Gallant Cowboys feel full effects of Storm

A DEFENSIVE masterclass from Melbourne has taken the Storm to a 26-8 NRL win over an undermanned North Queensland in Townsville.

The Cowboys were forced to play two men down for most of last night’s contest. Second-rower Gavin Cooper (calf) and winger Antonio Winterstein (hamstring) suffered game-ending injuries inside the opening 10 minutes.

The home side still gave title favourite Melbourne a stern test of its premiership credentials.

Doubles to wingers Josh Addo-Carr and Suliasi Vunivalu did the damage for the Storm, as the Cowboys battled bravely before slumping to a second-straight loss to lose further ground in the topfour race.

North Queensland made a horror start when winger Kyle Feldt spilt a bomb and Addo-Carr made it pay immediately when he crossed in the corner off the resulting scrum.

The Cowboys were lifted by crafty hooker Jake Granville, who bustled his way over the line to score from close range, with Ethan Lowe’s conversion putting the hosts ahead by two points.

Melbourne’s Vunivalu pounced on an inch-perfect Cooper Cronk grubber kick just before the break, with Smith’s conversion taking their lead out to 16-8. MELBOURNE 26 (J Addo-Carr 2, S Vunivalu 2, W Chambers tries, C Smith 3 goals) d NORTH QUEENSLAND 8 (J Granville try, E Lowe 2 goals) at 1300SMILES Stadium. Crowd: 21,380.