SYDNEY (Reuters) - Billy Slater produced a vintage performance as the Melbourne Storm ran in six tries to hammer the North Queensland Cowboys 34-6 on Sunday and secure their third National Rugby League title after 1999 and 2012. It was a second title for the triumvirate of hooker Cameron Smith, halfback Cooper Cronk and fullback Slater, who have helped make the Storm the most dominant NRL team of the last decade. "It was a wonderful performance but we've been doing it all year so we were confident we could bring it," said Slater, who was named Man of the Match. The Cowboys were never going to lie down, however, and eight minutes after the break, Te Maire Martin gave them some reward for their pressure. Three minutes later and Addo-Carr pounced on a Cowboys error to feed Scott for the fifth try which took the lead to 28-6 even after Smith missed the conversion.

Source: The Star October 01, 2017 11:26 UTC