rendered":"Manly beats Storm with late penalty on Harry Grant, Shane Flanagan slates refs in Dragons’ loss, Raiders beat Eels to stay top"},"content":{"rendered":"

Melbourne’s showdown with rivals Manly has ended in a controversial 18-16 win for the Sea Eagles as Storm captain Harry Grant was penalised for contact on Luke Brooks after a field goal attempt<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Brooks’s 78th-minute field goal attempt sailed wide right and dead on the full, but a captain’s challenge yielded a penalty in front of the goalposts after the bunker found Grant made contact with Brooks’s kicking leg while watching the ball sail away.<\/p>\n

Reuben Garrick potted the penalty goal to break a 16-16 deadlock and give Manly the victory, while former Storm star Ryan Hoffman labelled the decision “rubbish”<\/a>.<\/p>\n

“This is disappointing because the contact was minimal. They slow these things down. It’s barely a touch,” Hoffman said on ABC Sport.<\/p>\n

“Luke Brooks is still standing and there’s nothing wrong with him. He didn’t even acknowledge Harry Grant touched him. That is rubbish.<\/p>\n

“It’s a poor bunker decision.”<\/p>\n

Manly’s Tom and Jake Trbojevic admitted the call was “lucky”, but Daly Cherry-Evans and Storm coach Craig Bellamy acknowledged it was the right call by the letter of the law.<\/p>\n

Bellamy was more disappointed by Melbourne’s 64 per cent completion rate (29\/45), which meant they had to mount a comeback from 16-6 down at half-time on the back of a spectacular Xavier Coates hat-trick.<\/p>\n

‘The game was taken away from us’ by refs: Dragons coach<\/p>\n

Earlier, St George Illawarra coach Shane Flanagan blamed the referees for his team’s 20-18 loss to Canterbury.<\/p>\n

The Dragons led 18-16 after two tries in the first 15 minutes of the second half, but the Bulldogs stole victory with a last-minute four-pointer to second-gamer Jethro Rinakama<\/a> off a beautiful pass by mid-season recruit Lachie Galvin in his first game at halfback.<\/p>\n

Flanagan credited the Bulldogs as a hard-working team and admitted his side was not perfect, but said key decisions in the final minutes cost the Dragons victory.<\/p>\n

\"Moses<\/p>\n

The Dragons led 18-16 for most of the second half. (Getty Images: Brendon Thorne)<\/p>\n

He pinpointed a 75th-minute penalty against Luciano Leilua, after Jacob Kiraz was called for a knock-on while trying to play the ball quickly.<\/p>\n

The Bulldogs challenged and the bunker ruled a penalty<\/a> \u2014 ABC Sport expert Luke Lewis said he saw the same incident called a knock-on last week \u2014 but Flanagan was adamant Kiraz should have got to his feet and become fully balanced before playing it, as flagged by the NRL this season.<\/p>\n

“The game was taken away from us [with] I believe, wrong decisions,” Flanagan said in his post-match press conference.<\/p>\n

“There were some decisions tonight that cost us two competition points and could cost us an opportunity to play semifinals.”<\/p>\n

Flanagan said he would take it up with the league.<\/p>\n

“I’ll go through those channels but in the end we don’t get these two competition points, we can’t come back and rectify them,” he said.<\/p>\n

“I’m just so disappointed we lost the game not from effort \u2026 but some other decisions cost us the game at vital points.”<\/p>\n

In Saturday’s first game, Canberra kept its winning streak alive, bouncing back from a 16-12 deficit to beat Parramatta 40-16 and hold on to top spot on the ladder, but not without Matt Timoko bombing a certain try late in the match<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Look back at all the action in our live blog below, and check out all the stats in the full ScoreCentre<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Key Events<\/p>\n

