THEY got closer than many expected but St George Illawarra couldn't produce a memorable upset, edged out 16-14 by Melbourne at a water-logged WIN Stadium on Thursday night.
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The Dragons were without 1224 games worth of NRL experience, 80 per cent of the salary cap and without hope to in the eyes of many despite the Storm also missing their share of top-liners.
They had more than a hope in the end only to be sunk by a 74th minute penalty goal from Cameron Smith after Jacob Host was pinged for an escort on Jahrome Hughes.
It proved the difference after the scores were locked three times during a clash between to willing sides, though the talent missing from both became more evident as the match wore on.
"I'm very proud of the players in the shed with their performance," coach Paul McGregor said.
"I don't think the game deserved to finish the way it did considering the effort both sides put in.
"With nine players out and on the end of a possession rate that wasn't going there way I thought they found a lot in the second half at stages.
"It's a small win within a loss. I'll be interested to see what [referees' boss] Graham Annesley says on Monday [on the penalty]. I'll wait and see.
"We're not getting any luck, but sometimes that's rugby league. It makes next week a little bit more important again."
In the end class shone through for the visitors, with Smith nailing the clutch penalty while Jesse Bromwich and Nelson Asofa-Solomona produced deft off-loads in the lead-up to Hughes' 60th minute four-pointer.
That looked to have put the match to bed at 14-8 only only for Mikaele Ravalawa to brush aside Jesse and Kenny Bromwich en route to a 67th minute try that set up a grandstand finish.
It gave the hosts a sniff but it wasn't enough, ultimately falling to 6-9 on the season and making their finals climb that much steeper ahead of next Sunday's clash with Canberra.
Tariq Sims will return from suspension in that match while coach Paul McGregor will be sweating on the fitness of Origin quartet Tyson Frizell, Paul Vaughan, Ben Hunt and Corey Norman who were glaring absences.
Jeremy Latimore crossed off a short-ball from Cam McInnes to open the scoring seven minutes in, with Field nailing the conversion for a 6-0 lead.
It was short-lived, with Joe Stimpson barging across from close range, with Smith leveling the scores at six apiece.
The visitors had plenty of chances to push further ahead with the help of a 7-2 penalty count, with Smith ultimately settling for a penalty goal two minutes before the break for an 8-6 lead.
Hughes and Ravalawa traded tries to set up a nail-biting final 10 minutes, with the late penalty the clincher for the Storm.