Storm outgun plucky Roosters

v BYE

The Melbourne Storm have proven too classy for a plucky Sydney Roosters outfit at a chilly AAMI Park in front of 12604 spectators tonight, running out 26-10 victors.

The Roosters came out like a team towards the top of the ladder, rather than their lowly 15th position with a fast start that resulted in opening points to fullback Blake Ferguson, who was a late switch to the custodian position with a try off a Mitchell Pearce grubber in the 4th minute. 

Back-rower Sio Siua Taukeiaho converted the try for an early 6-0 lead.

The Roosters continued to control field position for much of the opening stages, but the Storm showed their resolve in defence and eventually turned the tide of the match with a try to lock forward Dale Finucane in the 15th minute. Captain Cameron Smith showed his class with a neat grubber kick close to the line for Finucane to squeeze his way between two Roosters defenders to win the race to the ball and Smith's ensuing conversion levelled the scores at 6 apiece.

Both teams traded sets for the next ten minute period before Smith again showed his class running to the open side before grubbering off the inside of his boot back in behind the ruck for his partner in crime Cooper Cronk to pounce on the ball in-goal to score. 

Smith converted from close range again and a penalty goal five minutes later gave his team an eventual 14-6 lead heading into the sheds for half-time.

Despite being more than a converted try behind and little to play for, the Roosters came out strongly again in the second stanza and competed hard for most of the half with the home side, including some impressive goal-line defence of their own.

The pressure would eventually tell though with hard-running back-rower Kevin Proctor storming onto a deft pass from Cronk to cross in the 66th minute. Smith added the extras, stretching the lead beyond two converted tries in the process.

Proctor's fellow New Zealand back-row partner Tohu Harris cashed in soon after with a try running off five-eight Blake Green in the 74th minute.

The Roosters did manage to trouble the scorers again late in the match with a try to centre Shaun Kenny-Dowall in the 79th minute, but it was all too late and the loss was the sixth on the trot for the tri-colours.

The Storm will spend the night on top of the competition ladder (on percentages), with the Cronulla Sharks going round tomorrow with an opportunity to reclaim top spot against the Newcastle Knights.

Next week, the Roosters head home to host the Brisbane Broncos at Allianz Stadium on Thursday night and the Storm head up to 1300SMILES Stadium in what shapes as a blockbuster top four showdown with the North Queensland Cowboys.