A depleted Melbourne have outlasted Gold Coast 20-14 at Sunshine Coast Stadium to claim a remarkable 10th straight NRL win.
Despite again being hit hard by State of Origin selections, the Storm dug deep to complete their 23rd consecutive victory in Queensland - but not without some anxious moments.
The match threatened to be turned on its ear with Melbourne holding just a six-point buffer after Storm centre Reimis Smith was sin binned in the 67th minute for a high shot on Jaimin Jolliffe that left the Titans prop dazed.
Yet the Storm didn't concede a point during the Titans' 10-minute advantage - despite some scares.
The Titans' left edge threatened throughout the second half, only to be undone by poor options, a trend perhaps best summed up when Brian Kelly lost the ball over the line in the 70th minute.
Gold Coast still went down swinging, threatening to cross after the siren when impressive debutant Jayden Campbell - son of Titans legend Preston Campbell - kept the ball alive and Phillip Sami broke free down the left edge to have Esan Marsters waiting on the wing to score, only to butcher the pass.
Remarkably, Melbourne (11-2 record) are now undefeated in their last 11 Origin period games and are 20-3 in the last four years during the interstate series.
They were without five Origin players on Saturday ensuring halfback Jahrome Hughes was the only spine regular lining up against the Titans.
The Gold Coast - who were without four players due to interstate honours - slumped to their sixth loss in eight games.
After trailing 16-4 at halftime, Gold Coast hit back when they made Melbourne pay for a Dale Finucane knock-on and Kelly scored off an Ash Taylor grubber in the 42nd minute.
The Storm then struck through George Jennings (54th) but it was game on when Titans prop Jarrod Wallace carried two defenders over the line three minutes later to cut the deficit to 20-14.
Indeed the locals were so excited by the fightback a pitch invader ran out soon after Wallace crossed in a brief interruption.
Wiley hooker Brandon Smith proved the difference as Melbourne led 16 4 at halftime after the Storm overcame a slow start to pile on three tries in 10 minutes.
Gold Coast drew first blood when NRL debutant and hulking winger Greg Marzhew crashed over in the 14th minute but from there the first half was all Storm.
A Jahrome Hughes bust led to Reimis Smith scoring in the 18th minute before Kiwi international Smith (25th) burrowed over from dummy half then set up Sunshine Coast product Trent Loiero (28th).
Meanwhile, Melbourne's Nelson Asofa-Solomona and Tui Kamikamica were both placed on report twice for high contact.
Gold Coast centre Patrick Herbert was also booked after a 24th minute late hit on Kenny Bromwich who left the field with a rib injury and didn't return.
