Imposing centre Jamal Idris scored a try and set up two more to help Canterbury pip Melbourne 20-18 in their NRL match on Saturday night.

The Bulldogs posted their third consecutive win before 10,350 spectators at Adelaide Oval to continue their push up the ladder.

Idris was influential in the Bulldogs' sixth win of the season in a nominal home game in the South Australian capital.

The 20-year-old created and delivered during a damaging display which consigned Melbourne to their second loss in a row.

The Storm struck first when Brett Finch snuck around Bulldogs fullback Luke Patten in the 12th minute for an opportunistic try.

Finch's desperate dive was on target as Patten drifted over and past a chase from a Cooper Cronk kick.

The Bulldogs responded rapidly, thanks to runs of intent from Idris, who gained turf for his side in a phase which led to a try to Bryson Goodwin.

But Melbourne fullback Billy Slater, who was creative and prominent throughout, hit back four minutes later when he pounced on another Cronk through kick for a try.

Idris' imprint on proceedings magnified when he ran with the flight of a floated Brett Kimmorley kick, leapt and surely grabbed a high ball for a spectacular try.

That squared scores at 12 all and Idris again was influential, but this time costly for his club, when the 20-year-old was penalised for illegal holding as teammate Tim Winitana crossed for a disallowed try.

The Bulldogs opened strongly in the second half, twice trapping Slater in his in zone during a period of sustained pressure.

The Storm eventually cracked, with Idris again the catalyst by setting up a Shane Neumann try.

Idris crashed through two tacklers and flicked overhanded to Neumann, who was in rare wide space and crossed in comfort.

The Bulldogs' six point lead was then challenged as the Storm launched their own attacking raids, which ultimately returned nothing against Canterbury's stingy defence withstood.

Melbourne were repeatedly held up within sight of scoring, with Patten paying the price in the 67th minute.

Patten courageously launched at Matt Duffie as he eyed a try scoring dive, and succeeded in knocking the Melburnian out of play, and knocking himself out.

Patten did not return but his team soon increased their lead when Goodwin converted an offside penalty in the 72nd minute to give the Bulldogs a 20-12 advantage.

However Melbourne reduced the deficit four minutes later when Sika Manu scored, with Cameron Smith converting to creep within two points.

Bulldogs coach Kevin Moore was rapt with the win, but attempted to keep the third triumph in a row in perspective.

"When all is said and done, it's still only three (wins) of our last nine so we are not going to get carried away," Moore said.

"I am really confident that our best footy is ahead of us."

Moore praised Idris and a defensive cohesion which was crucial to hanging on late in the match.

"We had to do a lot of work defensively," he said.

"They are a great side, the Storm, they are going through a difficult situation at the moment but they turned up to play, they had all their stars there.

"The spirit in our side, particularly defensively, in the last two or three weeks, is starting to build."

Melbourne captain Cameron Smith lamented basic skill errors, but said the Storm's desire could not be questioned.

"The thing that let us down in the end was our execution, not our effort," he said.

"We were going against a side that was playing for their season - we didn't have anything to play for, and we got beaten by two points.

"It shows that we are all putting in plenty of effort."

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