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Melbourne have consolidated their spot in the NRL's top two and dealt South Sydney's top-four prospects a blow with a bruising 22-16 comeback win.
Melbourne have dealt South Sydney's NRL top-four prospects a telling blow with a gritty 22-16 comeback victory in a torrid, finals-like clash at ANZ Stadium.
The Storm bagged the only two tries of the second half in driving rain to snap the Rabbitohs' five-game winning streak in typically clinical fashion.
Five players required head injury assessments as two of the competition heavyweights clashed for the full 80 minutes on Friday night.
But, as is so often the case, it was the Storm's trump cards who stole it.
With rumours continuing to swirl that Cameron Smith is set to call time on his decorated career, a flat pass from the Melbourne's skipper for powerhouse lock Tino Faasuamaleaui tied the game up on the hour.
Smith then teamed with Ryan Papenhuyzen to set up the match-winning try for Cameron Munster.
"We didn't get off to a great start. They were all over us early," Storm coach Craig Bellamy said.
"So to steady the game, it was a good effort. Basically the second half I was really happy with the way we got right back into the game.
"We weren't over-enthusiastic to win the game. We were patient."
Despite the loss, Wayne Bennett remains convinced the seventh-placed Rabbitohs aren't far off the pace in the title race.
"We didn't have to learn any lessons from Melbourne; we had to learn a lesson about ourselves," Souths' coach said.
"The opposition tonight for us was South Sydney, the amount of mistakes we're making."
The bruising win kept Melbourne in the fight for another minor premiership, although Penrith remain frontrunners sitting three points clear of the Storm with three regular rounds remaining.
There's still concerns for the Storm, though, with prop Christian Welch placed on report for a crusher tackle on Souths forward Liam Knight.
Fellow representative forward Felise Kaufusi is also likely to come under scrutiny from the match review committee for a suspect first-half behind-the-play bump that left Souths halfback Adam Reynolds needing a HIA.
The Rabbitohs opened the scoring in the 21st minute when Melbourne winger Isaac Lumelume misjudged a Cody Walker grubber kick into his in-goal, allowing Campbell Graham to pounce.
Reynolds' conversion, adding to his fifth-minute penalty goal, gave the Rabbitohs an 8-0 lead.
The Storm wasted little time cutting the deficit to two points, Josh Addo-Carr burning Steven Marsters on the outside to put Papenhuyzen over in the 27th minute and Smith added the extras from the sideline.
Some direct running from Walker restored the Rabbitohs' eight-point buffer three minutes before the break, only for Papenhuyzen's lightning speed to leave Marsters wanting again and setting up Justin Olam for the Storm's second try in the shadows of halftime.
The Rabbitohs' coach killer kept Melbourne within striking distance and, as ever, that proved enough for Craig Bellamy's ruthless outfit to collect another all-important two premiership points.