Sat 19 JulSat 19 JulSat 19 Jul 2025 at 11:29am<\/p>\n

Sat 19 JulSat 19 JulSat 19 Jul 2025 at 11:28am<\/p>\n

Sat 19 JulSat 19 JulSat 19 Jul 2025 at 11:27am<\/p>\n

Show all key events<\/p>\n

Sat, 12:27pmSat 19 Jul 2025 at 12:27pm<\/p>\n

That’s where we’ll leave you\"Jon<\/p>\n

Well, I was expecting a straightforward day of footy with the top three playing teams outside the eight, but I should have known better.<\/p>\n

It all got a bit chaotic in the end.<\/p>\n

For myself and Henry Hanson, I’ll bid you farewell and see you tomorrow.<\/p>\n

Sat, 12:10pmSat 19 Jul 2025 at 12:10pm<\/p>\n

Craig Bellamy and Harry Grant are disappointed in the team’s performance\"Jon<\/p>\n

Storm captain Harry Grant is asked how disappointed he is with the way that all shook out.<\/p>\n

“It’s very disappointing the way we performed. I personally take a lot of responsibility for the way we started and the way we finished.<\/p>\n

“We finished the way we started the game, very clunky and not the way we want to play.”<\/p>\n

Coach Craig Bellamy is baffled and not best pleased by his team’s 64 per cent (29\/45) completion rate, compared to Manly’s 90 per cent (37\/41).<\/p>\n

“I was really disappointed with the way we played. It was like we were looking for shortcuts straight away, the easy options.<\/p>\n

“I don’t know whether we were looking for a soft performance.<\/p>\n

“On Old Boys’ Day to go out and play like that is just disappointing. It’s not what we’re about as a club or a team.”<\/p>\n

And he won’t be drawn on the final penalty.<\/p>\n

“The rules say that’s what it was. At the end of the day, commenting on it ain’t gonna change it. It is what it is.”<\/p>\n

Sat, 12:01pmSat 19 Jul 2025 at 12:01pm<\/p>\n

‘Brooksy felt like he got hit’\"Jon<\/p>\n

Coach Anthony Seibold says he was “really proud” of his team and, like his captain, calls back to that round six draw against the Warriors in Auckland.<\/p>\n

And, like his captain, remembers it as a loss.<\/p>\n

“Brooksy felt like he got hit. Whether it’s the right or the wrong decision, there’s been two games, one we lost one we won.”<\/p>\n

Seibold also says the team may challenge the independent doctor’s assessment of Jake Simpkin as having Category 1 concussion symptoms after he copped a stray elbow from Nelson Asofa-Solomona.<\/p>\n

He says the team doctor assessed them as Category 2 symptoms.<\/p>\n

Sat, 11:51amSat 19 Jul 2025 at 11:51am<\/p>\n

Not the first time Harry Grant met this rule\"Jon<\/p>\n

Storm captain Harry Grant has run afoul of this rule in the past, making incidental contact with the kicking leg of Cronulla’s Dan Atkinson last year.<\/p>\n

However, he ultimately got off the charge, so maybe he figured he was in the clear.<\/p>\n

Sat, 11:38amSat 19 Jul 2025 at 11:38am<\/p>\n

DCE says rules is rules, Trbojevics acknowledge it was ‘lucky’\"Jon<\/p>\n

Fox Sports is hogging all the interviews, pinching Luke Brooks\u00a0 from our sideline reporter and Daly Cherry-Evans too.<\/p>\n

\"\"(Getty)<\/p>\n

Cherry-Evans says he didn’t see the contact from Grant on Brooks (he was in the previous tackle) but knows the rule well.<\/p>\n

“Rightly or wrongly, that’s where the rules are at at the moment,” he tells Fox.<\/p>\n

“We lost a game in New Zealand with a similar situation, so it was nice to get one back.”<\/p>\n

It was actually a draw back in round six last year<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Both Tom and Jake Trbojevic admit it was a “lucky call”.<\/p>\n

Sat, 11:29amSat 19 Jul 2025 at 11:29amFT: Melbourne 16-18 Manly\"Henry<\/p>\n

What a second half that was.<\/p>\n

\"\"(Getty Images)<\/p>\n

Xavier Coates – so often Melbourne’s try-scoring saviour – led a stirring 10 point comeback for the home side.<\/p>\n

