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Melbourne's push towards the NRL's minor premiership has continued as they marked Cameron Munster's return from a torn groin by beating Parramatta 32-14.
Cameron Munster has got through his return match unscathed, as Melbourne took a step closer to another minor premiership with a 32-14 win over Parramatta.
Playing for the first time since tearing a groin two months ago, Munster came off the bench for the Storm but still played 52 minutes at five-eighth.
The Queenslander finished Friday night at CommBank Stadium with a solid hit out, but Melbourne will mostly just be relieved to have their main man back.
Melbourne were well below their best, while the Eels spent large periods of the game camped on the visitors' tryline after leading 8-6 early.
The Storm did not play the ball inside the attacking 20-metre zone until the 47th minute, and had two plays in total there for the match.
In contrast, the Eels spent large portions of the match camped on Melbourne's line, and had 41 plays in the attacking red-zone.
But there is a reason why the Storm are now six points clear at the top of the ladder after seven straight wins, and Parramatta are battling to fight off the wooden spoon.
The Storm's first two tries were both direct results of Eels errors, with Melbourne scoring inside the next two plays.
Another try came largely as a result of a Will Warbrick linebreak from within his own end, with the winger breaking Parramatta's back early in the second half.
Playing their first-choice spine for the first time since round nine, Melbourne gave clear reminders why they are the strongest threat to a Penrith four-peat.
Fullback Ryan Papenhuyzen was dangerous, breaking downfield in the lead up to Melbourne's first try and scoring one late himself back through the middle.
Halfback Jahrome Hughes had a role in three linebreaks as he worked over Parramatta's edges, and threw a smart pass back to Warbrick for his four-pointer.
Even hooker Harry Grant scored a try, when Eel Shaun Lane spilled a ball straight into his hands and he went 40 metres untouched.
The Storm also appear to have more strike than in recent years, with Eliesa Katoa again good on the right edge.
But an apparent leg injury to his back-row partner Shawn Blore was the only concern for the Storm, after he left the field in the second half.
Parramatta remain two points ahead of Wests Tigers at the bottom of the ladder, with the same number of wins.
With next year's coach Jason Ryles in full planning mode, there were glimpses of promise early in the way the Eels were able to take a lead.
Dylan Brown put a lofted cut-out ball on a dime for Sean Russell to score one try, while a Shaun Lane offload helped Jake Tago cross.
But for those passages it would have been tough viewing for Ryles, as the Eels slumped to a sixth straight loss.
