Basics instinct rewards Melbourne Storm as it sinks second-placed Sydney Roosters Storm captain Cameron Smith drives the ball back into enemy territory against the Roosters in Sydney. MELBOURNE Storm went back to basics and looked anything but a spent force in a 26-18 win over the second-placed Sydney Roosters. Putting a month of sub-par performances behind them, skipper Cameron Smith led from the front last night as his men notched up its highest score since Round 2. Storm penetrated the NRL's tightest defence twice inside 15 minutes playing error-free, uncomplicated football. The quality of the Sydney outfit ensured it could hit back and it did, scoring twice in the opening half to square the ledger just before halftime. But a bobbled ball on halfway and a perfect kick by Cooper Cronk couldn't be diffused by Roosters centre Michael Jennings, and Smith muscled his way to the ball to score just as the half expired. With coach Craig Bellamy in charge Melbourne has won 158 of 162 clashes when it was in front at halftime. That became 159 from 163 as Storm scored again, kept the Roosters at bay for all except the final five minutes, and capitalised on a number of late mistakes from the home team to win. "We haven't been at our best for the last couple of weeks and the reality is we have been up for a long time," Cronk said. The way to get out of slumps is to just work hard and we have a good work ethic. It was good to play really well against really good quality opposition. Cronk was put on report for a 60th-minute lifting tackle that may jeopardise his State of Origin plans. Cronk also recorded a points victory over NSW halfback Mitchell Pearce who, with halves partner James Maloney, failed to earn their team a single repeat set all night. Typical of the Roosters' night they looked like staging a miraculous comeback after finding the speed they'd lacked all night to score in the 77th minute and trail by just six. From the re-start they again broke down their right hand side only for centre Shaun Kenny-Dowall to pass the ball to Melbourne's Tohu Harris. Kenny-Dowall was beaten only by money man Sonny Bill Williams for errors and the Kiwi's passing game too often gifted Storm possession when they should have been under pressure. Starting as well as it has in a long time, everything went Melbourne's way in the first 15 minutes. It opened the scoring for the first time since Round 6 through Justin O'Neill and piled on more scoreboard pressure when Maurice Blair went over in the 14th minute. Not having to play from behind seemed to work for everyone, with the forwards - led by Jesse Bromwich - getting on top. It also meant Melbourne could play Storm football - simple, structured and unfancy. That's what won it the premiership, and last night's game.