Sparkling performance: Cameron Smith, centre, and Billy Slater were close to their brilliant best. Credit:John Veage "They were at their best Melbourne Storm wrestle today. It was slow, frustrating and referee Smith did a good job," Flanagan quipped. "He's the best player in his position. I watched him closely today. He managed the game perfectly. He got off the line early. I can complain about it as much as I like during the week, but he just does it very, very good. I wish we had a couple of him. He's just a good player. "Whether you call it flaunting the rules or pushing the referee or whatever it is, he's the best at it. He showed tonight he had one of those games." The Australian and Queensland skipper was the inspiration behind the Storm's win before Slater, who endured a mixed night, all but sealed his return to the Maroons side for State of Origin II when he sent Felise Kaufusi racing over for the matchwinner with six minutes left.

"It was slow, frustrating and referee Smith did a good job": Shane Flanagan. Credit:John Veage It came a set after a James Maloney field goal had put Cronulla ahead for the first time. The animosity between the two sides has lifted since their epic grand final duel last year, but Sharks captain Paul Gallen said the Storm's tactics were nothing foreign. "[The wrestling] doesn't frustrate us too much," Gallen said. "We've got a decent record against them and we wrestle them back. It's part of the game. "It's nothing to whinge about. I don't think there was anything untoward. If we catch that kick-off [after Maloney's field goal] we probably win the game and we're not in this mood."

Flanagan was far from despondent with his side's performance, which also included a strong 11th-hour pitch from Valentine Holmes for inclusion alongside Slater in the Queensland backline. Despite resting Cooper Cronk the Storm will finish the weekend four points clear at the top of the ladder as they again set their sights on the minor premiership. "I thought it was real gutsy," Bellamy said. "It wasn't real smart, especially the way we started the second half. In the second half they completed nine more sets and we had to defend our line the whole second half. "[But] I think that's out best defensive effort of the year, without a doubt. I couldn't be more proud of their effort tonight." Slater is expected to tip Justin O'Neill out of a spot in Kevin Walters' wounded Maroons side and for Origin II and survived a second-half scare when he rolled his ankle, ironically in a tackle by Holmes behind his goalposts.