A Harry Grant masterclass has pushed Melbourne's dominance of Brisbane to historic heights and left the Broncos' NRL aspirations in disarray.
The Storm hooker scored once and set up two in a 60-12 win - their biggest ever against Brisbane and the second time the club's conceded 60 points - on Friday night in front of 42,612 people at Suncorp Stadium.
In his 50th NRL game, Grant tore through the middle while left centre Justin Olam (two tries) and prop Nelson Asofa-Solomona (one try, 177 run metres from 17 carries), playing on the right edge, tormented the fringes.
"We give up that first try, probably the softest we've ever given up, but it didn't affect us at all," satisfied Storm coach Craig Bellamy said.
"Fifty games (for Grant) ... I would have thought it'd been 100.
"He's had a really long apprenticeship (behind Cameron Smith) that he probably didn't need, and is playing some unbelievable footy."
Melbourne have now won their last 12 games against Brisbane and haven't lost to them at Suncorp Stadium since 2009.
The record win also ensured the Storm are just the second team in premiership history to beat the same side by double digits in 11 straight games.
Their 22nd win from the sides' last 24 encounters pushed Melbourne temporarily into third while Brisbane, who entered the round with hopes of a top-four finish, could finish the weekend in eighth.
Their finals spot is far from secure too, with their for-and-against taking a beating and ninth-placed Canberra able to move within one win of Kevin Walters' side with victory against Newcastle on Sunday with two games to play.
A combination of well-oiled and desperate defence twice stopped Brisbane from clawing back to 18-12 midway through the first half, before the floodgates opened in a six-try second half.
Melbourne's ruthlessness was on full display, Grant's grubber for Cameron Munster his second try assist of the night to send the Storm to the sheds up 24-6 and in total command.
Toying with Brisbane five-eighth Ezra Mam on the right fringe, Asofa-Solomona set up the game's first two tries.
Unfortunately for the hulking prop, they were for both teams, his first flick pass putting Young Tonumaipea over but his second sending Xavier Coates scrambling towards touch.
The Melbourne winger flung the ball back infield, straight to Brisbane's Kurt Capewell who ran untroubled for a bizarre try.
That was as good as it got for Brisbane though, who had 41 missed tackles and no forward break 100 run metres.
"It was a good lesson on how to play rugby league," Walters said.
"We'll find out next week (how it impacts the side's confidence); I'm expecting a good reaction.
"I'm quite surprised actually (by Friday's result) (we) just didn't have resilience tonight to stop the Storm.
A falling Coates later collected a Brisbane knee to the face and was ruled out under HIA protocols, while his replacement Tyran Wishart (ankle) soon followed him.
Capewell (ankle) is also in doubt for the Eels clash.
