Brett Stewart became the greatest try scorer at Brookvale Oval on Saturday night as Manly accounted for Melbourne 24-22.
Stewart's second try just before halftime was his 79th in 86 games at the famous venue to eclipse Steve Menzies.
Stewart's first try in the 31st minute broke the game open for the home side, who scored three times in eight minutes to move the score from 6-a-piece to 24-6 at halftime, with Daly Cherry-Evans laying on each of the four-pointers.
But Melbourne could count themselves unlucky after referee Jared Maxwell failed to go upstairs to check a legitimate try from Young Tonumaipea, ruling incorrectly the Storm winger knocked on in the lead up, before 10,541 fans.
Another no try ruling against Storm interchange forward Tim Glasby for an alleged double movement in the 56th minute also going against the visitors.
But that didn't deter Melbourne as they launched a second half chase for victory.
Blake Green scored two tries in the 63rd and 75th minute, with Will Chambers crossing in between in the 67th minute after a long break from Marika Koroibete.
That brought the visitors to 24-22 with five minutes to play, as the Storm threatened to replicate their 23-22 golden point win in round one last year after they trailed 22-0.
But Manly held strong in the last five minutes to bring up their first win of the NRL season, after their loss to Parramatta last week.
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