Melbourne coach Craig Bellamy has taken a dig at rival NRL clubs for not respecting the World Club Challenge in the past after the Storm beat Leeds to become the first side to win the title three times.
Melbourne held off the gallant Rhinos 18-14 at Headingley on Friday night, adding the 2013 crown to triumphs in 2000 and 2010 (subsequently stripped due to salary cap rorting).
Australian clubs still trail 12-9 in the head-to-head WCC stats after falling behind 11-5 over the first 16 years.
NRL outfits have won four of the last five clashes but Bellamy believes the overall record reflects poorly on Australia.
"It's well known that some clubs don't take this seriously, but we're not going to come all this way to take it easy," Bellamy said.
"This is an important game to us and we've always seen it as important. You have to win a competition to play in one of these games.
"We take great pride in representing the NRL over here."
The WCC is set for a move to Australia in 2014 after 13 consecutive seasons in the UK and Bellamy believes the switch will prove a winner.
He said: "I don't know what the mentality is and who makes those decisions but I'm pretty sure that if it was well marketed in Melbourne, we'd get a really good crowd at AAMI Park if we get a chance to play it again."
The Storm picked up where they left off last season in racing out to an early 8-0 lead against the rattled Rhinos.
But the hosts regained composure to strike back and level at 8-8 just before the break.
A terrific solo try to Jesse Bromwich after the interval put Melbourne back in charge and they held on from there despite a late Leeds surge.
"I am very proud. We just couldn't get in front when we needed to," Leeds captain Kevin Sinfield said.
"They're a great team, Melbourne. Their goal-line 'D' (defence) was too good.
"Unfortunately we just weren't good enough. We're disappointed but we'll take plenty out of that performance."