Newcastle Knights hang on for epic NRL semi final win over Melbourne Storm at AAMI Park THE Wayne Bennett juggernaut rolls on. A week ago, the Newcastle Knights eliminated 2012 grand finalists Canterbury. Now they have an even bigger scalp in defending premiers Melbourne. Now for the Roosters. MATCH CENTRE: Game details and stats In another epic contest, the Knights outlasted the Storm to snap a 10-match losing streak in the southern capital. Led by veteran hooker Danny Buderus and halfback Tyrone Roberts, the Knights dominated early and led 18-4 at one stage in the second half. Knights celebrate a try scored by Akuila Uate. They then had to withstand a spirited fightback from the Storm. Roberts sent a scare into the Knights camp when he hyper-extended his knee, but he should be right to take on the Roosters. Bennett, the seven-time premiership-winning coach and the mastermind behind the Knights" late season surge, said his side were "in uncharted waters" and would not have won the game earlier in the season. Akuila Uate of the Knights scores a try. "We would have given that lead up a couple of months ago," Bennett said. While he wasn't happy his side had let the premiers back into the contest, Bennett was more than happy with the effort. "You can't beat Melbourne down here and have the history that they've got without doing a lot of things right and we did a lot of things right here," he said. Dejected Storm players and delighted Knights fans after a Newcastle try. We didn't let go. We stayed in front all night and that's not easy here. That's a huge step for us. Knights skipper Jarrod Mullen heaped praise on his teammates. "It's no secret we haven't beaten them down here in a while, but what a time to do it - a semifinal," Mullen said. Newcastle's Wayne Bennett and Jarrod Mullen speak to the media after their win over Melbourne. I couldn't be proud enough of the team. I'm pretty overwhelmed. I've never been in this position - going into a playoff game to play in a grand final. It's something everyone in the team has worked hard for all year. It's a pretty surreal feeling. Storm coach Craig Bellamy said the Knights were tremendous but claimed his side had again contributed to their own downfall with costly mistakes. Melbourne Storm's Cameron Smith and Craig Bellamy speak to the media after loosing to Newcastle. He also agreed his side may have lacked the hunger for success. "A lot of people said we didn't have the September buzz, for the want of a better word, and I think it is right," he said. We just didn't have the want, the desire, the reason to believe, I'm not quite sure. That's something you need in September. If Newcastle were suffering from any big-stage nerves, it didn't show as they dominated early before going to halftime with a 12-4 advantage. The first points finally came for the Knights via winger Akuila Uate. The intensity lifted seven minutes from half time after a head clash involving Storm forward Jordan McLean and McKinnon left McLean nursing a broken jaw. Chris Houston powered over with Roberts converting for the eight-point half-time lead. That lead became 14 points just two minutes after the resumption when Matt Hilder pounced on a Slater dropped ball. NEWCASTLE 18 (M Hilder C Houston A Uate tries T Roberts 3 goals) bt MELBOURNE 16 (M Blair J Bromwich S Waqa tries C Smith 2 goals) at AAMI Park. Crowd: 19,649. The halves battle will be key to the Storm v Knights outcome. 9.38pm - Storm one short as Waqa injured SISA Waqa has gone off injured for the Storm with seven minutes remaining in a thriller at AAMI Park. 9.27pm - Storm set up cliffhanger THE Storm set up a tense finale after Jesse Bromwich goes over for an easy try off a clever short ball from Cameron Smith out of dummy half. Knights 18-16 Storm. 9.21pm - Video ref keeps Storm in it THE Knights have a try correctly taken off them by the video referee after the on-field officials awarded it to Kevin Naiqama, following a contested bomb. 9.07pm - Knights bomb big chance THE Knights again create a big overlap on their right wing but a forward pass from Dane Gagai ends the play just as Aku Uate's about to pin his ears back. Knights 18-10 Storm. 9.03pm - Waqa finishes sensational try SISA Waqa puts the finishing touches on a sensational team try to get the Storm back into the game early in the second half. Smith adds the extras. 8.54pm - Hilder extends Knights' lead THE video referee had to be consulted but Matt Hilder has extended the Knights lead after Billy Slater dropped a bomb and was then tackled. Roberts adds the two. Knights 18-4 Storm. 8.33pm - Knights lead at the break HALF-TIME: Newcastle are in with a big chance to create a huge upset, deservedly leading the reigning premiers at the halfway point. Knights 12-4 Storm. 8.32pm - Houston makes up for error CHRIS Houston has made up for an error that cost his side the Storm's first try, busting through the last line after some great lead up work from Tyrone Roberts. Roberts adds the extras. 8.26pm - Jordan McLean knocked out JORDAN McLean has come off second best in a head clash with Alex McKinnon, with the Storm prop leaving the field with concussion. A little flair up between the two sides results afterwards. 8.24pm - Cronk kicks out on the full STAR halfback Cooper Cronk makes a rare error with his kicking game, putting one out on the full to give the Knights excellent field position to start their set. 8.18pm - Storm capitalise on controversial penalty A CONTROVERSIAL penalty awarded to the Storm after Alex McKinnon made contact with Billy Slater's head leads to a Storm try in the corner. Smith misses the conversion. Knights 6-4 Storm. 8.12pm - Uate opens the scoring A SLICK passing movement from left to right creates an overlap for the Knights and Akuila Uate takes full toll, scoring in the corner despite the efforts of Billy Slater. Mullen adds the extras. Knights 6-0 Storm. 8.03pm - Knights dodge a bullet BILLY Slater has dropped the ball cold after bursting through the Knights' defensive line deep in the Storm attacking zone. Still 0-0. 8.01pm - Smith saves try for Knights EXPERIENCED finalist Jeremy Smith shows his defensive worth early to stop Kevin Proctor from getting over the line with a goal-line effort. 7.55pm - Storm scramble to deny Naiqama THE Knights are throwing everything at Melbourne early but the Storm have scrambled superbly to deny two excellent try-scoring chances. 7.10pm - McManus blow for Knights THE final line-ups are in and the only change is a massive blow to the Knights, with prolific winger James McManus missing out due to a lower leg stress fracture, which has got progressively worse since Origin III. Kevin Naiqama is the last minute replacement. Storm: Billy Slater, Sisa Waqa, Will Chambers, Maurice Blair, Justin O'Neill, Gareth Widdop, Cooper Cronk, Jesse Bromwich, Cameron Smith, Bryan Norrie, Kevin Proctor, Ryan Hoffman, Ryan Hinchcliffe. Interchange: Jason Ryles, Tohu Harris, Jordan McLean, Kenneath Bromwich. Knights: Darius Boyd, Kevin Naiqama, Joey Leilua, Dane Gagai, Akuila Uate, Jarrod Mullen, Tyrone Roberts, David Fa'alogo, Danny Buderus, Willie Mason, Robbie Rochow, Beau Scott, Jeremy Smith. Interchange: Matt Hilder, Chris Houston, Neville Costigan, Alex McKinnon. The Storm have had a dip in form at the wrong end of the season and their worrying performances over the past month have coincided with some of the best football we've seen from the Knights under Wayne Bennett. Can the champions at the Storm do as they always do and lift in a sudden death match for another shot at a title, or will the Knights pull off a massive upset. Follow the action right here as we bring you rolling coverage of the game and click into the Match Centre, for all the key stats and play-by-play commentary.