Melbourne Storm hammer Brisbane Broncos in NRL

Suliasi Vunivalu scored a hat-trick as Melbourne Storm gave a huge statement of their NRL title credentials by hammering Brisbane Broncos 48-6 at Suncorp Stadium on Friday.

The Storm had come out on top in 10 of their previous 11 visits to Suncorp and scored eight tries in a scintillating display to move level with Cronulla Sharks at the top of the ladder watched by a crowd of 44,519.

Wing Vunivalu crossed twice as Craig Bellamy's rampant side ran in five tries - all of which were converted by the clinical Cameron Smith - in the space of 19 first-half minutes.

Kevin Proctor powered his way through for the opener after good work from Cooper Cronk 14 minutes in, who played another short ball to enable Ryan Morgan to score a second try soon after.

Vunivalu struck twice either side of a Cheyse Blair score as the Storm ran riot before James Roberts touched down under the posts to get the out-of-sorts Broncos on the board and Corey Parker added the extras to make it 30-6 at the break.

The Broncos also lost Corey Oates after he suffered a head knock in the first half and their miserable evening went from bad to worse after the interval, with Marika Koroibete adding a sixth try early in the second half.

Vunivalu rose to pluck a high ball out of the air and complete his hat-trick and Blair helped himself to a double, with the lethal Smith successful with all eight kicks from the tee as the Broncos slumped to a fifth defeat in their last six games.