The Melbourne Storm have reminded people of their premiership credentials as they showed utter dominance against the Canberra Raiders with a 48-2 win at AAMI Park.
Holding an impressive record in Melbourne, the Raiders started positively opening the first few minutes with dominant field position and took advantage with an early field goal. Sadly for the Raiders and their fans, that was the last of the dominance as the Storm went on a first half scoring spree.
It was an unlikely opening try scorer for the Storm as Christian Welch carried two defenders over the line to get the ball down and open the scoring for the Storm. The home-side was denied a second minutes later when the bunker ruled that Young Tonumaipea had lost the ball after getting it so close to the line.
The Storm added three tries inside the final thirteen minutes of the first half, the first wasn't perfect when Marion Seve got over after the Raiders defence rushed up and in leaving space on the edge and even though the passing wasn't perfect the Storm got over.
Reimis Smith avoided the outstretched leg from Jordan Rapana to get his way over the line before just shy of the half-time break Eli Katoa kept himself low and off the ground to get under the Canberra defence and the Storm took a 20-2 lead at the break.
If Canberra wanted to turn things around, turning the ball over cheaply deep in their own end wasn't the way to do it and it hurt them dearly as the Storm were again not exactly perfect in attack but still did enough as Trent Loiero was able to get over.
The scoreboard just kept ticking up for the Storm as they were just eating metres through the middle of the park and Harry Grant took advantage of that time and time again before finally being able to get through and score.
The Storm were denied by the bunker with a held up call but it didn't stop the scoring momentum for Melbourne as Cam Munster took advantage of soft defence that looked to give up. Things for the Raiders went from bad to worse as both Jordan Rapana and Matt Timoko finished the game in the sin bin for a professional foul and high shot.
Melbourne finished the game sandwiching the sin bins with tries either side including one to Nick Meaney and one to Young Tonumaipea who missed the chance to covert to push the score to 50.
Next weekend, the Storm head to Wollongong for a clash with the Dragons, meanwhile the Raiders head back to Canberra for a clash with the Bulldogs.