St George-Illawarra have shown off their NRL premiership credentials with a 26-12 victory over the Melbourne Storm at WIN Jubilee Oval on Friday night.

The Dragons excelled in their biggest test of the season so far and scored five tries to two to trump bogey side Melbourne in front of 16,474 vocal red-and-white fans.

Wendell Sailor picked up a double, while Brett Morris, Beau Scott and Jon Green also picked up tries.

Brett Finch and Greg Inglis each picked up first half tries within three minutes of each other.

The enthralling match was evenly poised for the first 40 minutes but the Dragons showed their class and creativity when they piled on three second half tries, and kept the fourth-placed Storm scoreless.

The Dragons, who trailed 12-8 at halftime, took the lead straight after the break when playmaker Jamie Soward sent a crafty kick into centre field to find a waiting Beau Scott in the 44th minute.

The ladder leaders looked to have given up their advantage almost immediately when a Finch kick bounced luckily for the Storm and Joseph Tomane pounced and headed for the tryline.

But video referee Bill Harrigan decided Tomane's efforts fell short, ruling his left elbow hit the chalk at the same time the ball was touched down near the post.

The lucky escape for the Dragons fuelled the home-side's hunger and their energy lifted.

Morris's hard running and ability to shake off tacklers spurred on the loyal crowd and Sailor's second try in the 61st minute fuelled the euphoria.

The big winger can thank his brilliant five-eighth Soward for the perfect ball which landed on his chest with super timing.

Storm winger Steve Turner took it upon himself to spark the visitors' attack, breaking free and streaking away down field from 70 metres out.

He looked to be home and hosed but a spectacular chasing effort from Dragons second rower Ben Creagh topped off with a desperate from-behind tackle pulled him up just short.

Boisterous renditions of 'When the Saints Go Marching In' rang out in the 70th minute when a try to replacement Jon Green put the Dragons out by more than two-converted tries.

The Storm suffered an early setback when second rower Sika Manu was stretched from the field with a suspected broken ankle, an injury which would likely end his season.

Soward was placed on report for using his legs in a last gasp defensive effort when he trying to stop a storming Inglis heading for the tryline.

Dragons coach Wayne Bennett said he was sure his five-eighth would have no case to answer at the judiciary as his actions were not malicious and just a result of being off balance.

"We had a bad five minutes and gave up two easy tries," Bennett said.

"There were lots of pleasing things from our point of view, we played a pretty good second half."

Storm captain Cameron Smith praised his side's first-half performance in the hard fought match.

"I thought the effort was tremendous by our blokes and really I think we played some of the best footy we've had all season," he said.

"Playing teams like St George, you can't afford to give them a break."

After the match it was confirmed that Manu had broken his leg in two places.

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