As it happened: Storm surge

Fulltime report

A spare-parts Storm side have come from behind to record their fifth consecutive win and climb above the Bulldogs into second place. Both teams were heavily depleted due to Origin commitments and injuries but Melbourne overpowered the Cowboys late in the match to secure a 26-20 win. Playing fullback in place of the injured Ryan Papenhuyzen, Nick Meaney scored two tries to finish with a personal haul of 16 points, while secondrowers Eli Katoa and Shawn Blore were impressive. After being blown away by Cowboys centre Jaxon Purdue just before halftime, Joe Chan - playing out of position shut the speedster down in the second half. The win puts the Storm into second place behind Canberra after Canterbury's loss to Brisbane on Friday night. 

77 min: A Clifford penalty goal for a shotclock violation has put the Cowboys within a converted try of forcing the game to golden point. Storm 26 Cowboys 20. 

66 min: Meaney got his second try after running onto a Blore offload to give the Storm a commanding lead against a 12-man North Queensland. Storm 26 Cowboys 18.

61 min: Another penalty against Coen Hess for a high shot on Garlick enabled Meaney to put the Storm ahead with an easy penalty goal. Storm 20 Cowboys 18. 

60 min: Duffy kicked the ball out on the full and the error was compounded when Griffin Neame stripped the ball from Grant Anderson with another Cowboys player in the tackle, resulting in a penalty.

56 min: Meaney hit back for the Storm after beating Purdue and stepping around Drinkwater in an electrifying run. Meaney converted his own try. Cowboys 18 Storm 18.

52 min: Drinkwater put the Cowboys ahead for the first time in the match after he backed up a break by English strike secondrower John Bateman to score. Clifford converted. Cowboys 18 Storm 12.

45 min: The Cowboys have suffered a blow with forward Sam McIntyre ruled out with a calf injury.

44 min: The Cowboys are again under pressure early but a trysaving tackle by Clifford on Shawn Blore prevented the Storm from scoring.

Halftime Summary

The Cowboys fought their way back into the game to level the scores despite having just 45% possession and being forced to make 164 tackles to 130 by the Storm. Both of Melbourne's tries came from kicks and that is an area they are likely to continue to target in the second half. The key for the Cowboys is their speed out wide through centre Jaxon Purdue and winger Robert Derby - both first half tryscorers. Fullback Scott Drinkwater laid on both tries and is likely to have a big impact on whether North Queensland fans in the sell-out crowd go home with a win to celebrate.

37 min: We are all locked up after Jaxon Purdue showed his speed to race past Storm centre Joe Chan - usually a forward - and score out wide before halfback Jack Clifford converted. Cowboys 12 Storm 12. 

30 min: Asofa-Solomona made amends when he crashed over to score Melbourne's second try off a Bronson Garlick pass after Drinkwater and halfback Tom Duffy allowed the ball to bounce. Storm 12 Cowboys 6.

25 min: Kiwis prop Nelson Asofa-Solomona has come off the bench but lost the ball after his first carry.

16 min: PNG flier Robert Derby hit back for the Cowboys with an aerial put down after an overhead pass from Drinkwater. Drinkwater converted. Cowboys 6 Storm 6. 

9 min: Stand-in captain Eli Katoa is leading the way after capitalising on a dominant start by the Storm to leap above Cowboys fullback Scott Drinkwater for his seventh try of the season. Meaney converted. Storm 6-0.

Cowboys: Star winger Murray Taulagi has been ruled out with a minor knee injury so Braidon Burns comes onto the wing. Tom Duffy has been recalled for his first game at halfback since Round 2, taking over for Maroons No.7 Tom Dearden. The absence of forwards Reuben Cotter, Jeremiah Nanai and Reece Robson on Origin duty sees a new-look pack that includes Jordan McLean in his return from a calf injury and John Bateman back from a groin injury. Harrison Edwards takes over at hooker and Kai O'Donnell starts in the back row. Mackay Cutters hooker Temple Kalepo makes his NRL debut off the bench. 

Storm: Ryan Papenhuyzen (calf tightness) drops out of the squad 24-hours from kick off, with Tyran Wishart switching to fullback and Jonah Pezet moving from the bench to five-eighth. Victorian product Siulagi Tuimalatu-Brown (formerly Siulagi Pio) has been named on the bench and is set to make his NRL debut. Earlier, the loss of Xavier Coates (Origin) and Sua Faalogo (hamstring) saw Grant Anderson slide to the wing, with Kane Bradley coming in on the other wing and Joe Chan named at centre. Bronson Garlick comes in for Harry Grant at hooker and Jonah Pezet joins the bench in the utility role. Tui Kamikamica comes in at prop and Alex MacDonald comes in at lock to cover for Trent Loiero (Origin). With Stefano Utoikamanu also on Origin duty, the bench now includes Lazarus Vaalepu and Ativalu Lisati.

