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AAP
AAP
Sport
Melissa Woods

Coates bags hat-trick as Storm roast Sydney Roosters

The Storm's Xavier Coates celebrates scoring a try during their NRL win over the Sydney Roosters. (Joel Carrett/AAP PHOTOS) (AAP)

A Xavier Coates hat-trick has helped the Storm to their most convincing win of the NRL season, steamrolling the Sydney Roosters 28-8 in Melbourne on Thursday night.

While he bagged three tries, the towering winger had to share the spotlight with star playmaker Cameron Munster and hooker Harry Grant, who both shone in the wet conditions at AAMI Park.

Munster set up two tries and scored one himself to continue his dominant season since returning from a finger injury.

Victor Radley was the villain for the visitors, sent to the sin-bin and put on report in the 27th minute for a late shot on Munster as the Storm attacked the line.

At that stage the Roosters were in front 8-6, but by the time the lock returned Sydney were down 18-8 and the Storm were running away with the match.

Melbourne's attack had all cylinders firing, with Munster, Grant, halfback Jahrome Hughes and fullback Nick Meaney all in on the action.

They used their kicking game to keep the Roosters guessing, while the men from Sydney didn't help themselves with 13 handling errors, 39 missed tackles and only a 62 per cent completion rate.

The Storm's forward pack also deserved praise, with skipper Christian Welch winning a running battle with Jared Waerea-Hargreaves, while Melbourne lock Josh King was another to stand up.

The Roosters' only try came in the 12th minute through winger Jaxson Paulo, when he ran on to a long floating pass from Sam Walker.

But the Storm defence was high-energy throughout as they wrapped up their third successive victory.

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