NRL: Storm seek redemption

Ryan Hinchcliffe of the Storm breaks through the Panthers defence. Photo / Getty Images

Storm 26 Panthers 6

Redemption can be an over-used word in sport, but that is what the Melbourne Storm are chasing in 2011.

After the salary cap disgrace last year, and the subsequent departure of a number of stars, coach Craig Bellamy has successfully rebuilt his team, around the superstar axis of Cameron Smith, Billy Slater and Cooper Cronk.

As the Dragons seemingly fade, the Storm are now clear premiership favourites on the back of 10 consecutive home wins. Though they still have to face St George and Manly in the run home, they are four points clear on top of the table and will be the team to beat when the playoffs roll around.

The ultimate success in October will clear some of the resentment residing around Melbourne way, and some of the humiliation felt after they were stripped of their previous premierships.

Penrith battled hard last night - and actually dominated the first half, with the 6-6 halftime score flattering the home side - but in the end the class of Melbourne's star trio and a typically robust forward effort saw them overwhelm the Panthers on a rainy Melbourne night. Melbourne scored three unanswered tries in the second half and, aided by impeccable goalkicking from Smith, cleared away to win convincingly.

As the rain got heavier in the second spell, the levee seemed to break; the Storm sharpened up their play and the continual pressure was too much for Penrith.

Not surprisingly given their respective histories, the Storm have held a hoodoo over the Panthers. The mountain men have not won in Melbourne in six years, and only two of their squad (Trent Waterhouse and Luke Lewis) have tasted victory over the Storm.

Penrith started like a team desperate to win, carving out two chances in the first few minutes, before winger Adrian Purtell showed good strength to dot down in the right hand corner. The Panthers seem more prepared to chance their arm under Steve Georgallis than they did under Matt Elliot, and it paid off as they stretched the Storm defence.

The Storm did not reach the Penrith 22 until the 15th minute, but scored almost immediately, with Cooper Cronk putting Ryan Hinchcliffe into a hole near the posts.

Penrith dominated the rest of the first half - enjoying five times more tackles in the opposition 22 than the Storm - but failed to convert several promising raids into points. Storm coach Craig Bellamy was visibly upset with some uncharacteristically sloppy play in the opening stanza. An early second half penalty from Smith was followed by a powerful try to Sika Manu in the 49th minute, who was a strong presence off the interchange bench - a sight to warm Kiwi hearts. The Storm sealed their win with a Slater special in the 65th minute, the fullback leaping highest to collect a Gareth Widdop bomb then spinning past a defender as he landed. Slater made the final try, nudging a chip through for Kevin Proctor to score in the 72nd minute.

The Storm travel to the Gold Coast to face the Titans next week, while the Panthers host the Tigers in the last throw of the dice for the mountain men, who have now lost four of their last five matches.

Storm 26 (R. Hinchcliffe, S. Manu, B. Slater, K. Proctor tries; C. Smith 5 goals) Penrith 6 (A. Purtell try; L. Walsh goal). Halftime: 6-6