NRL bad boy nabs stunning five-year first in Storm win

Sandor Earl has marked his second coming in the NRL after marking a 2,164-day first in the Storm's win over the Titans on Sunday.

Earl was infamously banned for four years after being found guilty of using and trafficking illicit drugs.

The former Canberra Raiders player last scored a try in the NRL during round 23 in 2013.

However, he ended a wait that stretches almost six years after crossing for an easy try for the Storm on Sunday afternoon.

Melbourne fullback Jahrome Hughes floated a superb cut-out pass that found Earl alone on the wing and able to complete a neatly worked try.

“Sandor Earl welcome back to the tryscorer’s list in the NRL,” said Warren Smith in Fox League commentary.

“What a celebration it is, and why not? The best part of six long years between tries.”

Danny Buderus added: “Congratulations, Sandor!

“So good to see the big style on his face and the celebrations of his teammates. They all ride it with him.”

Fans were equally as happy to see Earl's stunning career turnaround.

Earl's try helped Melbourne make it nine wins in a row as the ladder leaders consigned the Gold Coast to more misery on Sunday.

The Storm maintained their three-game buffer at the top of the table with a comeback 38-18 win at Cbus Super Stadium as Cameron Smith iced the contest with his first try since round 12 last year.

It was the last-placed Titans' fourth straight loss and fifth consecutive home defeat and comes after last Sunday's sacking of head coach Garth Brennan.

Ten tries were scored in all, with Gold Coast's edge defence looking particularly flimsy against a Storm backline that was slick enough despite missing its smattering of State of Origin talent.

With assistant Craig Hodges thrust into the hot seat, the Titans would have thought their luck had turned when 401-gamer Smith's first touch of the ball gifted them first points after just two minutes.

The Storm hooker's pass found the grass, with Brenko Lee swooping to run 45m untouched to score.

Nathan Peats was denied what appeared a try on review three minutes later, with officials ruling there was a hand under the ball.

That only allowed the Gold Coast to improve their position though, when Jarrod Wallace barged through the middle and the Titans led 12-0.

The Storm scored twice from their first four sets though and soon hit the lead through Earl's four-pointer.

Uncharacteristic Melbourne errors gave Gold Coast a sniff, with Bryce Cartwright running on to a Tyrone Roberts grubber to give the hosts a 18-16 lead approaching the break.

It was business as usual in the second half though as Ryan Papenhuyzen finished another clean break and Smith exploited more vulnerable left edge defence soon after.

Brodie Croft pulled the strings for the Storm, having a hand in three tries, while Titans hooker Peats made 49 tackles.

Suliasi Vunivalu scored a double but was placed on report after tackling Phillip Sami in the air, while Gold Coast fullback AJ Brimson left the field with a suspected hip injury stemming from heavy contact in a tackle.

With AAP