North Queensland's young brigade has repaid the faith shown in them by coach Neil Henry, helping the Cowboys to their first win against NRL pace-setters Melbourne since 2006.
The Cowboys looked a completely different side to the one beaten 34-22 at home in round two with Ray Thompson and debutant Kalifa Faifai Loa instrumental in their side's 34-6 win at Dairy Farmers Stadium on Monday night.
The Storm had no answers to the Cowboys' defence and had few attacking chances in the rain-soaked conditions.
Dairy Farmers Stadium had previously been a happy hunting ground for the Melbourne side, who'd downed the Cowboys by at least 14 points in their last two clashes at the stadium.
But the Storm will have left with few, if any, positives from Monday's match.
Thompson got involved early, opening up the Storm defence with his passing and kicking game, before contributing to two tries as well as forcing Sika Manu to drop the ball after crossing for a certain four-pointer for the Storm.
A try by Storm pivot Gareth Widdop six minutes from half-time kept the visitors in the match but the 10-6 deficit at the break would be as close as Melbourne got.
The Cowboys' attacking intent carried into the second period, Ash Graham scoring tries in the 51st and 70th minutes while Matt Bowen bagged a double of his own by crossing in the 66th minute following his 13th minute effort.
Graham had earlier been guilty of spurning two golden opportunities in the first-half, but he made amends by crossing twice in the corner.
Bowen, in his club-record equalling 203 appearance in North Queensland colours, showed some form of old form throughout the night.
Fellow rookie Tariq Sims put the match beyond doubt seven minutes from time to score his first try in the NRL.
Of concern to the Storm was an injury to second rower Manu, who was helped from the field in the opening minutes of the second half.
