Melbourne Storm star Cooper Cronk could be in doubt for State of Origin II after injuring his knee in a 20-0 win at Penrith on Saturday.

The Queensland halfback went off with a suspected meniscus tear with 20 minutes to play, souring the Storm’s easy victory.

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Cronk returned briefly after going off for the first time but did not last long.

And while the injury is only said to be minor, it will still see him face a race against time to be fit for the second Origin clash – to be played in Melbourne on June 17.

Melbourne were without another Queensland star, fullback Billy Slater, as he was rested due to a niggling shoulder injury.

But Cameron Munster, deputising for Slater, starred, scoring an excellent solo try. Blake Green added a double for the victors.

Elsewhere, South Sydney moved into the top four with a 36-4 thrashing of the New Zealand Warriors in Perth, their third win in a row.

Bryson Goodwin’s early try got the Rabbitohs going and Jacob Lillyman fumbled a golden chance to respond for the Warriors.

Manu Vatuvei crossed for New Zealand’s first score but after Simon Mannering went off under the concussion rule, South Sydney stepped up, as further tries to Chris Grevsmuhl and Tim Grant gave them a 22-4 lead at the break.

Dylan Walker, who finished with two tries, set up Tom Burgess and Alex Johnston for scores before crossing to complete his double and give South Sydney an excellent win in front of 20,272 fans.

And Canberra five-eighth Blake Austin scored two tries and set up another in the Raiders’ 44-22 road win over the Newcastle Knights.

Outspoken Canberra coach Ricky Stuart hailed Austin’s State of Origin credentials after the win, in which the Raiders led 18-0 after 21 minutes.

Akuila Uate and Joey Leilua hit back with tries for the Knights, but Josh Papalii’s score on the stroke of half-time robbed them of momentum, before Austin took over after the break.

The loss was Newcastle’s eighth in their last nine matches.