Melbourne Storm will rest and refocus before their Anzac Day clash with the New Zealand Warriors.
The Storm improved their record this season to 6-1 [win-loss] on Saturday with a 30-26 away win over Manly Sea Eagles.
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Manly comeback falls short
Melbourne put four tries on Manly in the opening 20, only to find themselves forced to hold the hosts out in the final minutes as they earned their fourth away win of the season.
But it was a confounding performance as they scored six tries in the first half, but struggled to defend the home side in the second half.
After some gruelling performances, the Storm will enjoy every day of the long break before their annual night game at AAMI Park on Anzac Day.
![Inconsistent: The Storm were noticeably fatigued at the end of the game against Manly.](/web/20170416172129im_/http://www.theage.com.au/content/dam/images/g/v/l/r/s/e/image.related.articleLeadwide.620x349.gvlq18.png/1492352644981.jpg)
Storm captain Cameron Smith admitted he was frustrated with his side's inability to complete games.
"It was a fairly frustrating game to play in and it was a funny feeling at the end as it was great to get a victory and we are undefeated on the road but it's like we can't put an entire game together," Smith said.
"We were good defensively in the first six games and our attack has been poor then today that was the best 40 minutes of football this club has played in a long time scoring 30 points.
"We haven't done that for a long, long time but I was really angry at half-time to allow three tries in, I don't know what it is but we can't put a full game together at the moment."
The Storm were noticeably fatigued at the end of the game and Smith said they couldn't continue to win without becoming more consistent.
"We got a win but playing like that," Smith said.
"But we can't continue that as it's very inconsistent ...If you do, at the end of the year it will come back to bite you when it matters."
Suliasi Vunivalu and Felise Kaufusi scored two tries each in the win while Jesse Bromwich and Cameron Munster returned after injury layoffs.
Uncharacteristically Storm coach Craig Bellamy was less critical than his skipper, pointing to his side introducing six debutants while replacing several stars from last year's side.
"It's strange but I'm probably a bit more level than Cameron," Bellamy said with a smile.
"We have a fair few young guys in the side at the moment and we need to learn how to find the balance, sometimes learning is just part of experience.
"Four of our debutants have never played NRL before so I need to be a bit more patient with them but I'm with Cameron that this wasn't good enough today with our effort defensively."
The Storm's bench makeup is also a changing dynamic with Bellamy starting Munster on the bench along with three forwards.
With rookie Ryley Jacks and Munster both making strong claims to the starting five-eighth role, he could continue to use a back on his bench or revert to having four forwards.
Will Chambers was suspended for the Manly game in which Munster also spent some time at centre.
"You can pat yourself on the back, it was a genius move today," Bellamy said.
"But sometimes you put a back on the bench and don't use them. We had Young [Tonumaipea] on the bench in the first game and didn't put him out there as it poured rain and was close all the way through – those times you give yourself a clip across the face.
"Sometimes it works, sometimes it doesn't."
The Storm play the Warriors at AAMI Park on Anzac Day at 7pm.
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