The Bulldogs have snapped a five-match losing streak against the Melbourne Storm and announced themselves as NRL title contenders with an emphatic 26-10 victory at Bluetongue Stadium in Gosford on Saturday night.

The four-tries-to-two win for the 'Dogs was made all the more impressive by the fact they did it without star halfback Brett Kimmorley, who was forced from the field early with a cork.

The 'Dogs reaped the dividends from their willingness to chance their arm and scored tries though Andrew Ryan, Bryson Goodwin, Daryl Millard and Gary Warburton, while Will Chambers scored a double for the Storm in the second-half.

Hazem El Masri had another perfect night with the boot, landing five from five.

Blues Origin hopeful Michael Ennis set up a try for Warburton in the 69th minute to push his claims for the Blues No.9 jersey in front of onlooking coach Craig Bellamy.

Daniel Holdsworth, who started ahead of Ben Roberts at five-eighth, led the Bulldogs around the park brilliantly as they bounced back with a vengeance from last week's controversial loss to St George Illawarra.

The Bulldogs went into half-time with a 14-0 advantage but the Storm came out from the break with more intensity and Chambers got them on the board in the 51st minute.

But the Bulldogs weren't going to lie down or let the Storm wrest the momentum from them and replied with a brilliant try through Daryl Millard, who scooped up the ball that was kept alive by Goodwin.

Ennis put through a grubber 10 metres out in the 69th minute which rebounded off Brett Finch into the waiting arms of Warburton.

A second try to Storm centre Chambers in the 72nd minute proved too little too late.

Ben Hannant showed his versatility and skill when he put captain Ryan though a gap between Cooper Cronk and Will Chambers in the 18th minute to open the scoring.

Storm halfback Cronk was sin binned in the 33rd minute for taking down Goodwin before he received the ball as Daniel Holdsworth pounced on what appeared to be a legitimate play but was denied a try by the video referee for a knock on.

Goodwin made no mistake from the ensuing penalty when he crossed in the corner to make it 12-0.

Bulldogs coach Kevin Moore praised his side's determination and professionalism to press on without Kimmorley.

"It was an outstanding performance ... certainly when you lose your key playmaker early on, it was a bit of a loss for us," Moore said.

"I thought individually right across the board everyone was really switched on with their intensity and commitment.

"We didn't just try to grind it out and bash a win out, we were committed physically but we also played some really good footy and I thought we played smart. It was terrific."

Storm coach Craig Bellamy was disappointed his side had more than 20 points put on them for the first time this year.

"I was going to say they (Bulldogs) were one step ahead of us in everything, but they were probably two steps ahead in attack and defence," Bellamy said.

"They made us look like a really slow outfit out there. They were a mile too good for us tonight. No excuses."

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