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Just like they did when they won the premiership in 2012, Melbourne have opened up a six-point lead atop the NRL ladder in June.

The last time an NRL team opened up a six-point lead in June, they ended up lifting the premiership trophy in October.

Six years on and Melbourne are on track to repeat history after surging three wins clear atop the ladder with a two-point win over the Sydney Roosters on Friday.

Losses by the second-placed Roosters, and third-placed South Sydney this week mean the Storm are clear frontrunners heading into the final third of the season.

However, coach Craig Bellamy warned his men against looking too far ahead.

"I don't take too much notice of the table throughout the year," he said.

"Obviously towards the end of the year you do, where you might finish and where you're capable of finishing, I suppose.

"It's certainly a nice spot to be in, but if we start worrying about the table, the table won't do us any favours.

"We've got to worry about our performance and preparation. Usually if you're performing at a high, consistent level, the table looks after itself.

"We're not going to take too much notice of the table at the moment."

Youngster Ryan Papenhuyzen was one of the Storm's best against the Roosters despite being a late call-up for the injured Jahrome Hughes.

The first-choice No.1 succumbed to a back issue on game day that he aggravated playing for New Zealand in representative round last week.

However, Papenhuyzen filled in with aplomb, carrying the ball for a game-high 229 metres to go with four tackle breaks and a crucial try.

Bellamy credited retired champion fullback Billy Slater for the way his successors have played this year, including new North Queensland fullback Scott Drinkwater.

"Our two fullbacks have gone extremely well since Billy retired," Bellamy said.

"I said earlier in the season he can take a lot of credit for that because he does a lot of the coaching with them.

"I see Scotty Drinkwater scored a try tonight there for the Cowboys down in Wollongong. So we're all really happy that he settled in there well.

"Paps was tremendous tonight. I don't know if he's got Josh Addo-Carr pace, but he's got pace. While he's very small, for an NRL player, he's as tough as nails."