Melbourne Storm moved top of the NRL ladder for the first time this season with a 12-6 win over New Zealand Warriors as Latrell Mitchell starred in Sydney Roosters' emphatic rout of Manly Sea Eagles on Sunday.
The defending premiers stretched their winning run to seven matches, outscoring the Warriors by two tries to one at Mt Smart Stadium.
Will Chambers raced onto a perfectly timed pass from Jahrome Hughes to score the opening try just two minutes in, but Gerard Beale was on hand to level in the corner after David Fusitu'a rose to take a Shaun Johnson kick.
Suliasi Vunivalu powered his way over to put the Storm back in front just before half-time and Cameron Smith was on target with a pair of penalties in the second half, helping Craig Bellamy's side grind out yet another win.
Stephen Kearney was unimpressed by the standard of officiating, however, with the Warriors coach particularly aggrieved to see Ken Maumalo penalised for a knock-on when his rampaging run was halted by what seemed to be a swinging arm from Smith.
The Roosters moved up to fourth in style, hammering Manly 56-24 at Lottoland.
Centre Mitchell scored 24 points - including two of his side's 10 tries - and winger Blake Ferguson helped himself to a brace in a ruthless demolition of Trent Barrett's men.
Victor Radley, Boyd Cordner, Joseph Manu, Lindsay Collins, James Tedesco and Siosiua Taukeiaho also went over as the Roosters moved above Cronulla Sharks in the standings.
