Melbourne with back to back sets on the Bulldogs' line to finish us off. They'll win by six!
Melbourne Storm 12-6
Another Dogs error, down the right side. Storm scrum on their own 40m.
Melbourne Storm 12-6
Melbourne defuse Reynolds' cross-field kick on the last - and come away with the ball.
Melbourne Storm 12-6
Storm error on halfway from Finucane, Bulldogs scrum on halfway.
Melbourne Storm 12-6
He's up and jogging. Looked a lot worse. Play resumes with a Storm scrum after Canterbury lose it.
Melbourne Storm 12-6
Time off with five to go. Mbye down with a lower leg injury.
Melbourne Storm 12-6
Bulldogs force an error near halfway. Scrum.
Melbourne Storm 12-6
Smith drills it long and low and finds touch. Bulldogs scrum own 10m.
Melbourne Storm 12-6
Entertaining slog so far in the second forty, but no points to speak of.
Melbourne Storm 12-6
UNFORCED ERROR CANTERBURY-BANKSTOWN BULLDOGS: Brenko Lee makes an unforced error.
Dogs using their numbers to the right but Brenko Lee comes up with another error.
Melbourne Storm 12-6
Bromwich loses it, Bulldogs have it 40m out and a PENALTY to Canterbury with a dangerous tackle.
Melbourne Storm 12-6
UNFORCED ERROR CANTERBURY-BANKSTOWN BULLDOGS: Josh Reynolds makes an unforced error.
Rain abated for a short while but is now teeming down again. Dogs lose it just inside the Storm half through... yep, Reynolds.
Melbourne Storm 12-6
Holland goes excurciatingly close for Canterbury, then Reynolds... and he loses it getting up to play the ball.
Melbourne Storm 12-6
A bit sideways from the Dogs this set but they get six again after a Storm error!
Melbourne Storm 12-6
Bulldogs scrum on halfway after a deflected Storm kick not played at by Josh Morris.
Melbourne Storm 12-6
Storm settle in defence and Mbye with an awful 5th tackle kick. Munster comes away with it.
Melbourne Storm 12-6
Reynolds intercepts! Bulldogs on the attack!
Melbourne Storm 12-6
Storm pick up a penalty deep in their own half.
Melbourne Storm 12-6
So close! Hopoate nearly over off a Kasiano offload, but Blair has effected a huge tackle on him to dislodge the ball. Meanwhile the heavens have OPENED at Belmore! Pouring!
Melbourne Storm 12-6
Bulldogs pressure Munster and INTO TOUCH! Great work from the defenders.
Melbourne Storm 12-6
Big break from Addo-Carr earns Storm a penalty. They go close through Asofa-Solomona but there's a forward pass from Cronk.
Melbourne Storm 12-6
Eastwood curls a big one out to the left edge on the Morris twins wing - but it's not placed right and the ball goes to ground.
Melbourne Storm 12-6
Penalty Bulldogs - on report Cameron Munster for a trip. Dogs heavy on the attack.
Melbourne Storm 12-6
Dogs give up possession as Josh Jackson can't find Kerrod Holland on the far wing.
Melbourne Storm 12-6
Early penalty for Canterbury, Lichaa takes a quick tap and they're suddenly 20m out!
Melbourne Storm 12-6
Second half underway at Belmore! Bulldogs with it first running right to left.
Melbourne Storm 12-6
No dice, Mbye puts the ball into the ingoal but it's ushered dead. Halftime!
Melbourne Storm 12-6
Dogs lose it, then 2 plays later Melbourne lose it. Can the Dogs get a try off one play?
Melbourne Storm 12-6
Another penalty Canterbury! Players offside all over the shop.
Melbourne Storm 12-6
Bulldogs with the ensuing penalty and now on the attack.
Melbourne Storm 12-6
SIN BIN: William Chambers is sent to the sin bin.
Chambers threw a couple too.
Melbourne Storm 12-6
SIN BIN: Sam Kasiano is sent to the sin bin.
Kasiano sin binned for punching.
Melbourne Storm 12-6
Time off with some punches thrown. Interesting.
Melbourne Storm 12-6
Reynolds loses it and Melbourne are off the hook.
Melbourne Storm 12-6
Good set and a penalty after the try - and now Ryley Jacks forced in goal. Drop out Storm.
Melbourne Storm 12-6
SUCCESSFUL CONVERSION CANTERBURY-BANKSTOWN BULLDOGS: Conversion attempt by Kerrod Holland successful.
No dramas for Holland from in front. Margin cut to six.
Melbourne Storm 12-6
TRY CANTERBURY-BANKSTOWN BULLDOGS: Scored by Josh Reynolds. Kick to come.
