The St George Illawarra Dragons were defeated 26-6 by the Melbourne Storm at WIN Stadium, Wollongong on Monday.
The Red-and-Whites scored only one try in the first half with winger Izaac Thompson going over the line.
Co-Head Coaches Dean Young and Ben Hornby made no changes to the line-up named last week.
The Young Dragons came out firing when winger Izaac Thompson flew over the line in the seventh minute to put the first point on the board.
The visitors struggled to break the Red V’s defence over the next ten minutes before Melbourne captain Dean Britt made a run for the line in the 18th minute only to be diffused at the line.
A penalty kick in the 24th minute from Dragons five-eighth Shannon Crook put another two points on the board with Melbourne yet to score.
In the 32nd minute the visitors found their feet when Melbourne winger Tony Tumusa stormed over the line to close the gap to 6-4.
The first ten minutes of the second half saw see-sawing possession with neither team taking control of the game.
The 53rd minute saw Dragons prop Addin Fonua-Blake sent off for striking an opposition player along with prop Jack Kavanagh who was sin-binned.
It wasn’t until the 61st minute the defensive game broke and Melbourne fullback Cameron Munster took the ball over the line to put another four points on the board.
Munster successfully converted his own try to take the Storm lead to 10-6.
The visitors continued their positive game when Melbourne forward Kurt Bernard trampled over the line five minutes later.
Melbourne’s score was extended to 16 when Munster kicked for conversion in front of the posts.
Munster kept his team’s enthusiasm when he took a pass from prop Una Mohi and put four more points on the board in the 74th minute.
He successfully converted his own try to take the visitors’ lead to 22-6.
With a minute to go Melbourne utility Jake Turpin took a short pass from Munster after breaking the line.
The Melbourne Storm 26 defeated the St George Illawarra Dragons 6.
St George Illawarra Dragons 6. Tries: Thompson. Goals: Crook (0/1). Penalty Goal: Crook (1/1).
Melbourne Storm 22. Tries: Munster (2), Tumusa, Bernard, Turpin. Goals: Munster (3/5).
