Souths win on Arrow’s birthday, Cowboys and Storm snatch late victories

This is where we end ABC Sport’s coverage of the NRL today.

It was a big day, a jovial day, and we have three great games of footy as well.

South won on Jai Arrow’s birthday.

The Cowboys stunned the Sea Eagles at Brookvale.

Melbourne survived an almighty scare at home against the Gold Coast.

With Origin season now in the rear-view mirror, the focus turns to this captivating run to the finals.

We will be back on Thursday when round 20 of the season begins.

We hope you join us then.

Goodnight.

— reporting by AAP

Melbourne have survived a mighty scare from Gold Coast to hang on for a vital 22-18 win to stay in touch with the finals-bound NRL top eight.

With a 7-9 win-loss record heading into the Sunday night clash at AAMI Park, the Storm were desperate to continue their dominance over the Titans after winning 11 of their past 12 clashes.

The Storm needed the two points on their home deck with clashes against top-four sides including the Roosters and Sharks coming up, and are now four points outside the eight in 10th spot.

But the Titans, who hadn’t won in Melbourne since 2014, made them work for it, with the Storm only breaking an 18-18 deadlock with a Nick Meaney try in the 78th minute.

Before that Gold Coast’s Keano Kini scored off a scrum play in the 61st minute and Jayden Campbell slotted the conversion to draw level, but neither side could find a field goal as the clock wound down.

A bold Melbourne attacking raid started by fullback Sua Faalogo saw Meaney ground the ball over the back of his head despite the Titans defending in numbers.

Superstar playmaker and Queensland captain Cameron Munster was rested following Wednesday’s State of Origin and didn’t look comfortable sitting in the box alongside seething coach Craig Bellamy.

The Storm were up 12-6 at halftime but, showing his foresight, Bellamy wasn’t happy with their opening 40 minutes.

Melbourne were fortunate to be ahead after the bunker gave the green light to a Jack Howarth try in the 29th minute that appeared to be a double movement.

The Storm had given up eight double-figure leads since the start of last season and appeared to be adding another to that tally when their 18-6 buffer evaporated.

Campbell scored a 90-metre try after intercepting a Harry Grant pass, then Kini’s effort saw the visitors level at 18-18 to set up a thrilling finish.

With both teams guilty of more than 30 errors combined, they struggled to ice the result before Meaney came up with the match-winner.

Melbourne has scored the match-winner in the final two minutes of the match.

It started with a brilliant kick return, started by fullback Sualauvi Faalogo, which got the Storm into the Titans’ half.

The Titans defence was in all sorts.

Joe Chan charged for the line and was brought down inches short.

Nick Meaney picked up the ball from dummy half and went for the line, spun in the tackle, and grounded the ball over his head.

Storm 22

Titans 18

The Titans again march down the field.

Captain Tino Fa’asuamaleaui takes a run on the fifth play of the set, and would have set up a potential field goal attempt.

But Fa’asuamaleaui went for an audacious offload and knocked-on.

The Gold Coast had marched down the field, and a nice grubber kick forced a goal-line dropout.

But a short dropout from Melbourne’s Sualauvi Faalogo was allowed to bounce, and then went into touch.

Melbourne gets the ball back.

Storm 18

Titans 18

There are 11 minutes left in Melbourne.

Both sides have traded sets since the last Titans try.

When will someone take the first attempt at field goal?

It was too easy for Titans fullback Keano Kini.

The Titans had a scrum at midfield, 10 metres from the Storm goal-line.

From the scrum, the Titans went to the right, and Keano Kini used his speed to get around Storm centre Jack Howarth to score.

Jayden Campbell converts the try.

Storm 18

Titans 18

Melbourne’s Siulagi Tuimalatu-Brown was returning a kick from his own goal-line, and was whacked by a heavy Kurtis Morrin tackle.

The ball was forced free, and the Titans had an attacking set at the goal-line.

But two plays later, a forward pass by Jayden Campbell ended the raid.

Storm 18

Titans 12

The Melbourne Storm were attacking the goal-line, but Harry Grant’s bullet pass was intercepted by Gold Coast Titans five-eighth Jayden Campbell.

He puts on the afterburners with 95 metres to run.

He is being hunted down, but he has just enough to get to the goal-line and score.

Campbell then converts his own try.

Storm 18

Titans 12

The Storm had a full set at the Titans’ goal line.

It followed a knock-on from the Gold Coast when winger Philip Sami came very close to intercepting a Harry Grant pass.

Alec MacDonald charges onto a lovely pass from halfback Jahrome Hughes and breaks out of a tackle to score.

Storm 18

Titans 6

The second half has begun in Melbourne.

The Storm have the first use of the footy in this half.

It is an incident-free set from the Storm, who march over halfway before a bomb is put up.

It is caught by winger Will Warbrick, who offloads to fullback Sualauvi Faalogo. A grubber kick towards the Gold Coast goal-line is gathered by a Titan.

The Melbourne Storm hold a slender six-point lead.

The Storm have had the better of the running in this half, but the Titans have shown they have plenty of attacking firepower to threaten an upset tonight.

The Titans have the ball in the final seconds of the first half.

Five-eighth Jayden Campbell makes a line break, and then gives the ball to AJ Brimson.

Brimson is running for the line, but he is chased down by Melbourne fullback Sualauvi Faalogo.

Brimson gets a flick pass away, but it is dropped.

Storm 12

Titans 6

AJ Brimson, in his 150th NRL match, has come so close to scoring.

He runs for the left corner, and somersaults the line.

Melbourne’s Jahrome Hughes was able to get enough of a push on Brimson to force his foot into touch.

It wouldn’t have counted if Brimson kept his foot in, as he dropped the ball while somersaulting.

Storm 12

Titans 6

Attacking the goal-line, the Storm went down the short left side.

After a couple of passes, Jack Howarth went for the line and was hit by a couple of Titans defenders.

Howarth was held up, and then there was a wrestle on the ground.

Howarth is able to prize his arms free and gets the ball on the ground.

The Titans are appealing for a double-movement, but the officials clear it.

Storm 12

Titans 6

Out of dummy half, Harry Grant puts in a kick to open space.

Grant chases, hits Titans winger Phillip Sami, and the ball comes loose.

Storm halfback Jahrome Hughes just needed to pick up the ball cleanly to score, but Hughes bobbled the ball and lost it.

There is a grubber kick from the Titans, and Storm captain Harry Grant fumbles the ball.

Titans player Oliver Pascoe gathers the ball and falls over the line.

Pascoe lands on the point of his elbow, and the ball pops out, but goes backwards.

Pascoe then regathers to score, but there is a slight bobble from him, which has been ruled a knock-on.