Melbourne ran out 44-12 winners over Queensland Cup side Easts Tigers on Saturday in their NRL trial match at Goscher's Paddock.
Storm coach Craig Bellamy opted to use mainly NSW Cup players and Holden Cup graduates, with Ben Hampton, Mahe Fonua and Kenny Bromwich among the few first graders to take the field.
Melbourne opened the scoring through Travis Robinson but led just 4-0 at quarter-time as the Tigers gamely held their line.
Three tries in 10 minutes in the lead-up to halftime put any thoughts of a shock upset to bed as the Storm asserted their control.
Fonua, in particular, showed his class, latching onto a Tigers pass before racing away to score.
Hooker Billy Brittain, who was a standout for the Storm Holden Cup side last season, was one of Melbourne's best, scoring a slick solo try shortly before halftime and toiling away tirelessly in the middle third of the field.
Former Gold Coast centre Hymel Hunt was another fringe first grader to impress as he was a constant danger to the Easts' defence with a series of powerful charges.
Melbourne reported no injuries and will close out their pre-season next weekend against Canterbury at AAMI Park.
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