NRL: Bennett rapt with early form

Dragons 38 Sharks 0

Dragons coach Wayne Bennett said he was ecstatic with where his side was at after eight rounds but he cast a wary eye over his side's upcoming schedule, with representative commitments set to ravage his side.

The Dragons remain top of the table after a convincing win over the struggling Sharks.

The potent left side attack of Bennett's team toyed with their outclassed opposition, Brett Morris registering his second hat-trick of the season and Matt Cooper finishing with a double in the seven tries to nil rout.

"I'm one to encourage them [playing representative games] but you take a bit of pain with it unfortunately," Bennett said.

"We leave here tonight 7-1, the next two months is an absolute turmoil for us.

"We're going to have players in Queensland teams, NSW teams, Country teams, Australian teams ... the next two months the balls are in the air. Who knows what we'll produce?

"That's why the start of the season's so important - you've just got to get this part under way and get some confidence knowing the next two months is pretty much out of your control."

The next two months must seem like eternity for Sharks coach Ricky Stuart as he searches for a combination capable of staying with other sides in the competition.

"I've got about five or six blokes I really feel for ... when you've got players that aren't playing up to first grade standard it's not helping players like Gall [Paul Gallen] and Snow [Kade Snowden] and Trent [Barrett]," Stuart said.

"Their fullback, two centres and two wingers - they outclassed our players in those same jumpers.

"They were just so dominant, they're playing against kids."The Melbourne Storm continued the form displayed against the Warriors a week ago by crushing the North Queensland Cowboys 32-6 in Townsville last night.

Bryan Norrie opened the scoring for the visitors and Matthew Duffie was next to touch down. Tries from Greg Inglis and Brett Finch in the four minute before the break gave the Storm an 18-0 halftime lead.

Dane Nielson continued the rout six minutes into the second half and Anthony Quinn added a sixth try six minutes later to hand Melbourne a 30-0 lead.

Scott Bolton scored a consolation try for the outgunned Cowboys on the hour before Jeff Lima rounded out the scoring with another Storm try with 10 minutes remaining.

- AAP