Canterbury Bulldogs half Lachlan Lewis

One goal. That is all it would have taken to level it up. Instead, a conversion goes wide and the Melbourne Storm defeat a valiant Canterbury Bulldogs outfit.

Hardly at their best, the win maintains the Storm’s unbeaten start to the season, despite being overwhelmed and manhandled by the Dogs at times.

Looking to reverse their own fortunes around, the Bulldogs started the brighter of the two sides with some good attacking play.

It paid dividends as they peppered the Storm’s right side defence – as they would do all game – with Kerrod Holland scoring.

They then went further ahead as some slick back-line movement saw hulking winger Jayden Okunbor touch down.

Needing a rocket of a pep talk to get back into it, the Storm would then resolve in typical Storm fashion.

It was hard going, however, as two tries were disallowed; one to Christian Welch and the other to Dale Finucane.

Luck would finally come their way as they were awarded a rare penalty try.

Chasing after his own kick, Will Chambers was taken out prior to touching the ball by Reimis Smith, making the decision easy for the video referee.

The 15,000 strong crowd was ready to cheer their side home and there was plenty to be excited about soon after.

Cameron Smith produced a bullet-like pass for a barging Tui Kamikamica to score his first NRL try.

Desperate to hold onto the 12-all scoreline, it was in vain for the Bulldogs.

Always a threat at any time, Cam Munster threw a dummy, bamboozled defenders and darted over to score off a scrum play.

Then, came the defining moment.

As Reimis Smith scored in the corner, Martin lined up his shot, had it in his sights but missed.

The rest, as they say, is history.

After matching the Storm and outpacing them in numerous elements, Bulldogs coach Dean Pay now wants consistency.

“We played better than what we did last week,” he said.

“I was really proud of the boys the way they hung in and played until the death.

“We are starting to build and we want to make sure we turn up and do that next week.”

Although his side claimed the two points, Storm coach Craig Bellamy believes his side were lucky to win.

“We were pretty lucky to get the win,” Bellamy said.

“Where we won the game was that we ‘out-completed’ them in the second half.

“I don’t think we did a whole heap wrong, although some of our defence was out at times.

“But you have to give a lot of credit to the Bulldogs and how they played and how energetic they were.”

NRL News Player of the Game

3. Lachlan Lewis

2. Cameron Munster

  1. Jayden Okunbor

By ricky

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