Sunday 21 May 2017 16:48, UK
Melbourne Storm won a torrid physical battle with South Sydney to hold on to top spot in Australia's NRL.
The Storm, stung by last week's defeat at the hands of the Gold Coast Titans after conceding 38 points, recovered their defensive steel to block out the Rabbitohs 14-6 in Perth.
Melbourne led 10-6 at half-time and their unyielding defence kept out South Sydney, who had the majority of the possession in the second half.
The Storm's likely Queensland Origin quartet of Cameron Smith, Billy Slater, Cooper Cronk and Will Chambers were all on song in their final hit-out before the series-opener against New South Wales in Brisbane on May 31.
Melbourne lead the competition after 11 rounds, two points ahead of the Brisbane Broncos, defending champions Cronulla Sharks and the Sydney Roosters.
Wayne Bennett's Broncos thumped the Wests Tigers 36-0 at home on Friday, while the Sharks overcame a 14-point half-time deficit to down the North Queensland Cowboys 18-14 on Thursday.
Prop forward Andrew Fifita was immense for the reigning champions, with a crucial offload for Chad Townsend to score and then a storming run in the lead-up to Sosaia Feki's match-clinching try.
The Roosters fought off a second-half comeback to beat the Canterbury Bulldogs 24-18 on Sunday.
They surged to a 20-6 half-time lead before the Bulldogs hit back, only for scrum-half Mitchell Pearce to seal the result with76th-minuteute try.
St George Illawarra were too strong for the New Zealand Warriors, winning 30-14 in Hamilton on Friday to lie four points adrift of the Storm in fifth spot.
Manly Sea Eagles are sixth after a 30-10 win over the Gold Coast Titans on Saturday. Origin hopeful Daly Cherry-Evans set up three tries for Manly.
