​Bulldogs find their bark at Belmore

In front of a tremendous home crowd of 16,764 supporters, the Bulldogs have dominated Melbourne at Belmore Oval, winning 20-4.

Having last played at Belmore Sports Ground back in 1998, the Bulldogs faithful turned up in droves to give their side an extra boost during the Round 16 fixture.

It mattered little however, as Canterbury opened up a 16-0 lead inside 15 minutes courtesy of tries to Brett Morris (3rd minute), Shaun Lane (7th minute) and Sam Perrett (13th minute).

At the forefront of the Bulldogs establishing their early lead was David Klemmer. Starting in the front row, the New South Wales prop delivered a monumental first half performance, leaving the Storm players gasping for breath with a series of relentless charges that justified his reputation as one of the best forwards in the NRL.

After withstanding the early Canterbury onslaught, Melbourne began to work their way back into the match, going set-for-set with the Bulldogs, but with Billy Slater and Cooper Cronk unavailable through injury, the Storm lacked the finesse to convert possession into points.

Adding to the visitor's worries was Jordan McLean re-aggravating a hamstring injury which has plagued him throughout 2015, leaving the Storm to play out the game with a three-man bench.

Shortly after the resumption of play, Sam Kasiano produced a cut-out pass Steve Mortimer would've been proud of to send Josh Morris (45th minute) over in the corner. While Hodkinson was unable to add the extras from the sideline, it made little difference as the Bulldogs continued their Belmore homecoming suffocating the Melbourne side of any attacking opportunities.

With Melbourne appearing to be headed for a 20-0 shutout, Marika Koroibete saved face for the visitors touching down after being denied earlier by Brett Morris, by touching down in the dying stages of the match. With Cameron Smith failing to convert, the Bulldogs ran out 16-point winners.

Without question the Bulldogs forwards laid the platform for the win; both David Klemmer and rookie Shaun Lane produced stellar performances to give the Belmore faithful reason to be optimistic that the "Dogs of War" spirit lives on in the current Canterbury side.

For the Storm, the absence of Slater and Cronk was telling, however the Bulldogs relentless attitude would likely have made little difference regardless of the players at Craig Bellamy's disposal.

In a positive move, the Bulldogs will return to Belmore Oval in Round 20 against Cronulla, while the NRL may consider moving Monday night fixtures to suburban and regional stadiums after the impressive turnout.

Next week, both Canterbury and Melbourne have the bye in the lead-up to State of Origin 3.

Match Details

Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs 20 Melbourne Storm 4
Venue: Belmore Sports Ground
Crowd: 16764
Halftime Score: Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs 16 Melbourne Storm 0

CANTERBURY-BANKSTOWN BULLDOGS (20)
Tries: Brett Morris, Shaun Lane, Sam Perrett, Josh Morris
Conversions: Trent Hodkinson (2/4)

MELBOURNE STORM (4)
Tries: Marika Koroibete
Conversions: Cameron Smith (0/1)

LeagueUnlimited.com Players of the Match:

3 points - David Klemmer
2 points - Trent Hodkinson
1 point - Shaun Lane

LeagueUnlimited.com Live Commentary

Welcome to League Unlimited's coverage of Monday Night Football between Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs and Melbourne Storm at Belmore Sports Ground.

This is the first time an NRL game has been played at Belmore since 1998. On that day Canterbury defeated Melbourne 8-4.

The Bulldogs will be 1-17.

Melbourne have been boosted by the return of electrifying winger Marika Koroibete from injury, while Hymel Hunt returns in the centres after impressing against Parramatta two weeks ago. Jordan McLean is also back on the bench. All three players replace Mahe Fonua, Kurt Mann and Nelson Asofa-Solomona respectively.

Canterbury won all 3 matches between the pair last year, including one of the best games of 2014 in Melbourne, outlasting the Storm 6-4 in an enthralling encounter.

Canterbury onto the field.

Cameron Smith kicks off and David Klemmer takes the first run of the night.

1: Dale Finucane takes a run against his former club.

