Harry Grant has silenced Brandon Smith on and off the field after the Storm hooker outpointed his Sydney Roosters pal in Melbourne.
The star rakes squared off in the NRL for the first time since Smith's departure from the Storm, with Melbourne triumphing 28-8 in their Thursday night clash.
Smith started well but as the Roosters went off the boil, Grant and the Storm fired up with coach Craig Bellamy describing the performance as "first class".
The Storm No.9 showed off his array of skills with a second half 40-20, which gave his team ideal field position to set up winger Xavier Coates's third try.
Smith meanwhile copped jeers from the AAMI Park faithful when he knocked the ball on from dummy half.
Queensland State of Origin starter Grant told reporters post match his usually chatty mate was quiet in the lead-up to the AAMI Park match.
He joked he was expecting photographs of Roosters hard man Jared Waerea-Hargreaves as Smith used to send snaps of Storm giant Nelson Asofa-Solomona to wind up their opponents.
"He (Smith) didn't send me any of Jared, I think he was playing hard ball this week," Grant said.
"He was a bit serious, he wasn't texting or anything.
"He wasn't too chirpy (on the field), he was pretty quiet but it was still good fun and it's always fun playing against people you know.
"It was good to catch up with him and he's done a lot for the club and won a grand final here, so he's always welcome back."
Usually toiling for 80 minutes, Grant got an early shower with Bellamy saying the 25-year-old had earned a rest.
"I thought the Cheese (Smith) played pretty good too and Harry was great," he said.
"I thought he (Grant) overplayed his hand a couple of times, but I'd rather have him do that than underplay because he's a very talented player and a very talented dummy-half and we always look a little bit better when he's running."
With halves Cameron Munster and Jahrome Hughes back together for the first time since round one following injury and suspension, the Storm looked unstoppable.
Fullback Nick Meaney was also a major threat in attack before being forced off to undergo a HIA, which he passed.
Regular No.1 Ryan Papenhuyzen is still to return from injury this season and Bellamy is unsure of what that will mean for Meaney.
He said he would make room for him somewhere in the side.
"I'm still not quite sure when Paps is going to be back but I'm pretty sure we'll find a spot for Nick there somewhere," Bellamy said.
"He's been one of our most consistent players all year and I thought his first half tonight was outstanding.
"It'll be a nice problem to have, but it's not a problem at the moment so we'll just wait and see what happens."
