The Storm were gifted a crucial try to Marion Seve in the 26th minute after it came off the back of a missed knock-on from Harry Grant at the other end of the field in a huge swing.
The incident in the 25th minute with the Storm leading 6-0 saw Grant try to defuse a bomb from the Roosters on his line, but he looked to knock-on before he regathered the ball.
However, referee Ashley Klein ruled play on and the Storm were gifted a penalty that saw them go the length of the field and score through Seve to make it 10-0.
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The commentators were perplexed with the play-on call before the replays showed a glaring error.
“How did he take that Harry Grant?” Steve Roach said.
“Harry Grant off an Allan bat back,” Andrew Voss said.
“That came off his hand and he has done a remarkable job to get that before it has touched the ground,” Greg Alexander said.
“It looks like it was headed for the ground and oh it has.”
“He couldn’t have had a better view of it and the poker face of Harry Grant he got away with it,” Voss said.
“He got away with it big time. Oh dear Roosters fans. If the Storm are to take advantage on that call that is a big swing right there.”
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“He was in a great position there Ashley Klein right next to the posts,” Alexander said.
“You can understand the frustration from Trent Robinson.
“The Melbourne Storm get a penalty and now they are back on halfway.”
Brandon Smith’s penalty allowed the Storm to march up field and Grant touched the ball three times in the set to set up Seve for a crucial try to make it 10-0.
“Beautiful from Melbourne and what a call at the other end,” Voss said.
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“Melbourne take full toll.”
Alexander noted the importance of Klein’s blunder at the other end of the field in the build-up to the try.
“You go back to the play at the other end of the field, Harry Grant dropped the ball and it should have been a knock-on,” Alexander said.
“They get away with it and they get a penalty through that set.
“Then Harry Grant’s involvement throughout that set and he held it up beautifully for Seve.”
Corey Parker was furious at the missed call at halftime.
“It’s hard enough to win semi-finals playing within the rules but that right there, Ashley Klein, you can see him there to the left… that is a blatant knock-on every day of the week,” Parker said.
“Off the back of that they roll down the other end of the field and Marion Seve was able to come up with a try.
“That is a horrible decision from Ashley Klein, it should never have been made. It should’ve been pulled up, he was right in a good spot.”
Michael Ennis agreed it was a blatant miss from the referee who was right in line.
“You can give the referee some leeway but that one was blatant,” Ennis said.
“It was right in front of Ashley Klein, he was two or three metres away right in front of where Harry Grant dropped the ball.
“As Corey said it is such a significant moment, it is so hard to find points in these types of games and it was a big blunder.”
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