Seagulls take over as Storm cruise to victory

The Melbourne Storm have bounced back from a bad game last weekend to score a comfortable 36-18 win over the Cronulla Sharks at a seagull-infested AAMI Park.

Despite an energetic start from the Sharks, it was the Storm who were the most dominant team in the opening half hour with the Melbournites managing to score three tries including a double to Tohu Harris.

The opening try game to Tohu Harris when he was able to show too much strength and speed over Ben Barba and got himself over the tryline to score after the set began deep inside the Sharks attacking zone thanks to a Wade Graham kick that went out on the full. The Storm second try was pretty messy with a few near knock-ons before Cooper Cronk found the open line to stroll through and score next to the uprights.

The Storm then got to attack on the next to after David Fifita was controversially placed on report for a dangerous tackle which lead to another penalty and in turn into four points for Tohu Harris and after the conversion they went out to an 18-0 lead.

Just before half time the Sharks got themselves on the board after a string of offloads found the Storm napping and a hole opened up for Jeff Robson to reach out and score and help take the score to 18-6 at the break.

The second half didn't start too well for the Sharks with early tries to Marika Koroibete and Cameron Smith seemingly putting the game out of reach for the Sharks.

The bizarre moment of the second half game in the 61st minute when Will Chambers scored a seemingly obvious try but on field Gavin Badger somehow came up with a no try that was swiftly reversed by the Video Referees and after Smith's sixth conversion the Storm went out to a 36-6 lead.

Two tries in the 63rd and 70th minutes to Holmes and Fifita gave Sharks fans the hope of an unlikely comeback but alas it wasn't to be without any more points to be scored in the match.

Next week the Storm take the flight up to Townsville to take on the Cowboys next Monday meanwhile the Sharks head back to Remondis in what can only be called the bludger's match when they take on the Gold Coast Titans.

LeagueUnlimited.com Players of the Match:
3 points - Tohu Harris
2 points - Cooper Cronk
1 point - Cameron Smith

MELBOURNE STORM (36)
Tries: Tohu Harris (2), Cameron Smith, Cooper Cronk, Marika Koroibete, Will Chambers
Conversions: Cameron Smith (6/6)

CRONULLA-SUTHERLAND SHARKS (18)
Tries: Jeff Robson, Valentine Holmes, Andrew Fifita
Conversions: Michael Gordon (3/3)

TEAM NEWS - the Storm get Felise Kaufusi back on the bench, which sees Tom Learoyd-Lahrs drop out. For Cronulla, Matt Prior and Tinarau Arona drop off the extended bench, handing Luke Lewis his first jersey of the season.

So we move to our most southerly venue of the night and that is AAMI Park in Melbourne where the Storm will wanting to bounce back after some scrappy performances meanwhile the Sharks will need to break a bad 0-5 win loss record at AAMI Park

Here are the Cronulla Sharks out on the field and soon another AAMI Park will be Thunderstruck with the Storm to come up the race

2: The Badge calls time on and we are underway at AAMI Park, Sharks have the first use of the ball

2: Cameron Smith already being called out of the play by Gavin Badger as the Sharks get over halfway before Wade Graham's kick goes to the 10m line

1: Kurt Mann goes down the left hand sideline before an ankle tap saves the day

2: UNFORCED ERROR MELBOURNE STORM
Marika Koroibete makes an unforced error.
The Storm go 80m in the set before the crossfield kick is dropped by Koroibete

3: Michael Ennis throws his arms up at dummy half for a penalty, but doesn't come that play

3: PENALTY SHARKS: Only tacks a tackle but they get their first penalty of the night after markers weren't square according to the Badge

3: 4 plays down and the Sharks are 8m out from the line

4: Koroibete has a tough job to get out of the ingoal and he does and the Storm end up at halfway on the last

5: Melbourne crowd beg for a penalty but neither pocket ref Chris Sutton or main ref Gavin Badger are interested

6: Both sides are going from end to end and a settler means we get a scrum on 10m line

7: Well that nearly went Feking wrong for the Sharks but still they survive just

8: Wade Graham goes for a 40/20 but its a good metre or two outside the field of play, Melbourne start the set 30m out

9: TRY MELBOURNE STORM
Scored by Tohu Harris. Kick to come.
Tohu Harris has too much speed and too much strength for Ben Barba and he scores

11: SUCCESSFUL CONVERSION MELBOURNE STORM
Conversion attempt by Cameron Smith successful.
Cameron Smith from near the right hand sideline converts it

15: PENALTY SHARKS: Jesse Bromwich penalised for going too early

16: Sideline kick doesn't find touch but they do force a goalline dropout

17: PENALTY STORM: Sharks penalised for crowding the man playing the ball, penalty count now 2-1 in favour of the Sharks

18: PENALTY STORM: Dale Finucaine slips as he hits the defence and Paul Gallen as a result hits him slightly high and is penalised

19: VIDEO REFEREE: Possible Cooper Cronk try.... The Badge gives us the 'T' checking contest and what happens after that

