Melbourne Storm unbeaten with 28-20 win after Newcastle Knights

What: NRL third round
Who: Melbourne v Newcastle
Result: Storm 28-20
When and where: Monday, March 24 – AAMI Park
Crowd: 11,490
Match rating: 7 out of 10

80 MINUTES IN 80 SECONDS
A round of upsets looked like continuing all the way to the last game as Melbourne stumbled around as if they'd hit the snooze button just before running out. Newcastle looked up for it early, building an 8-2 lead as the Storm searched for answers. But drop intensity for a second and the Storm swoop. They regained their mojo – and how. Three tries in 10 minutes turned a six-point deficit into a 10-point lead and they rarely get run down from there. To Newcastle's credit, they did stick with them and got back to within four points late in the second half. But up stepped Cameron Smith, plunging over from dummy half with 13 minutes left to seal a third straight win and equal first place on the table. Newcastle remain alongside Cronulla as the only teams without a win in 2014


_{Cameron Smith managed two conversions as well as a try. Photo: Getty (Michael Dodge)}

WHO KILLED IT?
We really shouldn't get too carried away when Cooper Cronk does something special because he does it most weeks. But indulge us for a moment, please. Two pieces of sublime Cronk magic – one a pass, the other a kick - resulted in crucial tries. The first was a lovely pass that put Kevin Proctor in a hole larger than George Rose's towel. The second came via a deft crossfield kick to winger Young Tonumaipea. All class.   

WHO STUNK IT UP?
Newcastle owner Nathan Tinkler. The courageous Knights deserve better than wondering if the fatman is going to pay them on time – or at all. They are still putting in a full shift but you have to wonder for how long if the freight dries up. Tinkler's fate could be decided as soon as this week.

WHAT DO I NEED TO KNOW?
The game was held up for more than five minutes just before the break when Alex McKinnon was speared into the turf under the combined weight of three players. The most immediate concern was freeing McKinnon's mouthguard as he struggled for breath. The big back-rower left the field on a stretcher in a neck brace and was taken to hospital for further tests. Unofficial reports from the Knights dressing room indicated McKinnon had movement in his arms and legs so we hope for the best.  


_{Alex McKinnon is attended to after copping a heavy knock. Photo: Getty (Michael Dodge)}

WHAT THE...
What was going on with Kurt Gidley? He got busted for employing a facial in the play-the-ball and pinged again soon after for dishing out some rough treatment in another tackle. It was cheap and unnecessary stuff from an experienced player. The rest of the time he spent blueing with the ref. You're not going to win those battles, Kurt old boy.   

LOOK OUT UP AHEAD
Melbourne head west to tackle the Bulldogs in Perth on Saturday. Newcastle are at home against fellow three-time losers Cronulla. Is this an early wooden spoon shoot-out? Surely not.

MELBOURNE 28
Tries: Chambers, Proctor, Smith, Tonumaipea, Waqa.
Goals: Smith 4

NEWCASTLE 20
Tries: A Uate, Smith
Goals: Gidley 2, Roberts 2