Melbourne, with fullback Billy Slater in electric form, consolidated top spot in the NRL on Sunday, coming from behind to beat a gallant Warriors side 22-12 in Auckland.

It was another typically enthralling encounter between the Storm and the Warriors, who have often given them problems in the past.

It took until the 57th minute before the Storm hit the front for the first time at Mt Smart Stadium.

A great short ball from halfback Cooper Cronk sent centre Will Chambers over the line, with skipper Cameron Smith adding the extras for a 16-12 lead.

The visitors sealed victory eight minutes from time when Slater, who was a menace throughout, sliced up the middle before offloading to Smith to administer the killer blow.

In front of 20,487 fans, the mid-table Warriors jumped out to an early 12-0 lead.

Boom centre Konrad Hurrell got the opening try, after five-eighth James Maloney’s stray pass caught out the defence as it bounced towards Hurrell.

Winger Manu Vatuvei, maligned for his errors in Warriors’ last-out defeat to Wests Tigers, got the second try courtesy of a massive cut-out pass from halfback Shaun Johnson.

Maloney landed both sideline conversions and the Warriors almost went further ahead when winger Bill Tupou was forced out just out from the corner.

That was the catalyst for a Melbourne comeback.

A piggy-back penalty gave the Storm field position and five-eighth Gareth Widdop obliged by dancing his way over.

Then a big break by Slater up the middle set up interchange forward Jaiman Lowe to burrow over from dummy half to close the gap to 12-10.

Melbourne finished the half camped in Warriors territory, but came up empty handed despite five consecutive sets.