It proved a disappointing end to 2025 for Shaun Timmins’ Steelers who fell to the Storm 36-16 in the Elimination Final at Collegians on Sunday.
The visitors were dominant from the outset with the Steelers conceding multiple tries through the middle of the field.
A fightback looked to perhaps be on the cards entering the final 10 minutes of the game, but poor errors and defensive misses cruelled the home side as their campaign came to an abrupt end.
Match: Steelers v Storm
Finals Week 1 -
home Team
Steelers
away Team
Storm
Venue: Collegians Sporting Complex, Wollongong
Melbourne took advantage of an early Steelers error to draw first blood through Frankie Howarth who sliced through down the right-hand side to make it 4-0.
The visitors threatened to add to their lead the next set, but the Steelers managed to hold Cooper Clarke up over the line on the final play.
The Steelers marched down the other end courtesy of a brilliant Charlie Heidke break only to have their end-of-set kick batted dead.
Illawarra again threatened with Kade Reed sending Heidke into space down the right-hand corridor but winger Saifiti Junior Saifiti was eventually dragged down.
A penalty for a late shot on the kicker gifted the Storm another opportunity and five-eighth Waka Hammond obliged stepping his way over to the left of the sticks to extend their lead to eight.
A Riley Brannock 40/20 propelled the Storm straight back onto the attack with Clarke spinning his way over to the right of the uprights to continue the visitors’ perfect opening stanza.
Some savvy Reed ball-playing sent Daniel Meafou to within inches of the try-line before Mason Phillips leapt out of dummy-half to put Jackson Smith over down the short side to secure first points for Illawarra.
Reed slotted the conversion to cut it back to 14-6 for the hosts.
Melbourne came up with a miracle try on the stroke of half-time after fullback Amaziah Murgha picked up a Reed bomb which had been allowed to bounce and raced into space before handing it off to Jai Bowden to score.
The second half started in similar fashion for the visitors with Lockyer-Azile Foliola to grow the lead out to 24-6.
Aaymon Fitzgibbon came up with a much-needed hit-back for the Steelers 45 minutes in dummying and shoving his way over right through the middle to conjure a superb individual effort and cut the deficit back to a dozen.
Likamani Richter appeared to have nabbed the Steelers’ third off a dangerous Phillips scurry but was held up by some desperate Storm defence.
They continued their fightback shortly after however through Saifiti who finished off a right-side shift with No.1 Lucas Borg throwing the final pass.
Reed’s conversion from the right touchline was waved away as the deficit remained beyond a converted try entering the home stretch.
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SG Ball Cup Elimination Final Highlights: Steelers v Storm
The Storm quashed any hopes of a comeback with Kobi Floro powering his way over for an easy four-pointer to the left of the uprights.
A hard-running Clarke found a second try for the Storm late to kick-off celebrations for the visiting side and send them on their way to Week Two of the finals.
Leeroy Weatherall was placed on report for an alleged fishhook on Storm forward Phoenix Woods in the final stages of the clash.
