LeagueNews.co | Jess Malloy
In what can only be described as a bruising battle on the field, Melbourne Storm faced off against the Canberra Raiders in Round 20 of the fiercely competitive Jersey Flegg competition.
Unfortunately, the Storm were unable to weather the storm, falling to a 34-18 defeat on Saturday.
From the get-go, the Raiders came out swinging, with Jake Clysdale making a beeline for the try line within the first five minutes.
Regan Carr quickly followed suit, notching up two tries in quick succession in the 17th and 20th minute.
Caleb Garvie and Jaxon Lavender piled on the pressure before halftime, leaving the Storm in a tough spot trailing 30-0.
Despite the odds stacked against them, the Storm dug deep and showed resilience in the second half.
Angus Hinchey managed to break through the Raiders' defensive line and score a crucial try in the 38th minute, giving the Storm a glimmer of hope.
With this tough loss behind them, the Storm will now regroup, recharge, and refocus as they prepare to face the Dragons at AAMI Park in two weeks' time.
This setback will only fuel their determination to come back stronger and show their fighting spirit in the next showdown.