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Melbourne Storm have survived some anxious moments to defeat Gold Coast 20-14 on the Sunshine Coast to record their 10th straight NRL win.
They weren't perfect but Melbourne have capped a 10 out of 10 winning run by outlasting Gold Coast Titans 20-14 in an NRL thriller at Sunshine Coast Stadium.
Storm coach Craig Bellamy cut a relieved figure after Phillip Sami's errant pass botched a post-siren Titans chance to send Satuday night's match into extra-time, admitting Melbourne were "not real smart" in the second half.
But Bellamy saluted his depleted outfit, missing five State of Origin stars and without back-rower Kenny Bromwich (ribs) for most of the match, after they dug in to record a 10th straight victory.
The match threatened to turn on its ear as Melbourne held only a six-point lead when Storm centre Reimis Smith was sin binned in the 67th minute for a high shot on Jaimin Jolliffe that left the Titans prop dazed.
Yet they didn't concede a point during the Titans' 10 minute advantage despite anxious moments.
The Gold Coast's left edge threatened throughout only to be undone by poor options, a trend best summed up when Brian Kelly inexplicably opted not to pass to a wide open Sami and lost the ball over the line in the 70th minute.
Then there was the Titans' last hurrah when impressive debutant Jayden Campbell - son of Gold Coast great Preston - kept the ball alive and Sami burst free again, down the left.
Esan Marsters was waiting on the wing to score but Sami butchered the pass - much to Bellamy's relief.
"I thought we played not real smart but I thought we were really brave in defence especially in the second half," Bellamy said.
"We soaked up a lot of pressure especially when Reimis was in the bin."
Melbourne only completed nine sets compared to Gold Coast's 19 in the second half but hung on to ice their 23rd straight win in their adopted state Queensland.
Due to COVID-19 travel restrictions, the Storm were based on the Sunshine Coast for five months on their way to winning the 2020 title and have again relocated north since the latest outbreak in Victoria with similar results.
Second-placed Melbourne (11-2 record) are now undefeated in their last 11 Origin period games and are 20-3 in the last four years during the interstate series despite losing players to rep duty.
Melbourne did it the hard way on Saturday due to Origin duty and a growing injury list that includes star fullback Ryan Papenhuyzen (concussion).
Bellamy said his back-up players will need to keep stepping up with the interstate series looming and still no return date locked in for Papenhuyzen.
"We are relying on them (back-up players). We do every year but this year it seems we are relying a bit more in that we have a few injuries as well," he said.
"But they have been real brave in the last 10 weeks."
Gold Coast - who were without four players due to Origin duty - fought back after hooker Brandon Smith inspired the Storm's 16-4 halftime lead.
But the Titans (11th; 5-8) still slumped to their sixth loss in eight games.
Six players were placed on report including Gold Coast's Patrick Herbert whose late hit on Bromwich forced him off the field.