20: TRY MELBOURNE STORM
Scored by Cooper Cronk. Kick to come.
Cooper Cronk gets the ball after the contest and has an open line and obligingly scores the try

21: SUCCESSFUL CONVERSION MELBOURNE STORM
Conversion attempt by Cameron Smith successful.
Cameron Smith has a much easier kick than his first and he has no problems and extends the lead

22: David Fifita has backslammed Cameron Smith in a perfectly legal tackle

22: Well apparently it wasn't a legal tackle.... not sure what rules they found the penalty under

24: TRY MELBOURNE STORM
Scored by Tohu Harris. Kick to come.
Tohu Harris has a double but have to question how the Storm got up the field after that intial penalty against Fifita

25: SUCCESSFUL CONVERSION MELBOURNE STORM
Conversion attempt by Cameron Smith successful.
Cameron Smith converts from close range and the lead gets bigger

26: Cooper Cronk puts a kick across field but its Gerard Beale who reads it and takes it first

27: The Storm clouds are rolling over the Sharks as Ben Barba is lucky not to be penalised

27: VIDEO REFEREE: Cooper Cronk has a double but looks like Slater got a knock on and Badger thinks so as well, NO TRY is the onfield ruling

27: NO TRY stays the call and a handover 10m out is the ruling from Mr Clark and Mr Phillips upstairs

30: PENALTY SHARKS: A tip from pocket ref Chris Sutton to the Badger says that Michael Gordon was taken out and the penalty is 10m out

31: PENALTY SHARKS: Another penalty to the Sharks this time for a "cannoball" tackle

31: Well for Feks sake is what the Sharks would be saying after Feki threw the ball to the Storm player

33: PENALTY SHARKS: Another penalty for the Sharks and as Paul Gallen goes to take the pass he nearly takes out Chris Sutton

33: Ben Barba puts in another questionable play but kicking in behind the Storm defence to none of his teammates

34: Thats the hexagon of penalties for the Sharks as they take a quick tap and go on the attack

35: TRY CRONULLA-SUTHERLAND SHARKS
Scored by Jeff Robson. Kick to come.
Jeff Robson manages to get himself over the line and score the Sharks first try of the night

37: SUCCESSFUL CONVERSION CRONULLA-SUTHERLAND SHARKS
Conversion attempt by Michael Gordon successful.
Flash has no problems to convert the try and its now a 12 point game

40: That's the half at AAMI Park and the Storm are leading 18-6

41: And we are back underway and its the Storm who have the first use

43: TRY MELBOURNE STORM
Scored by Marika Koroibete. Kick to come.
Marika Koroibete does a good job in the corner and he scores for the Storm

46: SUCCESSFUL CONVERSION MELBOURNE STORM
Conversion attempt by Cameron Smith successful.
Cameron Smith has seagulls to contend with but converts it from the sideline

48: PENALTY STORM: Billy Slater gets a quick 20m restart and on the zero tackle the Storm get a penalty

51: VIDEO REFEREE: Luke Lewis inexplicably went for a 1 on 1 strip and gave the Storm six again and Cameron Smith could have a try

52: TRY MELBOURNE STORM
Scored by Cameron Smith. Kick to come.
Green lights for Cameron Smith after the Video Review

SUCCESSFUL CONVERSION MELBOURNE STORM
Conversion attempt by Cameron Smith successful.
Cameron Smith converts his own try

53: VIDEO REFEREE: Cooper Cronk goes close, NO TRY is the ruling from the Badge, we are checking whether he's held up or short

54: NO TRY held up the ruling - but after the last they do get a goalline dropout

61: TRY MELBOURNE STORM
Scored by Will Chambers. Kick to come.
Will Chambers scores an easy try though somehow the Badge sent it up as no try with Video Refs taking one look to overturn the decision

61: SUCCESSFUL CONVERSION MELBOURNE STORM
Conversion attempt by Cameron Smith successful.
Cameron Smith converts it easily and keeps his perfect record in tact

63: TRY CRONULLA-SUTHERLAND SHARKS
Scored by Valentine Holmes. Kick to come.
Valentine Holmes gets the Sharks second out wide

64: SUCCESSFUL CONVERSION CRONULLA-SUTHERLAND SHARKS
Conversion attempt by Michael Gordon successful.
Michael Gordon converts the try from out on the sideline

68: Again Gavin Badger needs to go upstairs... says NO TRY.... lets see if he's right this time

70: PENALTY SHARKS: Sharks get another penalty and they go inside the Storm 30m zone

70: VIDEO REFEREE..... again, Badger says TRY checking grounding

71: TRY CRONULLA-SUTHERLAND SHARKS
Scored by Andrew Fifita. Kick to come.
Andrew Fifita gets the Sharks third of the night... just

71: SUCCESSFUL CONVERSION CRONULLA-SUTHERLAND SHARKS
Conversion attempt by Michael Gordon successful.
Michael Gordon converts from in front and is the comeback on?

74: That won't be in Billy's career highlights that pass... ended up with Adam Reid the touch judge

80: Thats the final hooter & the Storm have won it 36-18