A second half hat-trick by speedy back Greg Inglis inspired Melbourne to a 40-18 NRL upset of a listless Penrith at Adelaide's Hindmarsh Stadium on Saturday.

The unfancied Storm made the surprise early running against the heavily favoured Panthers but led only 12-10 at the break.

However Ryan Hoffman scored on 53 minutes and Inglis achieved his electrifying trio in less than 10 minutes, knocking Penrith senseless and giving the Storm its first win over the Panthers in two years in front of an entertained crowd of 7017.

While Inglis was the star of Melbourne's win, the Storm also received good service from Cooper Cronk and Cameron Smith who kicked six goals from eight attempts.

Lee Hookey scored twice in the dying minutes to register a less significant hat-trick for Penrith, but the Panthers did not get their usual drive from a subdued Craig Gower.

Penrith kicked off in its home game to begin Adelaide's first taste of top flight league in eight years, but it was the less fancied Storm that struck the first blow of the night.

Given confidence by completing a set of tackles in possession in the first minute, Melbourne capitalised when it then earned a penalty just forward of the half way line.

Smith's kick found touch 10m from the Penrith try-line and the ball was spread to the opposite corner for Matt King to score inside four minutes.

Melbourne's intensity appeared a surprise to the Panthers, who went further behind when Smith kicked a penalty goal from near the posts.

The situation grew worse for the "home" side on 16 minutes when a series of line-breaks allowed Smith to waltz in for four points, a try he promptly converted for 12-0.

The Panthers needed to stem the flow, an aim they achieved with better defence and a handful of Melbourne errors.

However the Storm still led by 12 on 34 minutes, when the Panthers made a swift run down the outer wing to create an attacking chance.

Their attempt to score on the short side was thwarted, but a series of passes across the field brought Danny Galea in for a game-changing try.

Having regained the momentum, Penrith made sure the Storm would be nervous at the break by closing to within two points right on halftime.

Hookey touched down in the corner and a fine conversion from the acute angle by Preston Campbell left the Panthers with plenty of momentum at the break.

It was not sustained after the interval however, as Melbourne created the best chances and followed them up with a fine try to take its lead to 16-10.

Interchange option Ryan Hoffman was on the end of a super pass by halfback Cronk, which opened up the line and broke Penrith's 10-point run.

Melbourne went further ahead as the game entered its final 20 minutes following a hotly-debated first try to Inglis.

Video referee Phil Cooley ruled there had been no obstruction by Inglis's teammates, a view not shared by Penrith's fans as they fell 22-10 behind.

Inglis's second was also open to question, as Cronk's pass may have been forward, but his third was more clear cut and left the punch-drunk Panthers staring at a 34-10 scoreboard.

Cronk scored his own via the video replay for 40-10, before Hookey ran in twice to allow a skerrick of consolation for Penrith.

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