NRL: Storm world's best club after outlasting Rhinos

LEEDS - A night of celebration then back to business was the order from Melbourne coach Craig Bellamy after his team were crowned World Club Challenge champions with a gutsy win over Leeds yesterday.

Defensively the Storm were on song as they overhauled a six-point deficit to beat the Rhinos 18-10 at Elland Road.

But in ball-handling terms, Bellamy felt they had a way to go before their NRL clash with Cronulla in round one on March 13.

"We've got a good mentality, a good attitude at the moment," Bellamy said.

"You don't get crowned world champions too often so we're going to enjoy that but a really important part of the next couple of days is getting back home and making sure that we recover as well as we can.

"It's going to be pretty strict when we get on the plane to make sure we're as fresh as we can be for that first competition game."

As expected, Cameron Smith moved from hooker to halfback to cover for the injured Cooper Cronk, and the Storm captain contributed 10 points off the boot, including a pivotal two after veteran Leeds centre Keith Senior was penalised for dissent.

Senior's outburst at referee Richard Silverwood over his policing of Melbourne's delaying tactics at the play-the-ball came with the scores locked at 10-10 and Smith's successful kick put the visitors in front for the first time.

After the match, Senior was defiant and then repentant, branding the official "arrogant" and later retracting his criticism.

"It was just frustration on my behalf and I should know better," Senior said.

"You've got to take decisions on the chin. But he called surrender.

"I had fought my way up and in my eyes that gave me the right to play the ball. He said they could keep hold of the ball and mess about but that's rugby league for you."

Leeds coach Brian McClennan had no issue with Melbourne's style of play.

"It frustrated everybody, but well done to them," McClennan said.

"It is a skill and they are very skilled at it.

"Our referees aren't used to that level of technique and our boys got very frustrated."

The Rhinos thought they had scored a try within the opening minute when Brent Webb crashed over but he was held up by Luke MacDougall on the last tackle.

It was eight minutes into the second half before the first try was scored.

Smith's grubber kick hit the boot of Leeds' centre Brett Delaney and landed in the path of Danny McGuire, who powered down the length of the field to put the Rhinos four points ahead.

Rob Burrow's conversion in the absence of captain Kevin Sinfield, who limped off with a heavy knock to his leg, extended the margin.

But Melbourne responded through MacDougall, who slid over on the right and Smith made amends for his earlier contribution to the Leeds try by slotting home a tough conversion from the sideline.

Senior's infraction followed and a last-gasp try from Anthony Quinn combined with Smith's fifth straight kick from as many attempts kept the WCC trophy in Australian hands, after Manly beat three-time defending Super League champions Leeds last year.

- AAP