Storm thrash winless Sharks 36-18

Melbourne Storm have steamrolled the Sharks 36-18 at AAMI Park to leave the Cronulla side winless after three rounds of the NRL.

Storm's Tohu Harris (centre) is tackled by the Sahrks

Melbourne Storm have beaten the winless Sharks 36-18 in their NRL clash at AAMI Park. (AAP)

Melbourne forward Tohu Harris has doubled his NRL career try-scoring tally as he led the Storm to a 36-18 over the hapless Cronulla at AAMI Park.

Harris had previously scored just two tries in two seasons but scored two more in the first half as the home side ran in six in an impressive performance across the park.

The defeat means Cronulla remains winless after three rounds while the Storm are back in the black following last round's loss to Manly.

There were some questions about who would fill the role of second-row following the departure of Ryan Hoffman to the Warriors, with NZ Test forward Harris now the obvious answer.

The 23-year-old was second in his team in both tackles with 26 and run metres in a peerless display.

The Sharks started well but their defence proved flimsy as the game went on, with the Storm halves Cooper Cronk and Blake Green finding plenty of holes.

Harris opening the scoring when he barrelled over in the ninth minute with the Storm taking advantage of a failed 40/20 attempt by Wade Graham.

Cronk added their second 10 minutes later before Harris was in again for an 18-0 lead.

Harris' second came just after Storm skipper Cameron Smith was back-slammed by David Fifita.

Play was set to continue before the video referees intervened and referee Gavin Badger placed the Sharks forward on report.

Sharks halfback Jeff Robson added a late try to close the deficit to 12 points at halftime.

The visitors then had to wait until the 63rd minute for their second, with young winger Valentine Holmes diving over in the corner.

By that stage the Storm had already scored a further three, with winger Marika Koroibete, Smith and centre Will Chambers all crossing to put the match out of reach.

Andrew Fifita gave the scoreline some respectability with a third Sharks try but there was little else to cheer about.

Sharks coach Shane Flanagan said his side was "schooled" by the Storm.

"I give real credit to the opposition, I thought they were clinical, well-drilled - they took us to school a little bit in a few areas," Flanagan said.

"We couldn't build any pressure because we didn't have the ball.

"Our boys tried hard and they didn't execute great but the opposition were very good."

Storm coach Craig Bellamy was delighted with his team's first performance at home this season and said they set up the win on the back of their strong start.

"I thought our first 30 minutes was tremendous," Bellamy said.

"We lost our way a little bit in the last 10 minutes of the first half ... and it was a bit untidy in the last 15 of the game but it's hard to keep that intensity up for 80 minutes.

"It was a good performance overall and certainly something we can build on."


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Source: AAP


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