A four-try haul from Ryan Papenhuzen has seen the Melbourne Storm bounce back in a big way with a 44-0 demolition over the Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs at AAMI Park.
Commemorating the 10th anniversary of their 2012 grand final victory, the home side were more than a class above their lowly opponents, scoring eight unanswered tries to the delight of 13,437 supporters.
Holding off an enthusiastic start from the visitors, which almost yielded a try for former speedster Josh Addo-Carr, the Storm struck first through Papenhuyzen (11th minute) who slid over after a strong carry from Xavier Coates down the right edge.
Making the most of the Bulldogs tendency to compound errors with penalties in quick succession, underrated forward Josh King (21st minute) claimed his first try for the club by pouncing on a grubber from Harry Grant to put the home side up 12-0.
Showing tremendous resolve on their try line to keep the Bulldogs at bay, the Storm rounded out a resolute first half display with Kenny Bromwich (36th minute) touching down for his first try of the season in the shadows of halftime.
Breaking the game open after halftime with Grant and Jahrome Hughes laying on tries to give Papenhuyzen (45th and 52nd minutes) his second and third of the afternoon, a poor pass from Matt Burton allowed Coates (60th minute) to race the length of the field for his third try of the season.
Adding another long-range effort through Felise Kaufusi (62nd minute) in the following set, a short pass from Hughes allowed Papenhuyzen (67th minute) to conclude the scoring with the second four-try haul of his career - almost exactly to the day after doing likewise to the Broncos on Good Friday last year.
The win sees Melbourne bounce back into second position on the premiership ladder after last week's golden point loss to Parramatta, while the loss marks a low point in the Bulldogs resurgence, slumping to 15th with the worst for-and-against differential after four rounds.
Next week, the Storm travel to Wagga Wagga on Saturday afternoon to take on the Raiders, while the Bulldogs close out the round at Commbank Stadium against the Panthers.