A Cameron Smith first half masterclass was the difference as the Storm eventually prevailed 26-12 after leading at 18-2 at halftime.

With Smith the conductor, Melbourne dominated the opening 40 minutes, jumping out to an 18-0 lead before surviving a spirited Knights comeback in the second half.

The Knights paid the price for a lack-lustre first half performance and were punished for several uncharacteristic errors.

But to their credit, they came back hard after the break with prop Daniel Saifiti and five-eighth Kurt Mann prominent. But some crucial calls didn't go their way down the stretch and the Storm finished the stronger.

The Knights were on their heels and under the pump from the opening whistle against a surging Storm side.

Storm halfback Ryley Jacks got his side on the board after three minutes, pouncing on an infield speculator from Josh Addo-Carr after Cameron Munster had run the ball on the last.

Jacks took advantage of a complete lack of urgency from Knights lock Herman Ese'ese, who was seemingly jogging back to clean up before being embarrassed.

The Knights weathered the storm with some great on-line defence soon after to deny Melbourne after three consecutive sets but the toll would eventually tell.

After Kalyn Ponga was denied a try by his opposite Ryan Papenhuyzen with a great front-on tackle right on his own line midway through the half, the Storm stretched their lead to 12-0 through winger Suli Vunivalu following some great vision from Smith close to Newcastle's line.

As the errors escalated for the Knights, the constant pressure again told with Smith again providing the perfect pass from dummy half for replacement forward Tino Faasuamaleaui to cross for his first NRL try.

The Knights finally got on the board after the halftime siren with Ponga kicking a penalty goal for an 18-2 scoreline.

The Knights had some chances early in the second half to get back into the game, none better than when Ponga ignored a two man over lap on his right to go himself and take the tackle nine minutes after the resumption.

But it didn't prove too costly with Bradman Best scoring his sixth try of the season after gathering in a perfectly weighted Kurt Mann kick just five minutes later.

Ponga's conversion sailed wide but the Knights suddenly found themselves on the front foot and back in the contest.

They narrowed the gap to 18-12 when Ponga skipped on the outside of a defender and created space for Best to put Edrick Lee over. Ponga's conversion made it a six point ball game.

But the Storm got home off the back of a very dubious penalty goal before Brandon Smith cross with just over two minutes left.

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