STORM 20
COWBOYS 8
DRAGONS 25
PANTHERS 6
Melbourne marched back into the NRL winner's circle with a clinical win over North Queensland last night, continuing the visitors' misery at Olympic Park.
The Cowboys haven't won in Melbourne in seven attempts.
They had plenty of opportunities last night - blowing at least three try-scoring chances in the first half alone to trail 10-4 at the break.
While the Storm's defence was rock solid, North Queensland's attack was too often let down by wayward passes and handling errors.
Melbourne, on the other hand, made their plays count as they bounced back from their loss to ladder leaders St George Illawarra.
The result meant the Storm maintained their position in the top four while the Cowboys remained in a three-way tie with the Knights and the Sea Eagles in sixth spot.
Billy Slater, celebrating his 150th game with the Storm - a milestone shared with lock Dallas Johnson - got through a mountain of work in defence and was also mostly responsible for two of the team's four tries.
In last night's other big match, in Penrith, Jeremy Smith scored two tries in his first game for over three months and Jamie Soward became the first man in the NRL this season to score 200 points as St George Illawarra downed the hosts.
The Dragons' seventh straight win tightened their vice-like grip on the minor premiership and ensured they maintain at least a four-point lead over their closest rivals with four rounds left.
Playing their 1000th competitive game, the Panthers trailed for most of the match against a Dragons outfit that defended well and took some chances in attack but did not play at their best.
Smith, who had been sidelined since round eight with foot and ankle injuries, scored in the closing minutes of each half. Five-eighth Soward scored a try, four conversions and a field goal.
Penrith threatened to launch a full scale comeback from a 12-0 halftime deficit. A converted try to Luke Lewis within three minutes cut the deficit to six points. Lewis, who had missed the previous eight games with a broken toe, touched down again five minutes later when he pounced on the loose ball.
However, video referee Steve Clark ruled Panthers back Maurice Blair had knocked on after contesting a Wade Graham bomb with Brett Morris.
A Ben Creagh try in the fifth minute and Smith's in the 36th had set up the Dragons' halftime buffer.
Melbourne: C. Cronk B. Finch J. Tomane S. Turner tries C. Smith 2 goals
North Queensland: W. Tonga 2 tries
St George Illawarra: J. Smith 2 B. Creagh J. Soward tries Soward 4 goals 1 field goal
Penrith: L. Lewis try M. Gordon goal