Machibet BetNRL 2021, Canterbury Bulldogs, Melbourne Storm, premiers prove too classy for battling Bulldogs

Author: Alicia Newton NRL Reporter
Timestamp: Sat 10 Apr 2021, 09:18 PM

Craig Bellamy saw through the 52-18 scoreline on Saturday night to suggest the Storm will need to be better ahead of their blockbuster return to AAMI Park next week against the Roosters.

The defending premiers returned to Stadium Australia for the first time since their grand final win and wasted no time piling on more pain for Canterbury with a nine-try romp at the venue.

However, Bellamy was not singing the praises for his side entirely post-match despite the Storm never really in doubt of conceding the game.

"The scoreboard looks pretty good but I was a bit disappointed with some of our defence and I thought we lost our discipline a couple of times," Bellamy said.

"There are a few things we'll look to improve on and a few things we'd like to keep going, obviously.

"I thought some of our shapes we ran tonight [were good] and I thought our execution and timing was better, especially our right side, which was good.

Round 5 - Round 5 - Saturday 10 Apr

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Bulldogs

Storm

Venue: Accor Stadium, Sydney

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"I'm probably just looking at it a bit more defensive-minded tonight. We could've done a bit better than what we did [defensively]."

It was all one-way traffic for the Storm early with usual suspects Cameron Munster and Ryan Papenhuyzen at their roaming best to set up a 30-6 lead before a scrappy second-half effort was improved by three late tries.

The return of Harry Grant added further fuel for the visitors with the dynamic hooker getting through 55 minutes as fellow rake Brandon Smith struggled during the game with flu-like symptoms.

Munster has the ball on a string early

Bellamy said Grant was given until the final training session to take his place in the side after missing the opening month of the competition with a knee injury.

"We didn't think he was going to play, he looked proppy and wasn't happy with it but he had no troubles at all ... struggled a bit with his lungs but his knee was fine," he said.

Bellamy will now have to decide between Smith and Grant for the starting No.9 jersey with the Storm coach admitting bulldozing rake Smith may have the starting edge at the moment.

"We'll have a sit down with our leaders and chat about that this week, along with the coaches and get Harry and Brandon's take on it as well," Bellamy said.

"They'll be honest with me, I know that, and so will the leaders. I don't mind the idea of starting with Brandon and finishing with Harry but having said that one of Harry's great strengths is playing 80 minutes.

"There are [advantages] to both those guys."

Papenhuyzen from the clouds

Regardless of the decision, Bellamy was looking forward to how the team responds against their 2018 grand final opponents in six days' time.

"The two losses we've had opportunities in the last five minutes to win those games and we couldn't do that," Bellamy said, referring to narrow defeats to the Eels and Panthers.

"We're running into another good team on Friday night. The Roosters always give you a stern test."