Melbourne booked their spot in another NRL preliminary final with a gritty 26-18 win over Canterbury, overcoming a late deficit thanks to Tyran Wishart’s decisive try and Will Warbrick’s long-range intercept.
The Bulldogs, who were chasing their first finals victory in a decade, were hit hard by injuries, with captain Stephen Crichton sidelined by a suspected syndesmosis and Enari Tuala forced off with a calf issue.
Coach Cameron Ciraldo praised his team’s bravery but expressed frustration with refereeing calls, while Storm coach Craig Bellamy criticised unpunished hip-drop tackles.
Canterbury now face a sudden-death semifinal against either the Warriors or Panthers, with Crichton’s fitness a major concern.