BOOM! One play down in the Storm's half and they're in! Josh Reynolds starts the play, creating space for Brenko Lee and Lee finds Josh inside him for the Dogs' first!
Melbourne Storm 12-4
Back to back penalties and Canterbury have the ball inside Storm territory here...
Melbourne Storm 12-0
Bulldogs force an error from the drop-out - it's gone short and two Storm players including Cam Smith have lost it. Meanwhile, Dale Finucane is off for a HIA.
Melbourne Storm 12-0
Hopoate trapped in goal after Brett Morris lets a bomb bounce. Storm's kicking game outstanding tonight.
Melbourne Storm 12-0
SUCCESSFUL PENALTY GOAL MELBOURNE STORM: Penalty goal attempt by Cameron Smith successful.
Storm penalty in front of the posts after Cronk was taken out off the ball. Smith converts it for a 12-point lead.
Melbourne Storm 12-0
David Klemmer smashes former teammate Dale Finucane and the ball comes loose on tackle one. Bulldogs scrum own 30m.
Melbourne Storm 10-0
Handbags at five paces, Storm get a penalty but not really sure what for.
Melbourne Storm 10-0
Will Chambers loses it after a big tackle down low from Eastwood. Chambers takes exception and there's some push and shove. Bulldogs scrum on their own 10m line.
Melbourne Storm 10-0
Canterbury with some promising play down the right side but Brenko Lee spills it with Kerrod Holland open outside him. Storm scrum on their own 40m.
Melbourne Storm 10-0
Confirmation from Fox that Bromwich's thumb is indeed broken.
Melbourne Storm 10-0
Storm turn the ball over and concede a penalty.
Melbourne Storm 10-0
Storm put it high, and Canterbury field it on their own 10m... to no avail! Josh Jackson took Cronk high from the kick. Storm penalty.
Melbourne Storm 10-0
Fox League's Andy Raymond reporting Jesse Bromwich has come off with a serious-looking hand injury.
Melbourne Storm 10-0
Storm with all the running so far, this time the kick finds the ground after a Storm error, Bulldogs with a 20m restart.
Melbourne Storm 10-0
SUCCESSFUL CONVERSION MELBOURNE STORM: Conversion attempt by Cameron Smith successful.
Too easy near the posts for Smith. Shock scoreline early!
Melbourne Storm 10-0
TRY MELBOURNE STORM: Scored by Suliasi Vunivalu. Kick to come.
Oh dear. Storm put it high on the last, and they're caught napping again with Vunivalu plucking it out of the air. This is a huge start for the visitors.
Melbourne Storm 8-0
UNSUCCESSFUL CONVERSION MELBOURNE STORM: Conversion attempt by Cameron Smith unsuccessful.
Smith's first attempt goes wide as a train flies by behind the north end of Belmore.
Melbourne Storm 4-0
TRY MELBOURNE STORM: Scored by Cheyse Blair. Kick to come.
Simple numbers to the left and some awful Bulldogs defence - Blair goes in for the opening try!
Melbourne Storm 4-0
Big break from Josh Addo-Carr up the middle and Melbourne have it on the 'Dogs 30m on just tackle two!
0 all
Game on - Storm have it first and push high up the ground in their first set.
0 all
The Bulldogs now out on the park in their heritage jersey with those classic butcher stripes. They'll kick off with Storm running right to left on your computer monitor or mobile screen!
Cameron Smith leads Melbourne out onto Belmore Sports Ground.
Kickoff is about 15 minutes away and we can confirm the final teams - Canterbury are 1-17 with the four reserves culled progressively over the week, while the Storm have shifted some players around. Young Tonumaipea moves to the bench with Cameron Munster replacing him at fullback. Rookie Ryley Jacks is five-eighth beside Cooper Cronk, while three reserves and Brodie Croft from the interchange drop out of the match-day squad.
Belmore is the venue for the new TV experiment that is the Friday 6pm game. Round 1 for Canterbury sees them hosting the Storm - the same team they played in their last 1998 and first 2015 games at the same venue. Those clashes were Melbourne's only visits to Belmore and they lost both. Canterbury's record is impressive against the Storm of late - they're duck egg from the last six competitive matches between the two.
Referees & scorers:
Referee: Gerard Sutton, Matt Noyen
Touch Judges: Jeff Younis, Ziggy Przeklasa-Adamski
Video Referee: Jared Maxwell, Luke Patten
CANTERBURY-BANKSTOWN BULLDOGS (6)
Tries: Josh Reynolds
Field Goals:
Conversions: Kerrod Holland (1/1)
Penalty Goals:
MELBOURNE STORM (12)
Tries: Cheyse Blair, Suliasi Vunivalu
Field Goals:
Conversions: Cameron Smith (1/2)
Penalty Goals: Cameron Smith (1/1)