High-flying Melbourne have shrugged off the absence of its Origin stars to brush aside the struggling Sydney Roosters 26-2 in their NRL clash at Olympic Park.

The Storm were missing five key men including hooker Cameron Smith and five-eighth Greg Inglis, but still were a class above the Roosters, who haven't managed to win back-to-back matches since the 2005 finals series.

Still, the young Roosters, who were also missing four representative players, showed courage, particularly in the first half when they held the Storm to a 10-2 lead.

Melbourne coach Craig Bellamy was delighted with the performance of his rookies and also his experienced players who he said led by example.

"I really enjoyed the young blokes' performance but more than anything I really enjoyed our senior players who I thought were just outstanding and really led the way," he said.

"Cooper Cronk was absolutely tremendous, among others."

In an arm-wrestle opening half the visitors led 2-0 with 11 minutes remaining after a successful penalty strike by skipper Craig Fitzgibbon, who overcame an ankle injury to play.

But two quick tries in the final minutes, set up by in-form halfback Cronk and scored by Ryan Hoffman and Israel Folau, gave the Storm the break they needed to take complete control of the match.

Second-rower Hoffman has scored six tries this season, which along with NSW centre Matt King is the second highest in the club behind winger Folau, whose try boosted his tally to an NRL high of 11.

The Storm then added a further three tries in the second half, the fifth and final scored by sparkling fullback Billy Slater, who was unlucky to miss Queensland Origin selection.

Slater also matched his first-rate attack with some solid defence, putting a bone-crunching hit on Roosters winger John Williams midway through the opening half that sent him flying over the sideline.

Despite the scoreline, Roosters coach Chris Anderson was also happy with his side's performance, with teenage halfback Mitchell Pearce among the visitors' best.

"I was pleased with 90 per cent of it, I thought it was a great effort and we competed really well," he said.

"We created plenty of opportunities we just didn't take them when we lost some composure and team-work."

He said his men let themselves down late in the first half when their defence cracked.

"I don't think they looked any better than us, they just came up with those two tries and that's the difference to being on top of the table and bottom."

The Storm could be sole leaders of the competition should Manly lose to the Broncos on Monday night.

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