Melbourne skipper Cameron Smith says his team has set a bench-mark for their NRL season in their stunning 52-10 win over Penrith in his 300th match.
The Storm players, led by halfback Cooper Cronk, lifted to turn in easily their best performance of the year.
The margin of the 10-try victory was the largest by any team so far this season.
Smith was delighted with the performance for personal reasons, but said it was more important for the club, who went into the AAMI Park match after four successive losses.
He addressed the team post match and told them it couldn't be a one-off.
"We've been close in most of the games that we've been in in the last six weeks but just haven't quite got there but we have turned the corner," Smith said.
"We just need to stay on that path now.
"It just showed what we're capable of doing and we shouldn't need a milestone or a big occasion to do that.
"We can look back on that game now and say that's a bench-mark for our team for the rest of the season."
The Storm's attack had been lacklustre of late, but Cronk, electric winger Marika Koroibete and second-rower Kevin Proctor all chimed in with two tries apiece.
While an undermanned Penrith's defence was awful, particularly in the first half, Melbourne's attack pleased their leader.
"After the Warriors game we sat down and said we didn't believe that everyone was fully committed to our game plan and what we were trying to do with the football.
"It's no secret we haven't scored a lot of points over the last month and a half, but against Penrith you saw a committed football team.
"Guys were back to running hard like we were at the start of the year and our support was fantastic.
"It wasn't anything extraordinary; it was playing to our capabilities."
Meanwhile, Cronk left the game before full-time and iced his troublesome knee, but the Storm said he was only being rested.
Share
