Flying fullback Billy Slater got Melbourne Storm's NRL premiership defence off to the perfect start, scoring a first-half hat-trick in the 32-18 victory over the NZ Warriors at Telstra Dome.

After crossing three times in the opening half-hour, Slater moved to outright second on the Storm's all-time try-scorers list with 73, behind only the club's sole remaining foundation player Matt Geyer (105).

Both sides suffered major injury setbacks in the opening half.

Melbourne second-rower Ryan Hoffman went off with a rib injury in the 17th minute.

Three minutes later the Warriors received a huge blow when skipper Steve Price departed with what appeared to be a serious hamstring tear.

Melbourne could also come under scrutiny from the NRL after twice appearing late on the playing arena.

Tries to Jerome Ropati and Manu Vatuvei and some good goalkicking from five-eighth Michael Witt meant the visitors trailed only 16-12 at the end of a first half dominated by Slater, who could not have made a better start in his bid to reclaim the Queensland No.1 jersey.

Slater was on the receiving end of a late hit from Epalahame Lauaki late in the first half, although referee Ben Cummins did no more than give the Warriors replacement forward a stern lecture.

The Storm were able to extend their advantage after the interval in front of an encouraging home crowd of 20,084, more than could be accommodated at their regular home venue of Olympic Park.

Lock Dallas Johnson reacted quickest to touch down after Vatuvei fumbled a Smith bomb in the 51st minute.

The Melbourne skipper slotted two penalty goals midway through the half to put the match out of the Warriors' reach.

Melbourne centre Israel Folau showed why the Storm and Brisbane are currently engaged in a megabucks battle for his signature with a spectacular midfield run in the 71st minute.

Folau then timed his pass perfectly for Sam Tagataese to score his second try for the club.

Vatuvei rounded off the scoring with his second try for the Warriors in the dying minutes.

Storm coach Craig Bellamy said he was unaware that Melbourne had twice been late onto the ground.

"Usually there's someone in there screaming 'hey, get out boys, let's go' if we're late and I didn't hear any of that tonight," he said.

"No-one was screaming anyway."

His Warriors counterpart Ivan Cleary refused to bite, saying it could be construed as "a bit of respect" to his team.

After his three-try performance tonight, Bellamy said Slater would get his vote as the top fullback in the NRL.

"I don't want to be disrespectful to any other fullbacks because we are in a situation at the moment where we've got so many good fullbacks in this competition," he said.

"But I wouldn't swap him for anybody else."

Folau will tell the Storm on Tuesday where he intends to play his football in 2009 and beyond.

Bellamy said that Folau had yet to inform him of his decision but he was happy with the star teenager's performance.

"That's probably his best game of the year," said Bellamy.

"It has been weighing on him the three games we've played - the Manly trial and the two in England.

"It probably hasn't been the Izzy that we've come to know and love.

"I thought he was back tonight."

The brutal heat took a toll on the two teams, with Smith and Johnson both finishing the match on the Melbourne bench suffering from cramp.

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