Melbourne’s Billy Slater has reminded Queensland State of Origin selectors of just what he offers with a scintillating performance in the Storm’s 40-12 win over Newcastle.

A shock Maroons omission from Wednesday’s series opener, Slater played like he had a point to prove on Friday night at AAMI Park, as the Storm extended their lead at the top of the NRL ladder while the Knights remained anchored at the bottom.

And they did it without skipper Cameron Smith, who was rested from the game after Queensland’s brutal Origin loss.

Slater pushed his case for a recall for game two against NSW later this month with two second-half tries while he also had two earlier try assists.

The 33-year-old fullback scored his first in the 43rd minute when he snaffled a Cooper Cronk kick and miraculously managed to get the ball down as he crashed over the line.

The second, 10 minutes later, was trademark Slater when he ran on to an inside ball from Cronk, sliced through the defence and stepped around Queensland winger Dane Gagai to score.

Slater overshadowed a double from winger Suliasi Vunivalu, both scored from kicks by a busy Cronk, who showed no ill effects from Origin.

Melbourne burst out of the blocks and raced to a 16-0 lead, but the Knights continued to battle bravely and were rewarded with a spectacular try in the corner to winger Ken Sio.

He was unlucky not to collect a second minutes later when the final pass was ruled forward.

The Knights lost Lachlan Fitzgibbon to the sin bin just before halftime, after multiple penalties on their own line, however the reserve forward came good in the second half with a 72nd minute try.

With Melbourne centre Cheyse Blair scoring his team’s eighth try of the night in the final minute, it was all one-way traffic.