16-16 with five minutes left, the Storm didn’t make the most of a couple field-goal opportunities.<\/p>\n

Eventually, Manly got one of its own.<\/p>\n

Luke Brooks missed one from a long way out, but a successful captain’s challenge showed Harry Grant made contact with the kicker.<\/p>\n

Reuben Garrick slotted a gimme to win the game and Manly is up into the top eight.<\/p>\n

Melbourne, meanwhile, loses valuable ground on the top two, who both won earlier today.<\/p>\n

Sat, 11:29amSat 19 Jul 2025 at 11:29am<\/p>\n

80′ Melbourne knocks on!\"Henry<\/p>\n

Melbourne is coming, searching for kicking territory.<\/p>\n

The Storm can’t carve out an opportunity, and it’s a knock on!<\/p>\n

Really poor stuff from Melbourne….Josh King can’t do anything with a pass drilled at him and that’s surely game.<\/p>\n

Sat, 11:28amSat 19 Jul 2025 at 11:28am’That is rubbish’: Former Storm star on dubious penalty call\"Jon<\/p>\n

Former Storm star Ryan Hoffman has labelled the decision to penalise Harry Grant as “rubbish”.<\/p>\n

“This is disappointing because the contact was minimal,” Hoffman says on ABC Sport.<\/p>\n

“They slow these things down. It’s barely a touch.<\/p>\n

“Luke Brooks is still standing and there’s nothing wrong with him. He didn’t even acknowledge Harry Grant touched him. That is rubbish.”<\/p>\n

Sat, 11:27amSat 19 Jul 2025 at 11:27am79′ Manly goes in front!\"Henry<\/p>\n

And Garrick makes no mistake!<\/p>\n

It’s a real gimme from right in front.<\/p>\n

The Sea Eagles go two up with two minutes left!<\/p>\n

Sat, 11:26amSat 19 Jul 2025 at 11:26am<\/p>\n

78′ Manly given penalty!\"Henry<\/p>\n

Massive call.<\/p>\n

Luke Brook attempts a field goal for Manly from way out.<\/p>\n

It misses, but Harry Grant is clearly making contact on the kicker.<\/p>\n

Manly has a penalty on captain’s challenge and Reuben Garrick will kick from right in front….<\/p>\n

Sat, 11:24amSat 19 Jul 2025 at 11:24am<\/p>\n

77′ Melbourne miss field goal chance\"Henry<\/p>\n

The Storm makes its way to into field goal territory but decide against having a go while in front. Instead, they recycle it in and out and eventually its called a knock on in favour of the Sea Eagles!<\/p>\n

The Storm use their captains challenge in search of a dangerous tackle but there’s none found.<\/p>\n

Manly restart in search of field goal territory.<\/p>\n

Sat, 11:20amSat 19 Jul 2025 at 11:20am<\/p>\n

76′ Penalty to Storm!\"Henry<\/p>\n

Nick\u00a0Meaney is up to collect a high ball deep in Melbourne territory, but is taken out by Siosiua Taukeiaho.<\/p>\n

Manly kick it forward in search of field goal territory.<\/p>\n

Sat, 11:20amSat 19 Jul 2025 at 11:20am<\/p>\n

75′ Manly clinging on\"Henry<\/p>\n

Where would Melbourne be without Xavier Coates?<\/p>\n

That’s the ninth hat-trick of his NRL career.<\/p>\n

Manly is clinging on as the Storm push forward once again.<\/p>\n

Five minutes to go.<\/p>\n

Sat, 11:16amSat 19 Jul 2025 at 11:16am72′ COATES HAS A HAT-TRICK!\"Henry<\/p>\n

What a massive play from Xavier Coates.<\/p>\n

Jarome Hughes floats a high, high kick up towards the left-hand corner of the try-line, and from nowhere, Coates flies so beautifully to pluck it out of the air and put it down.<\/p>\n

