The Melbourne Storm were too good to win 26-16 at Sunshine Coast Stadium on Thursday night, bringing up their 18^th straight victory in the process - the second longest winning streak in NRL history and just one behind the 1975 Sydney Roosters.

Canberra had their chances to beat the reigning premiers, but second-half errors - and an 11-minute defensive lapse in the first - proved costly.

The Raiders will remain in the top eight, but will drop out regardless of who wins Sunday's clash between Newcastle and Cronulla - with the winner of that game taking their spot.

Their performance showed enough to suggest they could jump back in there over the closing rounds, which would be a massive boost for the city just beginning a seven-day lockdown.

They face tough games against the Manly Sea Eagles and the Roosters over the final three rounds, potentially needing to win one of those to make the eight.

The Raiders will be anxiously awaiting the match review committee's report on Friday, after forward Corey Harawira-Naera was sent off for a high shot on Storm halfback Jahrome Hughes.

Harawira-Naera was reportedly devastated and very emotional in the sheds after his mistake.

Whether the Raiders will be able to recall either Ryan James or Corey Horsburgh, who have been loaned to Canterbury for two games, or will bring in Dunamis Lui to cover Harawira-Naera's likely suspension.

Raiders hooker Josh Hodgson was also put on report for a high tackle on Hughes.

Canberra co-captain Jarrod Croker will have to go through concussion protocols throughout the week, as will Storm lock Dale Finucane, after he didn't come back from a head clash with Dean Ieremia.

His absence forced the versatile Elliott Whitehead to play most of the game at left centre.

But in a positive for the Green Machine, star five-eighth Jack Wighton produced a strong game with three try assists to set up all of Bailey Simonsson's hat-trick.

Simonsson, returning from a toe injury, scored the opener from a Wighton cut-out pass - the same way he scored his second.

But the Storm produced a dominant 11 minutes to score three tries and take total control of the game.

Melbourne hooker Brandon Smith darted out of dummy half to score from close range, winger Dean Ieremia finished off the overlap to score from inside his own half and then Chris Lewis waltzed through the middle of the Raiders' line off the back of a Cameron Munster offload to make it 20-4 at the break.

But when Simonsson scored his second and third tries - the third coming after the Storm failed to deal with a Sam Williams bomb - the Raiders were back in it, only for errors to prove costly - like failing to find touch from a penalty.

Storm centre Reimis Smith almost scored a try as Simonsson tried to shepherd the ball dead in-goal, with his put down just touching the dead-ball line.

AT A GLANCE

MELBOURNE STORM 26 (Brandon Smith, Dean Ieremia, Chris Lewis tries; Nicho Hynes 4, Ryan Papenhuyzen 3 goals) bt CANBERRA RAIDERS 16 (Bailey Simonsson 3 tries; Sam Williams 2 goals) at Sunshine Coast Stadium. Referee: Gerard Sutton.