As it happened: Storm sink Sharks; Drinkwater delivers

Titanic efforts: AJ Brimson and Phil Sami did all they could to get Gold Coast across the line. Brimson had 21 runs for 168 metres while Sami racked up 239 metres from 27 runs. They had nine tackle breaks between them and were a constant threat to the Cowboys defence.

Full-time: The Cowboys do enough to hang on 30-24 to give them their sixth win of the season. Scott Drinkwater stood tall for the Cowboys with 143 metres, two line breaks, three tackle breaks and two tries while Murray Taulagi ran for 162 metres. The Cowboys came up with 15 errors but had enough class to salute.

79 min: Jake Clifford goes to the air, the ball touches Tino Fa'asuamaleaui's hand on the way through and ends up going into touch so the Cowboys get the ball back and close the game out.

76 min: The Titans keep the game alive through a Phil Sami try after great hands from Kieran Foran and AJ Brimson and Brian Kelly on the left edge. Tom Weaver shows nerves of steel to land the conversion. Cowboys 30-24. 

72 min: Deception by Reece Robson out of dummy half when he feigns to go right but goes left and picks up a flying Scott Drinkwater who goes in for his second try of the day to go with his two try assists. Jake Clifford bangs over the conversion to get the margin back to 12. Cowboys 30-18.

69 min: A mistake by Tino Fa'asuamaleaui coming out of yardage puts the Titans under pressure but they hold firm until Reece Robson grubbers into the in goal and the line dropout doesn't go the required 10 metres.

65 min: Jojo Fifita shows great strength to power through four defenders and score the Titans' third try. Fifita got the ball 10 metres out and would not be denied. Tom Weaver nails the conversion. Cowboys 24-18.

63 min: The Titans lose their way on the last play and Tino Fa'asuamaleaui is forced to put in a kick but Scott Drinkwater spills it and the Titans get a scrum 10 metres out.

55 min: The Titans hit back when Brian Kelly produces a clever kick off the outside of the right foot and it bounces up for AJ Brimson to score after Tom Dearden was unable to clean it up. Tom Weaver converts. Cowboys 24-12.

50 min: Scott Drinkwater goes to the line and grubbers into the in goal with Allan Fitzgibbon unable to clean up and the scraps fall to Jeremiah Nanai to dot down for an easy try. Jake Clifford converts. Cowboys 24-6.

46 min: The Cowboys' big guns combine to stretch the lead with Tom Dearden busting the line and finding Scott Drinkwater backing up on the inside for a crucial try. Drinkwater converts to make it 18-6.

44 min: A dropped ball by Jaxon Purdue puts the Cowboys under pressure but they hang on after the Titans are penalised for being in front of the kicker on a bomb at the end of the set.

Half-time: A total of 13 errors in the opening 40 minutes as both sides struggled to control the ball in slippery conditions. The Titans had 54 per cent of possession but could come up with just the one try. Cowboys winger Murray Taulagi was the only player to top 100 run metres, with 10 runs for 107 metres.

38 min: A towering bomb by Tom Weaver is allowed to bounce by Scott Drinkwater but fortunately for the Cowboys it lands in the hands of Reuben Cotter.

36 min: Reece Robson takes off for a dart and looks to pick up Reuben Cotter who fumbles it and the Titans are off the hook.

29 min: Kieran Foran goes to the line and sends a short ball to Beau Fermor who spins out of a Jake Clifford tackle to cross for his sixth try of the season. Tom Weaver adds the extras. Cowboys 12-6.

28 min: Titans hooker Sam Verrills leaves the field for a HIA after copping a poke in the eye. He passes and is able to return to the field.

27 min: The error count hits 11 as Reece Robson spills the ball to punctuate another Cowboys attack.

25 min: Tom Weaver goes to the line and puts in a grubber but it is too heavy and the Cowboys come away with a seven-tackle set.

23 min: The Cowboys lose their captain's challenge for the day after Robert Derby loses the ball in a tackle and calls for the challenge to be thrown in. Replays showed the Titans did not play at the ball so the challenge is lost.

