The controversial sin-binning of Canberra fullback Jack Wighton proved crucial as Melbourne Storm hung on for a preliminary final win and set up an NRL Grand Final date against the Cronulla Sharks.

The Storm withstood a late rally from the raiders to win 14-12 win at AAMI Park and progress to their first Grand final since 2012.

Tries from man-of-the-match Cooper Cronk, in his 300th game, and Cheyse Blair along with three goals from Cameron Smith proved the difference.

Melbourne’s Will Chambers looks to offload despite some heavy Canberra attention.

But it was the 10-minutes in the sin-bin to Wighton that halted the momentum of a Canberra team that taken on every hurdle placed before it this season.

Down 8-6 midway through the second half Wighton was ordered off for a professional foul when he held on too long to breakaway Marika Koroibete, who had dashed 70 metres after a kick return.

Melbourne made the most of the penalty moments later when Cheyse Blair scored to extend its lead to six. The margin became 14-6 when Smith added a penalty goal.

Raiders captain Jarrod Croker, who played the bulk of the game with a knee problem, was bitter about the ”awful” result after the match saying ”we were very unlucky, the boys didn’t deserve that”.

Jarrod Crocker holds his injured knee

n an absorbing battle in the wet, the league’s top defensive outfit kept the best attacking side to their equal-lowest score since April.

Storm coach Craig Bellamy, who is headed to his sixth Grand Final, described the Storm’s performance as ”a bit of a mixed bag”, saying he was happy with the team’s attack in the first half,but thought it struggled after half time.

Cronk crucial in his milestone match

Melbourne’s Cooper Cronk, playing in his 300th game, didn’t want the spotlight to be on him, but a dominant first half meant he couldn’t help but be front and centre.

The Storm halfback became just the 25th player to reach the milestone and led his team on to their home ground, with the 30m line marks on either side of halfway changed to 300 in his honour.

Players and fans acknowledge Melbourne’s Cooper Cronk after his 300th match.

With a reputation for delivering when the pressure is on, Cronk did just that. He opened with a 40m run after scooping up a grubber kick by his Raiders opposite Aidan Sezer, who was forced to turn and chase him down.

Cronk then scored Melbourne’s first try in the 32nd minute when he ran on to a Cameron Smith ball out of dummy half and dived across the line.
It was a special moment with the pair the first 300-gamers to play in the same line-up.

Players from both teams raced in as tensions boiled over but the ever-cool Cronk called his teammates away and led them downfield to address them in a huddle as Smith kicked the conversion.

That gave the Storm an 8-6 lead to the delight of the mostly pro-Melbourne crowd of 28,261.

They had more reason to celebrate with the home side holding on to win 14-12 after a thrilling second half to book a grand final berth and give Cronk another chance to star again.

“These chances don’t come around too often,” Cronk told the Nine Network after the match.

“It makes you proud to play rugby league for a living.

“It’s great to celebrate 300; we’ve got some hard work this week and 301 will be a bit of a celebration too, hopefully.”