Melbourne skipper Cameron Smith showed his new contract is money well spent after steering the Storm to a 28-20 win over Newcastle in Monday night NRL action.

Smith signed a new four-year deal earlier this month and again proved his immense value, sealing another victory for the unbeaten Storm.

In round one against Manly he kicked a field goal to get them home and this time scored a late try to stall a Knights fightback led by winger Akuila Uate, who touched down twice.

The Test captain scooted out of dummy half and slipped through a gap in the Newcastle defence to push the lead out to eight points with a little over 10 minutes remaining.

Melbourne led 18-10 at halftime, with both sides heading into the break looking shocked following a neck injury to Newcastle’s Alex McKinnon.

The utility forward was stretchered from the field in a neck brace just seconds from halftime after landing on his head in a tackle by Storm forwards Jesse Bromwich, his brother Kenny and Jordan McLean.

The tackle was put on report by referee Gerard Sutton while McKinnon was taken to hospital.

The Knights, who ousted Melbourne from the NRL finals race at the same venue last season, started on the wrong foot with three successive penalties.

The Storm opted to take two points from the third through Smith but the visitors made them pay soon after when a Michael Dobson grubber kick hit the upright and was scooped up by Jeremy Smith.

Melbourne lifted a gear and with winger Sisa Waqa, forward Kevin Proctor and centre Will Chambers chiming in with tries, they had all the momentum.

But Kurt Gidley added a second successful penalty kick following the McKinnon incident which kept his team in the hunt.

Victorian-raised winger Young Tonumaipea scored his first NRL try in the 44th minute and it looked like Melbourne would run away with it until Uate got into the action.

Newcastle continued to look dangerous with the ball but couldn’t find the extra points they needed and remain winless for the season.