It’s a lovely try and the kick is good!<\/p>\n

We’re level in Melbourne!<\/p>\n

Sat, 11:15amSat 19 Jul 2025 at 11:15am<\/p>\n

68′ Manly trying to hold on\"Henry<\/p>\n

A massive final 12 minutes are ahead of us in Melbourne.<\/p>\n

It has been a real tight second half, with the Sea Eagles standing tall for most of it.<\/p>\n

A good kick pushes Melbourne all the way back to its 20.<\/p>\n

The Storm is rebuilding desperately as they make their way forward once more.<\/p>\n

Sat, 11:07amSat 19 Jul 2025 at 11:07am65′ COATES SCORES AGAIN!\"Henry<\/p>\n

That’s breathtaking stuff from Melbourne.<\/p>\n

It looked like Manly was destined to score up the other end, but Jarome Hughes gains possession and charges up the field.<\/p>\n

He finds Grant\u00a0Anderson, who’s in space and able to find a massive cross-field pass to an on-rushing Xavier Coates on the left.<\/p>\n

Coates storms through and puts the ball down but not before Reuben Garrick almost is able to tackle him after an epic chase.<\/p>\n

However, Coates just about gets the ball down.<\/p>\n

Meaney can’t convert and its 10-16.<\/p>\n

Sat, 11:07amSat 19 Jul 2025 at 11:07am<\/p>\n

Here’s a look at that Nelson Asofa-Solomona elbow\"Henry<\/p>\n

It forced Jake Simpkin off the field with concussion while Nelson Asofa-Solomona remains on it and on report.<\/p>\n

Sat, 11:05amSat 19 Jul 2025 at 11:05am<\/p>\n

60′ More Melbourne misery\"Henry<\/p>\n

The crowd roars as Xavier Coates gains possession and runs forward.<\/p>\n

He has green grass ahead of him, but Lehi Hopoate makes excellent ground to tackle him off the field.<\/p>\n

Nothing going right here for the Storm as Manly is able to begin its six assuredly.<\/p>\n

Sat, 11:02amSat 19 Jul 2025 at 11:02am<\/p>\n

59′ Storm wastes drop-out opportunity\"Henry<\/p>\n

A good captain’s challenge from the Storm sees a knock-on turned into a fresh set of six.<\/p>\n

The hosts begin on the 20m line.<\/p>\n

They work the set well, and it’s finished by a searching kick from Hughes.<\/p>\n

It’s collected in the goal area and then taken out by a Manly body and it’s a goal-line drop out.<\/p>\n

DCE hits one out Manly is able to collect.<\/p>\n

A wasted opportunity from the hosts.<\/p>\n

Sat, 11:02amSat 19 Jul 2025 at 11:02am’The game was taken away from us’ by referees: Dragons coach\"Jon\"Moses(Getty)<\/p>\n

St George Illawarra coach Shane Flanagan has blamed the referees for his team’s 20-18 loss to Canterbury.<\/p>\n

The Dragons led 18-16 after two tries in the first 15 minutes of the second half before the Bulldogs stole victory with a last-minute four-pointer to second-gamer Jethro Rinakama<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Flanagan credited the Bulldogs as a hard-working team and admitted his side wasn’t perfect, but said key decisions in the final minutes cost the team victory.<\/p>\n

He pinpointed a 75th-minute penalty against Luciano Leilua, after Jacob Kiraz was called for a knock-on while trying to play the ball quickly. The Bulldogs challenged and the bunker ruled a penalty<\/a>, but Flanagan was adamant Kiraz should have got to his feet and become fully balanced before playing it, as flagged by the NRL this season.<\/p>\n

“The game was taken away from us [with] I believe, wrong decisions,” Flanagan said in his post-match press conference.<\/p>\n

“There were some decisions tonight that cost us two competition points and could cost us an opportunity to play semifinals.”<\/p>\n

Flanagan said he would take it up with the league.<\/p>\n

“I’ll go through those channels but in the end we don’t get these two competition points, we can’t come back and rectify them,” he said.<\/p>\n

“I’m just so disappointed we lost the game not from effort \u2026 but some other decisions cost us the game at vital points.”<\/p>\n

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