The Melbourne Storm took a big win over the Gold Coast Titans on Sunday, running out the 38-0 victors.
REPORT: RED HOT STORM STEAMROLL TITANS
Two games in a row now the Storm have kept a clean sheet on the scoreboard. Just dominated the home side who struggled for the majority of the 80 minutes.
Confident display for Melbourne who are really shaping up to be a big threat for the premiership this year.
Gold Coast will head back to training licking their wounds with five consecutive losses.
Final score
Gold Coast Titans 0
Melbourne Storm 38
The Gold Coast Titans will play host Melbourne Storm this afternoon as they look to sneak into the top eight. Catch all the highlights and NRL action from 2:00pm (AEST) on The Roar.
The Storm went on a rampage last week against the hapless Warriors on Anzac Day, piling on 42 unanswered points to leave them sitting pretty in third place on the ladder.
The Titans, on the other hand, are preparing to bounce back from a golden point loss to the Bulldogs in Round 8 that saw them slip away a touch from the top eight.
These two have already met once this year back in Round 2 in what was a fairly comfortable win for the Melbourne side, getting home 34-16 to notch up their tenth win against the Titans in their 15-game history.
The home side will need to be wary of an in-form Cameron Munster at the back, after he tore through the aforementioned Warriors game, racking up big run metres and line breaks to show off his worth in place of Billy Slater.
For the Titans, Ashley Taylor still hasn’t recovered from a suspected rib injury and will miss out again this week, handing the halfback role over to Cameron Cullen once again.
Despite some late mail on a possible Daniel Mortimer return, his light training sessions during the week haven’t been enough for his injured hamstring and won’t be back this week.
The Storm are similarly having a few injury issues much like their Queensland foes this week, with heavy clouds over Marika Koroibete and Young Tonumaipea with ankle and knee complaints respectively.
Coach Craig Bellamy is keeping his cards close to his chest and will decide on his final line up much closer to kickoff, even joking during the week that he didn’t have a single fit centre in the club.
Prediction
Despite the Monday turnaround (not that bad considering it’s Sunday but the clubs like to complain about it) and travelling across a couple of states, the Storm will be very tough to topple for the inconsistent Titans who have struggled in defence this year.
Storm to win by 26 in fairly comfortable fashion.
Can the Titans get a big win at home and charge towards a top eight spot? Or will the Storm solidify their standings at the top of the table with a win on the road? Follow all the thrilling action coming out of Cbus Super Stadium this afternoon from 2:00pm (AEST), on The Roar.
Sleiman Azizi
Roar Guru
Right on time for the Test match next Friday, me thinks. Let's hope that Shaun Johnson is back to his dazzling best as well.
SpongeBob
Guest
Right in time for Origin, perfect! All we need is Inglis to come into form and it's back up & running again. A month ago was looking like we'd need to add a few snooze breaks for the old timers to recharge.
Connor Bennett
Editor
100% Cronk found his form this afternoon. Pin point with most of his kicks and he just took control of the game and had the TItans defence spinning
Connor Bennett
Editor
Surely not the Roosters
Joe
Roar Rookie
Great win by the Storm. Cronk played his best game of the season. Vunivalu is just what they needed on the wing. Great target for Cronks kicks. The forwards led the way again weathered the early pressure then back good runs with hard defense. Just ground them down. Hopefully get a few backline troops back after rep round. Blair played well on the wing though so maybe centres for him.
Scott Pryde
Expert
Fourth for the weekend.... I'm sure my laptop is going to die. Good luck on the A League GF.
Scott Pryde
Expert
Roosters are no chance.
Connor Bennett
Editor
Still plenty of rugby league action to come on The Roar today. Scott is tackling his second game today with the Sharks and Broncos. http://www.theroar.com.au/2016/05/01/cronulla-sharks-vs-brisbane-broncos-nrl-live-scores-blog-2/
Zedman
Roar Rookie
Imo there are the Broncs, Cows, Sharks, Storm, Roosters, Eels and the rest are making up the numbers.
Scott Pryde
Expert
Yep - I hate the Eels but would hate to see that happen given how well you guys are playing!
Connor Bennett
Editor
Eels might be taking that mantle if this salary cap business bites us on the rear
Connor Bennett
Editor
The Roar NRL MVP points 3 - Cooper Cronk 2 - Suliasi Vunivalu 1 - Tohu Harris
Scott Pryde
Expert
Cheers Connor, At least the Dragons won't be gettin' the spoon this year!
Scott Pryde
Expert
Fiji I assume....
Connor Bennett
Editor
FULLTIME Two games in a row now the Storm have kept a clean sheet on the scoreboard. Just dominated the the home side who struggled for the majority of the 80 minutes. Confident display for Melbourne who are really shaping up to be a big threat for the premiership this year. Gold Coast will head back to training licking their wounds with five consecutive losses Titans - 0 Storm - 38
Connor Bennett
Editor
80' Sloppy double knock on 40 out from the Storm line and both sides have just stopped, waiting for the clock to run out as the ref yells twenty times for someone to play the ball Titans - 0 Storm - 38
Connor Bennett
Editor
79' The Titans instantly spread it to the wings inside their own 20, trying to find space to launch an attack. Storm are giving the Great Wall of China a run for it's money though, not letting anything through this afternoon Titans - 0 Storm - 38
Connor Bennett
Editor
78' Melbourne make another 50 metre set and once again, for the hundredth time in the second half, Cronk runs the grubber into touch for a scrum in front of the Titans white line Titans - 0 Storm - 38
Steve
Guest
Where the hell do the Storm find all these gigantic wingers from??
Connor Bennett
Editor
77' Tia throws a big cut out to Davis on the left wing. No room to move though and the Titans are forced to search for space back in field. Roberts sends it high and the chase is poor. Titans - 0 Storm - 38