While Origin selection nerves got the better of some, Melbourne halfback Cooper Cronk played like he had nothing to lose as he led the Storm to a 38-14 NRL win over the Bulldogs at Olympic Park.

And unfortunately for Brisbane junior Cronk, he really didn't have anything to lose with Cowboys No.7 and Test incumbent Johnathan Thurston a certainty to be named in the Queensland side.

But if Cronk had been born and raised south of the border he would have been a shoo-in for NSW on the back of his performance.

He scored two tries, set up three others and his kicking game was integral to the impressive win as the Storm bounced back from last week's shock loss to the Wests Tigers, their one and only defeat of the season.

The only thing that took the gloss off the night was lock Dallas Johnson, a Queensland selection certainty, being placed on report in the 28th minute for a high shot on opposite number Reni Maitua that left him with a bloody nose.

After an early try to Bulldogs centre Daryl Millard, Cronk stamped his mark on the game with some individual brilliance as he dummied and then scooted to the tryline, shrugging off would-be tacklers Sonny Bill Williams and Corey Hughes.

Referee Steve Clark went to the video referee, Bill Harrigan, concerned he may have impeded Bulldogs fullback Luke Patten in making a tackle but Harrigan gave it the green light.

Maroons incumbent hooker Cameron Smith, on target with seven from seven for the night, added the conversion for a 6-4 lead.

Bulldogs winger Hazem El Masri, in the running for a NSW wing spot, cruelled his chances with two uncharacteristic missed conversions and a knock-on.

He did score the Bulldogs' second try of the night, in the 13th minute, which temporarily put his side back in the lead.

But for the remainder of the first half the visitors had little to cheer about, with NSW certainty centre Matt King and Blues hopeful Ryan Hoffman both touching down before Cronk scrambled over from dummy half a minute before the break for the Storm to lead 24-8.

The Bulldogs got the first points of the second stanza as the ball passed through nine sets of hands before Maitua got across the line.

But Cronk again took control with a perfectly-weighted cross-field bomb into the in-goal, which King leapt high for to again extend the lead.

With five minutes left on the clock, he repeated that feat, replacement winger Israel Folau the beneficiary as he out-leapt El Masri to take the ball.

As expected injured duo Willie Mason (calf) and Mick Crocker (shoulder) didn't turn out for their sides, although Bulldog Mason remains a NSW Origin definite and Crocker a strong chance for the Maroons.

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