Melbourne produced their first win away from home this season yesterday afternoon when they professionally accounted for a willing Penrith outfit.

In post-match discussions, those Storm players who were interviewed by the media all made reference to their only other away game this season where they were thumped in Townsville by North Queensland. It was obviously a goal of this Craig Bellamy-prepared team to make amends for that uncharacteristic performance and get the two points for a victory at Centrebet Stadium.

Every team needs marching orders. Bellamy made sure his troops were aware of the importance of this mission.

Just as well they were mentally steeled for the challenge too because they were confronted with an enthusiastic and much improved Penrith side, but the class of the Storm's senior players told in the end, and they were never in danger of defeat.

It wasn't a classic game of rugby league. There were plenty of errors, and the attacking structures of both sides never really hit top gear at any stage. However, the score was kept close enough for the first hour of play to keep the crowd interested, and we were entertained with several long-range tries and a number of big hits in defence.

While the effort of the Penrith players was admirable, their decision-making in both attack and defence still leaves a lot to be desired. The Panthers dominated field position in the first half, and enjoyed enough quality possession inside the Storm's 20-metre zone to come up with a handful of tries. Unfortunately, they never looked like breaching the Storm line from close range.

Their playmakers are busy in attack and keep the ball moving, however, there is no definable focus to their attacking raids. It all looks a little frantic rather than a precise execution of a pre-match plan.

I sense they are trying to do too much and cover too many options in attacking situations rather than simply playing to their own strengths or continually working over any weakness they might have identified in the opposition line.

To be honest, despite having the ball only 10 metres out from the Storm line, it was the Panthers who looked more stressed than the defending team. Their attacking structures look like those of other teams in the NRL but they are not necessarily right for the playing talent they have available.

Defensively, they also come unstuck at crucial times. Failure to lock up the ball in tackles allowed the Storm to produce dangerous offloads - the first by big Storm front-rower Jesse Bromwich produced the opening try of the match. Another offload by Adam Woolnough in the second half allowed fellow front-rower Bryan Norrie to muscle his way into the in-goal.

The Panthers defenders are too easily deceived by decoy runners. They are vulnerable to the quick play-the-ball and dummy-half run around the middle of the field.

Penrith's defence is particularly suspect immediately after conceding an error with the ball in attack. A simple mistake and the heads drop in disappointment then, while ruing missed chances, they seemingly lack concentration for a few tackles, and twice the Storm seized these opportunities to produce tries against the run of play.

That's all it takes at this level - especially when you are playing against the likes of Melbourne's Cameron Smith, Cooper Cronk and Billy Slater, who are deadly when they have their opponents in a state momentary disorganisation. They just don't miss.

Neither does Storm five-eighth Gareth Widdop. This English-born, Melbourne-raised lad, playing in only his ninth top-grade match, looks like he could be the find of the season. Looking to the future, he could be the player England has been looking for on the international stage as well. But let's not get ahead of ourselves.

At the moment, it is just so good to watch a genuinely talented youngster with such potential burst on the scene. He has a maturity well beyond his limited experience. His attacking awareness and support play indicate he reads the play, and the talents of his teammates, so well. He could be something special. I look forward to his development in the coming years. For the time being though, the Storm marched to the top of the premiership ladder; the Panthers remained in the cellar. I can't see either scenario changing any time soon.