2: Cameron Smith kicks the ball dead. 7 tackle set for Canterbury.

2: Canterbury attack down the left but Rona is cut down.

3: TRY CANTERBURY-BANKSTOWN BULLDOGS
Scored by Brett Morris. Kick to come.
Curtis Rona was out of room, so he decides to kick in field and finds his fullback.

4: SUCCESSFUL CONVERSION CANTERBURY-BANKSTOWN BULLDOGS
Conversion attempt by Trent Hodkinson successful.
From close to the sideline, the in-demand #7 converts.

5: Great start for the Bulldogs, first attacking chance results in points.

5: Klemmer takes the Bulldogs up to the 30 from the restart and draws a penalty.

7: TRY CANTERBURY-BANKSTOWN BULLDOGS
Scored by Shaun Lane. Kick to come.
Hodkinson runs near the line before finding his supporting second rower. 10-0.

7: Great work form Hodkinson to get Shaun Lane one-on-one with Cameron Munster.

8: SUCCESSFUL CONVERSION CANTERBURY-BANKSTOWN BULLDOGS
Conversion attempt by Trent Hodkinson successful.
Inside eight minutes, the Bulldogs have a two-try lead.

10: Penalty against Curtis Rona for being offside from Moses Mbye's bomb.

10: Mush needed reprieve early on for the Storm.

11: Richie Kennar cut down close to the Bulldogs line on the last.

12: Penalty to Canterbury - high shot on Greg Eastwood.from Tim Glasby.

13: Perrett is over in the corner, but we'll check with the video referee.

13: It looks as though Perrett's arm has touch the sideline simultaneously with the grounding. Should be No Try.

13: TRY CANTERBURY-BANKSTOWN BULLDOGS
Scored by Sam Perrett. Kick to come.
The Bullodgs are cutting Melbourne to shreds!

14: Original referee call of try is upheld by the video - Bulldogs out to 16-0 inside 14 minutes.

14: UNSUCCESSFUL CONVERSION CANTERBURY-BANKSTOWN BULLDOGS
Conversion attempt by Trent Hodkinson unsuccessful.
Hodkinson misses, but the Storm are in shock.

15: Melbourne have only had 2 sets in the opening 15 minutes!

16: Richie Kennar is able to beat Curtis Rona to the ball. Melbourne finally have possession.

17: Shaun Lane pulled down 10 metres out from the Storm line.

19: Lloyd Perrett keeps the Bulldogs forward dominance going with a strong charge over halfway.

20: Hodkinson traps Cameron Munster in-goal. It's all Canterbury tonight!

21: Moses Mbye looks for Curtis Rona, but his pass goes into touch.

22: Hampton dummies and races into the Bulldogs half before being pulled down by Josh Morris.

24: Canterbury will have another set inside the Storm's 20. Chambers forced into touch.

25: Cameron Smith forces a knock on from Michael Lichaa by slapping at the arms.

26: Canterbury already up to their 40 metre line after 2 tackles!

26: Melbourne get a much-needed penalty. When they find touch they'll be in good attacking position.

27: Ben Hampton held up over the line.

28: Rona forces Richie Kennar into touch in a try-scoring situation.

29: Sam Kasiano loses the ball inside the Canterbury half. Good chance for Melbourne to strike after withstanding the Bulldogs for the last 15 minutes.

31: Canterbury come up with the ball after withstanding the Melbourne attack on their line. It's just not happening for the Storm in this first half.

32: Brett Morris takes a Melbourne bomb with ease.

33: Hinchcliffe makes a strong charge up the middle of the Bulldogs defence. Two plays later the Storm get a penalty.

34: Munster goes close but is cut down short of the line.

35: Blake Green forces a line-drop out. Repeat pressure for Melbourne.

37: Jordan McLean heading up the tunnel. Appears to be an aggravation a hamstring injury.

38: Melbourne have come back from the early Bulldogs onslaught, but will need points for their own confidence heading into the second 40 minutes.

39: Ryan Hinchcliffe does his best Jarryd Hayne impression, passing the ball to Blake Green forward by a couple of metres.

