Storm 46
Raiders 6
Fullback Billy Slater and the Melbourne Storm were back to their blistering best as they crushed Canberra 46-6 in their NRL clash at Olympic Park last night.
The Storm silenced any criticism of a lack of spark in attack as they ran in eight tries - two scored by Test fullback Slater, while he and enterprising halfback Cooper Cronk also had a hand in several others.
Second-rower Ryan Hoffman also proved he was back in top form in time for NSW Origin selection, scoring a late try and making a 30 metre break before off-loading for Greg Inglis to touch down in the first half.
On the back of the win Melbourne moved to within a point of the four NRL ladder leaders.
Slater's best try came nine minutes into the second half when he split the defence wide open, taking a Cameron Smith pass and racing 70 metres before standing up Raider Marc Herbert to touch down.
Three minutes later he then ran on to a Cooper Cronk midfield kick and got a pass away to Storm winger Steve Turner, who managed to force the ball down over the line.
That put the scoreline out to 28-6 and well and truly snuffed out any thought the Raiders may have had of ending their 13-match losing streak against Melbourne, which dates back to 2003.
Canberra started brightly, scoring the opening points five minutes into the match.
Herbert, a late replacement for halfback Josh McCrone, put a perfectly weighted bomb into the in-goal and NSW Origin hopeful Joel Monaghan out-leapt fellow centre Greg Inglis and Storm winger Joe Tomane to the ball.
Another Blues contender, five-eighth Terry Campese, was successful with the conversion but that was the last time the Raiders scoreboard ticked over as they were outplayed across the park.
Slater's first try came at the 11 minute mark as he carried another Cronk kick into the in-goal, with hooker Smith collecting the first of six conversions for the night.
Inglis added his four-pointer and then prop Jeff Lima broke through defence to boost the scoreline to 18-6 by the main break.
The second half was all Storm, with their forwards proving they could match it with the flashy backs in the tryscoring stakes.
Matt Cross, Adam Blair and Hoffman all grabbed four-pointers to complete Canberra's misery for the night and condemn them to their seventh loss of the season.
- AAP
