The Wests Tigers put in one of their best attacking performances of the season against the Storm, but it was overshadowed by the continuation of a worrying sin-bin trend.
Solomona Faataape's 10 minute spell for a professional foul on Will Warbrick in the second half was his team's 12th sin binning from the past 10 games.
It comes after both Api Koroisau and Adam Doueihi left the Tigers with 11 men on the field last week against the Roosters.
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Faataape was ordered off the field in the 45th minute after he took out Will Warbrick in a kick contest. Warbrick jumped high, but Faataape stayed on the ground in an ugly look.
"There might be a bit of trouble here … (Warbrick) was given no opportunity to contest the ball," league great Mick Ennis said on Fox League.
Captain Koroisau pleaded with the referee that his centre was simply "jumped over" before referee Peter Gough said he made "no attempt to play at the ball".
The score at the time was 16-12 Melbourne's way but it was 28-12 by the time he returned to the park after Grant Anderson and Sualauvi Faalogo went over.
"When they (the Tigers) get their footy on they are competing with Melbourne but just moments of ill-discipline (are costing them)," Ennis said.
"That was the same situation as the first half, littered with little moments where they lacked discipline or concentration."
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Those two tries proved to ultimately be the difference. The Storm eventually ran out 40-28 winners.
Tigers coach Benji Marshall said the decision to bin Faataape was "tough", and opinion on whether or not the call was fair would be split between supporters.
"Seems like we can't get through a game without getting a sin bin," he said.
"They scored twice, and take those two out and we both score 28. Our fans turned up tonight and were behind us. We let ourselves down a bit."
Marshall said it was probably his side's best attacking performance of the season.
"There was a lot to like, but there was a lot to not like," he said.
"To score 28 points against the team at the top of the table, given our attack has probably struggled a little bit this year, was good. But again, moments of frustration let the pressure off.
"(Melbourne) are first in the comp for a reason, they don't beat themselves, and they showed again tonight."
Both sides went try for try early with the Tigers leading 12-10 after 28 minutes.
Charlie Staines and Fonua Pole were the scorers for the Tigers while Eliesa Katoa and Ryan Papenhuyzen went over for Melbourne.
The Storm held a 16-12 lead going into half time after Warbrick scored in the 30th minute.
Tries didn't come in the second half until after Faataape's sin bin.
The Tigers did get back on the board when the centre returned, with Lachlan Galvin slicing up the defence.
A try for try trend returned when Tyran Wishart scored for Melbourne in the 68th minute before Staines returned serve two minutes later.
The result was put beyond doubt though when Faalogo crossed for his second moments later.
It only got worse for the Tigers in the 77th minute when Koroisau was put on report for making contact with Jahrome Hughes after he kicked. Melbourne then hit a penalty after the incident.
A consolation try came for the Tigers in the final moments with Jahream Bula scoring as the Storm finished 40-28 winners.
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