40: Josh Morris takes the final run of the half as Canterbury take a 16-0 lead into the break. Great start from the Bulldogs, but Melbourne have done well to steady the course.

40: No Josh Reynolds yet for Canterbury. David Klemmer has been monumental up front - 139 metres.

40: Hodkinson kicks off and Felise Kaufusi is driven back.

40: Hinchcliffe makes a strong run.

41: Canterbury look dangerous already in the second half.

42: Brett Morris over halfway on the first run of a set.

43: Mbye takes on the line before being taken by Cameron Smith.

43: 6 more tackles for the Bulldogs.

43: Penalty from right in front for a strip.

44: Koroibete rushes up on Tim Lafai and crushes the Samoan centre.

45: 6 more for the Bulldogs.

45: TRY CANTERBURY-BANKSTOWN BULLDOGS
Scored by Josh Morris. Kick to come.
Sam Kasiano floats a pass out of dummy half and puts his centre over for a try that should secure the two points for Canterbury.

47: UNSUCCESSFUL CONVERSION CANTERBURY-BANKSTOWN BULLDOGS
Conversion attempt by Trent Hodkinson unsuccessful.
From the touchline, Hodkinson can't quite fade the kick back enough.

49: Chambers puts Kennar into a bit of space, but its quickly shut down.

50: Eastwood down after being collected by Ben Hampton, but no penalty.

51: Canterbury get a penalty, Melbourne just don't look likely to have an answer tonight. It's all Canterbury.

51: Penalty to Melbourne.

52: Chambers loses the ball close to the Bulldogs 20.

53: Crowd: 16,764

54: Hodkinson bombs buts it''s not a problem for Munster at the back.

55: Melbourne don't look likely to pose a threat tonight. It looks like the biggest issue is how much Canterbury win by.

56: Chambers forced over the sideline by three Bulldogs.

56: David Klemmer is back on for the Bulldogs. Things couldn't be worse for the Storm at the moment.

58: Koroibete makes a nice run and the Storm make a bit of ground.

59: Hampton's kick rolls dead. It's not the fault of Hampton, Munster or even Cameron Smith; at the moment it wouldn't matter who Melbourne had in their side, it's all Canterbury.

59: Shaun Lane busts the line open but his pass goes to ground.

60: Still no Josh Reynolds for the Bulldogs.

60: Melbourne try to spread the ball but the Bulldogs have them covered.

61: Melbourne get a knock back, but Tim Glasby ignores his support and is cut down short of the line despite his best efforts.

63: Bulldogs find the line and Josh Reynolds is on for Canterbury. The Bulldogs faithful are in raptures, this is by far the best atmosphere at a Monday night game for years.

64: Koroibete makes a great run, but is cut down before finding his support.

64: Curtis Rona tries an intercept but knocks on.

66: Hodkinson picks up a Ben Hampton grubber, Bulldogs already on the attack.

66: Hodkinson off. Reynolds on for Canterbury.

67: Reynolds kicks for himself, but the ball goes dead in-goal.

68: Cameron Smith kicks for the in-goal, but the Bulldogs have no problems cleaning up.

70: Blake Green puts in a nice kick before three Storm defenders trap Brett Morris in-goal. Line drop out.

72: Hampton loses the ball after colliding with Sam Kasiano.

72: Bulldogs have been too good tonight. From the opening whistle they've been a class above the Storm.

75: Reynolds kicks but Cameron Munster cleans up.

76: Koroibete almost gets to the try-line, but Brett Morris forces the flying Fijian into touch with a big shot.

78: Melbourne get a penalty and this game has reached it's end.

79: TRY MELBOURNE STORM
Scored by Marika Koroibete. Kick to come.
Koroibete saves the Storm the embarrassment of going down to nil. Good work from the winger, a well-deserved try.

80: UNSUCCESSFUL CONVERSION MELBOURNE STORM
Conversion attempt by Cameron Smith unsuccessful.
From the sideline, Smith misses.

80: Fulltime: Canterbury far too strong, winning 20-4.