Melbourne believe a renewed focus on goal-line defence is responsible for putting them atop the NRL ladder ahead of "rough waters" over the State of Origin period.
The Storm put their pre-season training to good use as they held on in the face of a second-half onslaught by defending champions South Sydney for a 16-12 win at AAMI Park on Saturday night.
Late in the first half, the home side showed their grit by repelling three goal-line drop outs and four consecutive sets with Souths unable to penetrate.
The Rabbitohs big pack shifted up a gear in the second half and pumped the Storm up the middle but, despite playing with 70 per cent of territory, they couldn't find the necessary third try.
Storm skipper Cameron Smith, who led by example with a game-high 41 tackles, said they had identified goal-line defence as an area to improve.
"It's probably been the best part of our game, our goal-line defence," Smith said.
"That's what we've turned around and we've worked extremely hard over the pre-season in that area.
"It brings confidence and energy when you turn a quality side away three or four times from your goal line."
The Storm are perfectly positioned with a bye next week before losing Smith, Billy Slater, Cooper Cronk and Will Chambers to Queensland's Origin campaign.
Coach Craig Bellamy said regardless of their ladder position he felt the team was in better shape than last year.
The Storm only has one more win than after round 10 last season but he felt they were playing with much more effort and consistency.
"What buoys us is that most of our guys are playing reasonably well and are putting plenty of effort in and I perhaps couldn't have said that at the same time last year," Bellamy said.
"I don't like saying that but that's what it looked like."
But Bellamy said that with his key quartet about to go missing, it wouldn't be all smooth sailing.
"It's a nice position to be in but there's going to be some rough waters ahead through Origin so we've just got to get through it."
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