The NRLW match between the two clubs was played earlier, with the Cowboys triumphing 20-6 over the Titans.

Raiders v Dragons at GIO Stadium

Fulltime report

A stunning hat-trick by fullback Keao Weekes has helped propel the Raiders to outright leadership of the NRL after their seventh consecutive win. Weekes ran 342m with the ball and scored two spectacular length of the field tries as the Raiders overcame a determined Dragons team 28-24 at GIO Stadium. He also produced two-line breaks, four-line break assists and a try assists as Canberra moved two points clear of the Bulldogs following their loss to Brisbane on Friday night.  

80 min: David Klemmer has been placed on report and sinbinned in an anti-climatic end to a gripping game.

74 min: More Sloan magic after the Dragons speedster gets on the outside of Stuart and Ethan Strange before kicking in-field for Flanagan to pick up and score. Flanagan converted. Raiders 28 Dragons 24.

65 min: Sloan says anything you can do ... after racing on to a Gutherson kick behind Stuart and outpacing Weekes to score and keep the game alive. Flanagan converted. Raiders 28 Dragons 18.

62 min: Kaeo may have delivered the KO with a try even better than his first after fielding a kick 10 metres out from his own line, pushing off Damien Cook, squeezing out of the attempted tackle of Jack De Belin and Su'A, evading referee Gerard Sutton and performing a forward roll with the ball following an ankle tap before getting up to cross the line. Raiders 28 Dragons 12. 

59 min: Su'A has scored off his own kick after Canberra winger Jed Stuart fumbled the ball and the Samoan international pounced as it bounced around in the in-goal. Flanagan converted. Raiders 24 Dragons 12.

48 min: Morgan Smithies has scored his first NRL try after Kris batted back a Fogarty try for the English forward to catch and put down over the line. Fogarty converted. Raiders 24 Dragons 6.

43 min: Weekes has started the second half like he finished the first after beating Dragons centre Corey Allan to score. Fogarty converted from out wide. Raiders 18 Dragons 6.

Halftime Summary

The Raiders have turned on the razzle dazzle in the first half and while they only lead 12-6 at the interval the Dragons have been forced to make 35 more tackles so the points may flow in the second half. Fullback Kaeo Weekes has been sensational for Canberra, running 216m from 12 runs and scoring a try, while producing three line-break assists. For the Dragons, Tyrell Sloan has scored a try and had a try disallowed for a forward pass. The Raiders have completed 18 of 20 sets of possession compared to 14 of 19 by the Dragons.

38 min: Take a bow Kaeo Weekes: The Raiders fullback quickly made amends with a length of the field try after fielding a Flanagan grubber kick nears his end and outsprinting the defence. Raiders 12 Dragons 6

36 min: Flanagan levelled the scores after Weekes was penalised for a dangerous tackle. Raiders 6 Dragons 6

33 min: Sloan made the Raiders pay when he finished a backline movement to score at the opposite end. Kyle Flanagan missed the sideline conversion. Raiders 6 Dragons 4.

32 min: Trey Mooney was denied a try after Dragons fullback Clint Gutherson put down a towering kick from Fogarty and the ball bounced up perfectly for the rookie prop - only for him to be ruled offside.

30 min: Raiders centre Matt Timoko has put one of the shots of the season on Dragons five-eighth Lyhkan King-Togia to force a turnover.

24 min: Su'A has been placed on report for dangerous contact after Raiders captain Joseph Tapine suffered an ankle injury. 

19 min: Xavier Savage has scored a spectacular opening try after twisting his body sideways over the sideline to plant the ball following a run around by Kaeo Weekes with Seb Kris. Fogarty converted from out wide. Raiders 6-0.

14 min: Terrell Sloan crossed for what appeared to be the first try of the game but it was called back for a forward pass.

5 min: Corey Horsburgh just fell short of his first try of the season after beating Jaydn Su'A to a Jamal Fogarty kick only to lose control of the ball.

Team news

Raiders: The loss of Hudson Young and Josh Papalii to Origin duties will see Trey Mooney play his first game since Round 4, while Simi Sasagi retains his place in the starting side. No changes in the 24-hour update. Young gun Chevy Stewart is pushing for his first NRL appearance of the year and is 18th man.

Dragons: Hame Sele has been ruled out after straining a calf at training on Thursday. Raymond Faitala-Mariner (back soreness) has also dropped out of the squad. Michael Molo moves to starting second row with Blake Lawrie and Viliami Fifita moving from the reserves to the interchange. Tyrell Sloan is set for his first-grade return as Shane Flanagan navigates an overflowing casualty ward. Sione Finau joins Sloan on the wing, with Corey Allan set to shift to the centres. Nick Tsougranis is 18th man.

The NRLW match between the two clubs was played earlier, with the Dragons running out 36-14 winners.

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