Melbourne Storm opt for 'fun' on the road

NRL premiers Melbourne Storm will take a "fun" new attitude to travel to Newscastle on Saturday when they attempt to rectify a poor away record against the Knights.

After struggling early last season, the Storm are trying to embrace their time away together, and with wins over Leeds in the World Club Challenge and in their opening NRL match in Cronulla, early signs suggest it's working.

"We want to make sure that we've got a good attitude when we're away and try to have a bit of fun and make sure we enjoy each others company," said coach Craig Bellamy.

"It's a new mentality for us but we need to have a good attitude away this year because of how many games we've got away early in the year, we certainly don't want to drop too many games or you're chasing your tail for the rest of it."

In the opening 10 NRL rounds Melbourne are away for six matches, and Bellamy said that as well as some organised "fun activities", they would rely on popular players such Brett Finch and skipper Cam Smith to keep the mood light.

"It started on the trip to England ... where it was a matter of not letting the weather or the conditions alter our attitude or our mentality to things we wanted to do on or off the field.

"That worked really well for us over there so we've decided we'll try the same sort of mentality with the first few games we've got away."

The defending champions have lost eight of their last 10 matches at EnergyAustralia Stadium, and Bellamy is thankful there are no players or coaches leaving Newcastle this week.

The last two times the Storm have travelled to Newcastle, they have faced a home side with a significant reason to lift for the occasion.

"A couple of years ago it was Danny Buderus' last game, even thought he didn't play because he got hurt, but it was a big night up there for Newcastle," Bellamy said.

"And then last year they changed coaches.

"That's no excuse, we've played pretty poorly the last two times we've been there and we're very hopeful we can turn that around this week."

While the Storm ground out 14-10 win over the Sharks, the Knights, written off after forwards Danny Wicks and Chris Houston quit in the pre-season as they face drugs charges, surprised with an away victory over the highly-rated Bulldogs.

Bookmakers still aren't convinced, with the home side paying $A2.20 for a win to Melbourne's $A1.65, but Bellamy said the Knights deserved better.

"They played great last week, a lot of people seemed surprised by that but when you have a look at the side they've got it's a good footy team on paper and they showed that last week against the Bulldogs.

"It was a great effort from them."

Test hooker Smith will again play halfback in place of the injured Cooper Cronk, with the coach expecting more fluidity from his attack this week.

Former Newcastle and Parramatta backrower Todd Lowrie is set to make his debut for the club, facing a final fitness test on his injured groin.

- AAP