Melbourne Storm big three of Slater, Cronk and Smith star in big win over Penrith Panthers

CAMERON Smith, Billy Slater and Cooper Cronk blasted the Melbourne Storm back into premiership contention with a demolition job on Penrith.

RIGHT on cue, Cameron Smith, Billy Slater and Cooper Cronk blasted the Melbourne Storm back into premiership contention with a one-way demolition job on Penrith.

Facing a six-game losing streak, the equal worst run in the club's 15-year history, the Storm's big three ran riot to re-ignite the club's title aspirations against wooden spoon contenders, the Panthers.

The one-sided annihilation started inside the opening 60 seconds, with Smith, Cronk and Slater combining from long-range with a pre-rehearsed play to send winger Sisa Waqa over from 45m out.

Gallery: Best action snaps from the game

The Storm No. 7 then booted a 40/20 from the following set to continue to mount pressure before Cronk worked another set play with his two primary playmaking partners to storm over the line for a 12-0 lead.

The set-piece move was classic Melbourne, with the big three players underlining why the club outlays in excess of $2 million-a-season to keep them at the Storm.

Penrith fan at Storm v Panthers

When prop forward Jesse Bromwich barged over from close range in the 16th minute, the Storm were keeping pace at a point per minute with the scoreline reading 16-0.

Winger Waqa bagged a double shortly after to make it 22-0 and when centre Justin O'Neill plucked a Cronk bomb out of the grasp of Penrith's Michael Gordon, it was 28-0 after 34 minutes.

When Cronk crossed for his second try four minutes from half-time for a 34-0 scoreline, the game was as good as over.

Despite the cruise-control victory, Cronk said the Storm still needed a dramatic improvement to be considered a major title threat in the finals.

"We've put in a lot of work and we weren't going to get anywhere overnight," Cronk said following the triumph.

"We're definitely not finished yet but it's a step in the right direction."

After five losses-in-a-row, Melbourne coach Craig Bellamy was facing the biggest challenge of his NRL coaching career and his side responded with interest.

Full back Billy Slater said he was still a little way off full fitness after an early return from a torn posterior cruciate in his knee.

The Panthers might have begged to differ after Slater's contribution as the Storm snapped their losing streak.

"It's been a long time coming that win. Things are slowly turning around. There's still a bit of work to do but at least we know we're still in the hunt," Slater said.

"Anyone that's had a PCL knows that it takes time.

"It isn't 100 per cent but the more I play the better it's going to get."

Leading 34-0 at half-time, the Storm surged further ahead when centre O'Neill made it a double for the afternoon for a 40-0 scoreline.

Penrith rookie Matt Robinson was the only Panther to trouble the scorers. He crossed for the bemused visitors lone try 10 minutes before full-time.

Storm forward Sika Manu made it 46-6 with a try on the final siren.

See how we covered the game at our match centre.

MELBOURNE 46 (C Cronk 2 J O'Neill 2 S Waqa 2 J Bromwich S Manu tries C Smith 7 goals) bt PENRITH 6 (M Robinson try L Walsh goal) at AAMI Park. Referee: Adam Devcich, Ashley Klein. Crowd: 9,223.