Storm cruise home over spirited Titans

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Gold Coast Titans v Melbourne Storm

An entertaining, competitive first half wasn't enough for the Gold Coast this afternoon, with ladder leaders and likely minor premiers Melbourne doing it comfortably after halftime to win 38-18 in front of more than 11,000 fans at Cbus Super Stadium.

The hosts stunned the travelling Melbourne fans with a two-try blitz inside the first ten minutes seeing the Titans lead 12-0 after less than ten minutes.

Brenko Lee was first, swooping on a lazy Cam Smith pass and running long-distance to grab the opener before Jarrod Wallace barged over from close range.

Once the Storm got some footy and field position they had little trouble returning serve, Suliasi Vunivalu and Joe Stimson the scorers and proceedings re-balanced at 12-all.

Come the 23rd minute, Melbourne hit the lead for the first time with Sandor Earl's first NRL try in six years, benefitting from a looping wide ball and subsequent overlap. The missed conversion from Smith meant the lead was 1-12, and the Titans were keen to capitalise on the opportunity to reclaim the lead in a high-scoring first half.

They did that after the half-hour mark through Bryce Cartwright, who pounced on a Tyrone Roberts grubber. Roberts converted the effort to put the home side back in the lead, but Melbourne hit back once more before the break, with Vunivalu's second ensuring the competition's first-placed team would lead the last-placed one going into the sheds.

The attitude was much improved in the second forty from the Storm, with Ryan Papenhuyzen getting on the scoresheet shortly after the resumption, and Melbourne all but wrapped up the match when Cameron Smith scored nearer to the hour-mark and it was 34-18.

PNG representative Justin Olam was the final scorer of the match, pushing the margin out to twenty points in the 77th minute.

Melbourne will now look to lift after a relatively sloppy performance - despite the big win - as they head home to host Manly next Saturday. The Titans stay in Robina and host local rivals the Broncos on Saturday also.