Superstar Billy Slater lived up to his billing as he steered Melbourne to a 26-6 win over Penrith in their NRL clash at AAMI Park.

The Test fullback showed his full array of talents in a man-of-the-match performance.

While Melbourne's display was far from perfect, it was still 10 out of 10 - the side chalking up their 10th victory in succession to maintain a four-point buffer at the top of the NRL table.

Slater pulled off three try-saving tackles in the opening five minutes and then set up the win with a trademark leap for a high kick before spinning and beating the defence to dive across the line.

That converted try gave Melbourne a 20-6 lead in the 64th minute which the visitors had no chance of pegging back.

But Slater wasn't finished, 10 minutes later putting a clever kick through for second rower Kevin Proctor to also score.

While the home side dominated the second stanza, the first half honours went to the Panthers, who ensured another slow start for Melbourne, after trailing last round 18-0 against the Eels.

The Storm didn't hit the front until the 46th minute through a penalty kick by their skipper Cameron Smith for an 8-6 lead.

The Panthers, who were desperate to break into the top eight with the finals beckoning, said they would treat this game like a grand final.

And they started with plenty of purpose.

Penrith's Adrian Purtell gave his side the lead in the sixth minute as the visitors sent the ball wide, with the centre scoring in the corner.

Seven minutes later, the home side crossed the tryline through Ryan Hinchcliffe after halfback Cooper Cronk drew the defence.

Penrith was unable to take advantage of four repeat sets to add to their tally and then rain started to fall late in the half, with errors creeping into both sides' games.

The Panthers couldn't maintain the rage in the second half as the Storm, thanks to Slater, woke from their slumber.

After Smith's penalty to break the deadlock, a bustling Sika Manu broke through the defence to crash over for a 14-6 lead which also seemed to break the Penrith spirit.

And it was all Storm from then.

Penrith coach Steve Georgallis lamented his side's second half error count.

"We made too many errors and gave away too many penalties and they punished us for them," he said.

But the caretaker coach, who is set to take on an assistant role with Wests Tigers next season, wasn't waving the white flag for the season.

"We have to win four from four and hope the results go our way," he said, with his team down to 10th after Canterbury's win over North Queensland on Friday night.

"We've got two home games coming up against the Tigers and Warriors so there's still hope."

Storm coach Craig Bellamy wasn't bothered by his team's sluggish start, and attributed it to the Panthers.

"I thought their attack in that first 10 minutes was outstanding. They threw a lot at us," he said.

"We steadied and I thought some of our defence at the end of that first half was outstanding. They had four or five (sets) in a row.

"Going in at halftime 6-6 was a reasonable effort."

But the master tactician was delighted with the way his team came home.

"The second half, we came out and played exactly how we planned to play so I was really happy.

"Our control was really good and we played a real Storm second half."

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