23 min: Kieran Foran creates space on the left edge for the Titans but Reuben Cotter comes across in cover to shut him down and the veteran playmaker loses the ball.

17 min: Allan Fitzgibbon puts down a high ball in the tough conditions with rain falling and the Cowboys cash in through Murray Taulagi on the left wing. Quick hands from Tom Dearden, Scott Drinkwater and Jaxon Purdue open the door for Taulagi to slide in. Clifford converts from wide out. Cowboys 12-0.

15 min: Harrison Edwards comes up with a mistake with the Cowboys looking to come out of their own end before Beau Fermor returns the favour with a cold drop.

8 min: The Cowboys strike first after a great run by Scott Drinkwater before Jake Clifford puts Zac Laybutt over from close range. Drinkwater converts. Cowboys 6-0.

6 min: Tom Weaver explodes into space and looks to turn the ball back inside to Chris Randall who puts it down.

 

Late Mail

More changes on game day for Des Hasler with Jaylan De Groot added to the bench in his return from a hamstring injury. Jacob Alick-Wiencke reverts to 18th man. Moeaki Fotuaika also shifts to the bench with Jaimin Jolliffe promoted to the starting side. 

North Queensland were dealt a late blow 24 hours out from kick-off with Jordan McLean suffering a calf injury and John Bateman picking up a groin injury. The injuries will see Kai O'Donnell come into the side in jumper No.20 and Griffin Neame shift from the bench to the starting front row. Kaiden Lahrs is the new name on the interchange as a result. Harrison Edwards has been promoted to the starting side an hour before kick-off with O'Donnell going to the bench.

Numbers Game

• The Titans have won four of their past five games against the Cowboys at Cbus Super Stadium.
• The Cowboys have conceded 138 points in their past three games.
• Cowboys second-rower Jeremiah Nanai has scored four tries in his past two games against the Titans.
• Titans fullback AJ Brimson has scored nine tries in 13 games against the Cowboys.

 

Storm v Sharks at AAMI Park

Flashy Faalogo: The diminutive Storm flyer ran for 223 metres and had three tackle breaks before leaving the field late with a hamstring injury. Chief playmaker Jahrome Hughes was also supreme with 108 run metres and 10 tackle breaks while Eli Katoa ran for 145 metres and Ryan Papenhuyzen 158 metres.

Full-time: In front of 21,399 fans at AAMI Park the Storm came up with an outstanding second half to put the Sharks to the sword. The Storm completed 42 of 47 sets at 89 per cent while the Sharks went 31 of 39 at 79 per cent. The Sharks have now lost four of their past five to drop out of the eight.

79 min: A juggling effort from Trent Loireo to control the ball and plunge over for another Storm try to round out 20-0 second-half shutout of the Sharks. Storm 30-6.

78 min: A sad end to the day for Sua Faalogo as he pulls a hamstring after another long break down the left wing. 

73 min: Another bomb, another spectacular Eli Katoa catch, another Storm try, this time through Jahrome Hughes courtesy of Katoa's acrobatic catch and offload. Ryan Papenhuyzen adds the extras. Storm 24-6.

71 min: Sua Faalogo flies into the corner in a bid for his second try but his boot grazes the sideline just before he can ground the ball.

68 min: Sua Faalogo again fails to take a bomb on the full and it almost ends in disaster for the Storm as the ball bounces down to Siosifa Talakai but the Sharks centre can't control it.

65 min: Jahrome Hughes launches a high ball, Eli Katoa chases hard and takes the ball on the full in front of Will Kennedy before offloading to Nick Meaney for the try that breaks the game open. Ryan Papenhuyzen converts to make it 18-6.

62 min: A penalty against Braydon Trindall for late contact on Jahrome Hughes after a kick puts the Sharks under pressure but Tui Kamikamica spills the ball 10 metres out from the line.

