Billy Slater of the Storm runs with the ball. Photo / Getty Images
Storm 28
Bulldogs 18
Gifted Melbourne halfback Cooper Cronk bagged two tries as the Storm extended Canterbury's NRL misery with a 28-18 triumph at Adelaide Oval.
The ladder leaders scored five tries to three, dominating the butter-fingered Bulldogs whose slide from finals contention continued with a seventh loss in
nine matches.
The Storm stretched their winning streak to six in a row with a comprehensive victory in the Bulldogs' nominal home game attended by 9963 spectators in the South Australian capital.
Cronk and teammates Jesse Bromwich, Sisa Waqa and Matthew Duffie all scored tries while Bulldogs fullback Ben Barba, David Stagg and Steve Turner crossed for tries for their battling outfit.
The Storm established a defining 16-6 halftime lead with three opening half tries, and then snuffed out a brief Bulldogs revival after the break.
Canterbury lock Stagg scored his try after a rare period of sustained attacking pressure from the Dogs started the second half and reduced their deficit to just four points.
But Cronk then set up winger Duffie in the 60th minute with a deftly placed high kick - which was finished off by an incredible put-down - before the halfback crossed for his second try six minutes later to seal the result.
Turner gave his side a consolation try in the 77th minute but Canterbury's chances of giving beleaguered coach Kevin Moore some breathing space were hurt by a series of basic blunders.
Fullback Barba continued his recent nervousness under high balls by spilling bombs, as did Turner, while Jonathon Wright's knock-on at bootlace level gifted the Storm possession which they turned into the opening try of the match just six minutes in.
The Bulldogs also frequently coughed up possession, missed tackles and were vulnerable in defence against a rampant Storm who mixed their customary defensive dominance with threatening attacking forays.
MELBOURNE 28 (C Cronk 2 J Bromwich M Duffie S Waqa tries C Smith 3 G Widdop goals) bt CANTERBURY 18 (B Barba D Stagg S Turner tries S Turner 3 goals) at Adelaide Oval. Referee: Steve Lyons, Chris James. Crowd: 9,963.
- AAP
