But it didn't come without controversy.

Eels coach Brad Arthur was forced to defend winger Maika Sivo over allegedly 'laying down' to appeal for a crusher tackle penalty - one of which resulted in Storm debutant Cooper Johns being placed on report.

Days after the NRL announced a crackdown on the dangerous tackle, Johns and Storm forward Albert Vete were pinged for crusher tackles that could see them sidelined for at least two weeks.

It would add to a growing list of sidelined players for Melbourne, which could also include Nelson Asofa-Solomona after he was sin-binned for a high shot on Marata Niukore in the second half.

Hooker Brandon Smith also left the field late with a broken jaw, but the shot from Niukore went unpunished to the fury of Storm coach Craig Bellamy, who later appealed for consistency as he was ushered out of the press conference.

Earlier, Arthur bristled at the suggestion his prolific winger stayed down when he was tackled by Johns.

"I'd have to have a look at it again, but no one is staying down deliberately, mate," he said.

When told of Arthur's defence of Sivo, Bellamy said: "I disagree with Brad on that one."

Friday will be the first test of the league's attempt to eradicate the crusher tackle after the NRL announced harsher penalties, with a grade-one charge doubling to 200 points.

An early guilty plea would still force the player to take a one-week ban.

A grade-two charge is now 300 points, while a grade three is a whopping 500.

Losing any player will be a cruel blow for the already depleted Storm who were without Cameron Smith, Cameron Munster, Dale Finucane, Suliasi Vunivalu, Jahrome Hughes and Jesse Bromwich on Thursday night.

"I couldn't have asked for much more from them," Bellamy said.

And while Storm were left to rue their first loss in nine games, the Eels celebrated their gritty defence.

Earlier in the week the Eels were criticised for not having the toughness to win the NRL premiership, but holding Melbourne scoreless for the first time since round 12, 2014, could silence the doubters.

"They threw plenty at us, I know they've got some quality missing but we can only defend what's in front of us," Arthur said.

"At the back end of the game, the last 20 minutes we made some line breaks, we have to be more patient there.

"All we're doing at training is working on our defence, we're doing bits and pieces with the ball but we have to make sure our defence is working together and it is.

"It's getting better, we'll start spending more time on our attack as we go."

Leading 12-0 at halftime, the Eels hung on with just two points in the final 40 minutes as Melbourne showed physicality and sharp defence despite the class on the sidelines.

It was the first win in five games against Melbourne for the Eels.

Cult hero Sivo again lit up the Bankwest Stadium crowd just before halftime with his 22nd try in 20 games at the ground.

The Eels are now equal with the Storm on 24 points on the ladder with five games to play before finals.

They next play South Sydney at Bankwest Stadium on Thursday.

Australian Associated Press