Sitili Tupouniua - a name few knew before Friday night's grand final rematch - proved the unlikely hero as the Roosters clinched a 21-20 golden point thriller over Melbourne.
Having led 20-0 midway through the first half, Easts looked destined to run away with the comfortable win. But an inspired comeback saw the Storm send the game to extra time.
All eyes were on the usual suspects - and Latrell Mitchell who nailed the match-winning field goal - it was Tupouniua's line break which gifted the Roosters the field position to win the game.
It capped off a brilliant night for Mitchell, who scored early when he was in support after James Tedesco burst through in the fifth minute.
A penalty goal then extended their lead to eight before Jared Wearea-Hargreaves pounced on a Luke Keary grubber to make it 14.
The barnstorming prop was impressive in his return, offsetting the late withdrawal of Siosiua Taukeiaho.
Mitchell continued to threaten, fending away three Melbourne defenders before lobbing the ball over for Tedesco to score in the 31st minute.
The Storm eventually fought their way back into the contest with a late try to Josh Addo-Carr before Brodie Croft kicked a penalty goal on the siren to reduce the deficit to 12 at the break.
Melbourne carried the momentum into the second half, forcing back-to-back dropouts before Tui Kamikamica crashed over in the 48thminute.
Cameron Smith then forced his second-straight dropout to heap more pressure on the Tricolours and it was telling, Curtis Scott going over for a simple try out of dummy-half to lock things up.
Neither side could break the deadlock, with the game forced to golden point, and it was a confident Mitchell who stepped up.
Fresh off their first defeat of the year, the Storm brace for the Warriors while the Roosters take on the Dragons, both being annual Anzac Day fixtures.