The Warriors were known as razzle dazzle entertainers but after securing a fifth successive win through defensive steel they are illustrating a new found attitude.
Last week the Auckland-based club hung tough to beat Penrith 12-6 and on Saturday it scored just two tries but was able to nullify some of the most potent attacking threats in the NRL to prevail 13-6 over Melbourne.
Ironically, it was Storm coach Craig Bellamy who summed up the transformation that has seen the Warriors soar into fourth position - four points behind the league-leading Dragons.
"Their defence has been a lot stronger," Bellamy said.
"When the opposition gets inside their 20-metre zone [Warriors coach] Ivan [Cleary] would be feeling more comfortable now than he was last year and early this year. They've tightened up and simplified their attack, which reduces errors and gives them more petrol to defend."
Cleary gave his side a 9 out of 10 performance rating and identified mental toughness as a key factor in the current purple patch.
"We've improved out of sight defensively in the last month," he said. "We're putting the whole package together at moment. Hopefully that can continue."
The 40-6 hiding the Storm handed out in April had not been easy to take while also serving notice of what Melbourne could do to you when they were in top gear.
"We knew what capable of. They were amazing that night," Cleary said. "We understood what was coming and we were in a much better position to face that. We were under no illusions about how tough the game was going to be."
"The senior guys who were involved in that night don't forget. It was an embarrassment really. We were a sideshow. No professional wants to feel like that, so they were keen to do well tonight."
Injuries had again surfaced from the win.
Full-back Lance Hohaia left the field in the 63rd minute with a corked thigh and half-back Brett Seymour was knocked out after copping a hip to the head.
"I was very angry because the game was still going while everyone was tripping over themselves. He [Seymour] was lying there motionless," Cleary grumbled. "I was definitely worried. I knew it was concussion. He's a tough bloke, so I thought 'he'll be right'."
The pair will be assessed over the next eight days before the Warriors travel to Sydney to face the Rabbitohs on Sunday.
Cleary sought to put the salary cap dramas into perspective, saying regardless of the off field distractions, Melbourne was still a quality side.
"Whether they've got stuff to play for or not you only have to look at their team sheet to know they've got some pretty good cattle in there and they turned up to play from what I could see. I'm very happy to get the win."