There's no place like home for Melbourne Storm.

Playing its first NRL match of the year at Olympic Park after a long haul on the road, the Storm stunned an Andrew Johns-less Newcastle 52-6.

It posted nine tries to one, with the only dampener on the celebrations a knee injury to young sensation Greg Inglis, who limped off early in the second half.

But that was after the 19-year-old had posted two first half tries to bring his try-scoring tally for the season to eight, after last week's hat-trick in Melbourne's win over Penrith.

Playing fullback in the absence of suspended Billy Slater, Inglis grabbed his first when he slipped through a hole in the Knights' defence in the opening minute of the match.

The second came 10 minutes before the break when Inglis showed blistering pace to race 55 metres to touch down.

Storm officials were confident his injury wasn't serious, although he was on crutches after the match.

But what was serious was how lame Newcastle was without inspirational leader Johns.

His replacement, 19-year-old Jarrod Mullen, played well and had obviously learned from the master as he put a beautifully weighted ball into the in-goal which was pounced on by Kurt Gidley for the Knights' only try.

But that was as good as it got without the world's best No.7 calling the shots.

Johns was never named in the line-up after suffering an ankle ligament injury but the Storm believed a half-fit Johns was better than none at all and he would play.

It was wrong, although after the showing the Knights probably wish he had.

Melbourne raced to a 24-6 halftime lead, with winger Steve Turner also collecting a double.

The second half haul was shared among David Kidwell, Jake Webster, Matt King and Antonio Kaufusi and Matt Geyer.

Lining up against NSW skipper Danny Buderus, hooker Cameron Smith put his hand up for Queensland representative duties with a busy performance around the park as well as eight goals.

New recruit Michael Crocker, who played five-eighth in the absence of the suspended Scott Hill, was another stand-out for the home side.

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