58 min: A penalty against Nicho Hynes for obstructing the Storm chasers on a bomb hands Ryan Papenhuyzen a shot at two more points from 20 metres out but he pushes the kick wide to the right. Ronaldo Mulitalo gets the ball out of the in-goal.

56 min: The Storm throw in a captain's challenge after a knock-on ruling against Sua Faalogo in a contest for the high ball. The challenge is successful.

45 min: The Storm extend the lead to six points courtesy of a Ryan Papenhuyzen penalty goal. Storm 12-6.

43 min: Toby Rudolf comes up with a cold drop coming out of yardage and the Sharks are under pressure immediately.

Half-time: A tense struggle with the Storm completing 20 of 22 sets at 90 per cent but restricted to just two tries by a gritty Sharks outfit. Blayke Brailey and Cam McInnes came up with 50 tackles between them for the visitors.

40 min: Sharks back-rower Briton Nikora is placed on report for late contact on Cameron Munster.

40 min: The Storm get a last shot at points Ryan Papenhuyzen's pass is a poor one and rolls into touch to leave it 10-6 at the break to Melbourne.

39 min: The Sharks again create space on the left but Sisoifa Talakai's pass to Ronaldo Mulitalo floats forward.

34 min: Nicho Hynes launches a pinpoint and Sua Faalogo fails to contest the ball and it falls to Braydon Trindall who gets across for the Sharks' first try. Hynes adds the extras. Storm 10-6.

27 min: The Sharks go left again and Nicho Hynes tries to tap the ball on to Siosifa Talakai but Sua Faalogo snatches the ball out of the air and sprints 90 metres to post Melbourne's second try. Ryan Papenhuyzen hits the upright with the conversion. Storm 10-0.

23 min: The Sharks put together a left side raid and the last pass from Siosifa Talakai to Ronaldo Mulitalo goes astray but Sua Faalogo had touched the pass in flight so the Sharks reload.

22 min: A high tackle by Trent Loiero on Cam McInnes late in the set allows the Sharks to get out of their own end and into the Storm half.

18 min: A penalty against Eli Katoa for a grapple tackle puts the Sharks on the attack but Addin Fonua-Blake makes a mess of the play the ball and the Storm come out of their own end.

16 min: Superb Cronulla defence keeps the Storm at bay and they come out of danger after Ronaldo Mulitalo defuses a bomb.

14 min: Jahrome Hughes grubbers into the in goal and Ronaldo Mulitalo cleans up as the Sharks are forced into another line dropout.

11 min: A Teig Wilton error invites the Storm into the Red Zone again and they come up with a repeat set on the back of Ryan Papenhuyzen grubber that Braydon Trindall is forced to take dead.

9 min: An early captain's challenge from the Sharks comes up empty after a Sione Katoa knock on and the Storm start a fresh set from 20 metres out.

6 min: A magical pass by Jahrome Hughes puts Eli Katoa into a hole on the right edge and the back-rower races 25 metres untouched to post his sixth try of the season. Ryan Papenhuyzen converts. Storm 6-0.

5 min: The Storm take the early field position advantage after a clever Harry Grant kick out of dummy half pins Will Kennedy deep in his own territory.

 

Late Maiil

Nelson Asofa-Solomona will start the game and Stefano Utoikamanu goes to the bench in a late switch for the Storm. Xavier Coates is back on deck after he was rested last weekend, with Grant Anderson shifting to the centres and Jack Howarth (appendicitis) ruled out.

Daniel Atkinson has dropped back to 18th man and Billy Burns comes onto the bench an hour before kick-off. Oregon Kaufusi returns from a hamstring injury after he was a late withdrawal last weekend.

Numbers Game

• The Storm have won their past nine games at AAMI Park.
• The Sharks have won only one of their past seven games at AAMI Park.
• Storm winger Xavier Coates has scored 35 tries in 33 games at AAMI Park.
• Sharks winger Ronaldo Mulitalo has scored five tries in his last six games against the Storm.
• Storm hooker Harry Grant has scored seven tries in eight games against the Sharks.