Two tries by recruit Dimitri Pelo helped Canberra to a 27-18 victory over Melbourne in their opening NRL trial at Albury’s Lavington Oval on Saturday.

A late try to the Storm’s Ryan Hoffman brought Melbourne back to within a converted try in the final 30-minute third after trailing for the entire match.

But Pelo put the result beyond doubt with five minutes to go, crashing over the line to seal the win in front of a bumper crowd of 6583.

Melbourne had been on the hunt for a second NRL trial win on the trot, but were at a disadvantage early with star trio Cameron Smith, Billy Slater and Cooper Cronk out through either injury or by being rested.

The Raiders came out firing and took the ascendancy early, scoring five minutes in when Bronson Harrison set up Reece Robinson on the wing.

Recruit Shaun Berrigan, playing in the centres, then defied his veteran status, evading at least three Storm players and crashing over the line to give the Raiders a 13-0 lead at the first 30-minute break.

In the second, the Storm clawed back the lead by making the most of the Raiders’ mistakes, with lock Todd Lowrie getting Melbourne on the board after diving on a deflected grubber.

Moments later, a smiling Josh Dugan made penance and took himself off the field after flicking a pass back into the field of play that was seized by Matt McGahan.

Pelo then scored his first seconds before the final break, after taking another flick pass from Harrison.

Acting Storm coach Kevin Walters said his men disadvantaged themselves by allowing Canberra to get away in the first third of the game.

“And we let ourselves down with our ball handling, which is probably normal this time of year, but we’re down probably just a little bit,” he told AAP.

“But there are good things to take out of the game too.”

Slater, Cronk and Smith can all expect to play in next Saturday’s trial against Brisbane in Hobart.

Raiders coach David Furner was impressed with his squad’s efforts over the full 90 minutes, particularly their defence.

“We have been working hard defensively and I thought our first 60 minutes was fairly strong,” he said. “Plus we got a few tries in that final 30.

“What I am seeing is the hard work the boys have been putting in.”

Raiders fans can breathe a sigh of relief, with Terry Campese finishing off a solid game and, most importantly, without injury.

“I asked him to be controlled and I think he did that.

“Although he didn’t show it, I would say he would have been very nervous.”

The Raiders meet the Storm again in round one on March 3.