The Melbourne Storm put the skids on Canberra's red-hot National Rugby League season with an impressive 30-10 win at Olympic Park.

Top-of-the-table Canberra had won its first seven NRL matches but never looked likely in a mistake-riddled performance.

Countless handling errors cost the Raiders dearly, as did a heavy penalty count against them - particularly in the first half.

But for the second week running, it was the Storm's defence which laid the platform for victory.

At times it bordered on brutal, forcing the Raiders into error after error and left them dead on their feet by match's end.

"We highlighted where they were dangerous during the week," Storm skipper Stephen Kearney said.

"They've built their wins on good go-forward from their front-rowers and dummy half and we really had to try to stop that as much as possible.

"Everyone defended really well tonight and that paved the way.

"We worked hard on identifying their strengths and did our best to nullify them."

None tackled harder or more often than teenage hooker Cameron Smith, who along with Kearney and prop Robbie Kearns tackled themselves to a standstill.

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