Melbourne maestro Cameron Munster has orchestrated a 34-4 win over Newcastle to show the Knights they have a way to go to challenge for the NRL crown.
The Knights came into Saturday afternoon's AAMI Park match with confidence high after six-straight wins, but they were no match for competition leaders Melbourne at their best.
The Storm ran in six tries to one, with Queensland State of Origin star Munster having a hand in four.
Canterbury-bound second-rower Joe Stimson finished with a double.
Squaring off against likely NSW halfback Mitchell Pearce, it wasn't pretty viewing for Blues fans.
Munster intercepted a Knights pass that led to a try by centre Marion Seve and pulled off two of his trademark strips which helped to keep his team on top.
"He just comes up with some plays that other players can't seem to come up with," said Storm coach Craig Bellamy.
"The intercept was typical Munster - the opposition is getting tired and trying a risky play but, as soon as that happens, he seems to turn up in the right spot.
"He's obviously got this innate sense about what the right thing to do is at the right time."
In Pearce's defence, his team were on the back foot for much of the game thanks to 17 errors.
Melbourne led 12-0 at halftime with Bellamy disappointed they weren't further ahead given their dominance.
But the Knights' time in defence meant they ran out of juice in the second half with the Storm running in a further four tries.
Newcastle centre Hymel Hunt scored the visitors' solitary try after Queensland Origin fullback Kalyn Ponga created the opening in the 47th minute, but the rest of the half was one-way traffic.
The Knights' cause wasn't helped with second-rower Mitch Barnett put on report in the 35th minute for a crusher tackle on Storm fullback Jahrome Hughes.
Knights coach Nathan Brown said his team needed to have been at their best to upset the Storm - and they were far from it.
He was happy with their defence to stay in touch with the Storm until halftime but said errors hit hard.
"We didn't give ourselves a hope from the start of the game," Brown said.
"We played the best side, the most professional side, and we showed at this stage of our development we weren't quite ready for it."
