Coach Nathan Brown described Ryles' send-off by referee Gavin Badger as "hasty", as an undermanned Dragons team surrendered to premiers Melbourne at Olympic Park last night.

With tensions boiling over in the first half, Ryles was dismissed by Badger in the 26th minute for kicking out at Melbourne's Jeff Lima as a scrum packed down.

The Storm used their numerical advantage to score three tries in eight minutes after the break against a tiring Dragons defence, winning 26-0.

Ryles said he retaliated at a kick to the shin by Lima and was amazed he was sent off over the incident.

"I couldn't believe it," Ryles said.

"I'm not really cranky, I just couldn't believe I was being sent off for something like that. It happens in scrums all the time.

"It just spoiled a good game for footy, it was just two teams who were out there to have a crack at each other."

When asked if he expected Ryles to come under further scrutiny by the NRL judiciary, Brown said he thought Ryles had "already served his penalty".

Badger's decision to give Ryles his marching orders came at the height of a fierce first-half battle which also saw a flurry of fists erupt between Melbourne superstar Billy Slater and St George Illawarra winger Jason Nightingale.

The melee started when Nightingale took exception from a tackle by Melbourne hardman Michael Crocker and halfback Cooper Cronk on Dragons five-eighth Jamie Soward.

The push and shove involving both groups ignited as Slater raced in to the stand-off, before swinging several shots at Nightingale, only for the Kiwi international to return the favour.

As a result of the heated incident, Slater and Storm prop Adam Blair, who was also involved in the on-field fracas, were sin-binned, while Soward was given 10 minutes for his role.

But the drama didn't end there, with Ryles being sensationally sent off four minutes later for kicking at Lima's leg.

Replays suggested Lima stood on Ryles foot, which the France-bound Dragons prop reacted to by kicking back at Lima's foot.

With the scrum packed down, Lima attempted to strike back with his leg before Ryles retaliated and was sent from the field as a result.

A grade one kicking offence draws a two-match ban at the NRL.

The bad blood continued in the second half, when replacement second-rower Jeremy Smith - who will join St George Illawarra next season - threw the ball at Justin Poore, who made a late challenge as Smith grounded the ball for the Storm's third try.

That was also the moment when the floodgates opened for the Storm.

Leading 10-0 at half-time, the undermanned St George Illawarra held on grimly as the rampaging Storm surged forward.

But after Smith scored in the 58th minute, winger Steve Turner crossed two minutes later, completing a superb break from centre Israel Folau.

Veteran Matt Geyer continued the Storm onslaught in the 66th minute, beating a desperate challenge from Soward to further blow out the scoreline against the tiring Dragons defence.

STORM 26 (I Folau, J Lima, J Smith, S Turner, M Geyer tries; C Smith 3 goals) bt DRAGONS 0 at Olympic Park. Crowd: 9335.