Widnes made it three wins from three in Super League this year with a 32-18 triumph over big-spending Salford Red Devils
Salford are trying to do things a little quicker when it comes to forward progress thanks to Dr Marwan Koukash's millions, but were beaten in front of the Sky Sports cameras for a second successive Thursday.
Kevin Brown marked his return from injury with two tries as Widnes - who still have a game in hand due to Wigan's World Club Challenge commitments - turned around a 12-8 half-time deficit that was hardly a fair reflection on the balance of the first 40 minutes.
They nearly scored on their opening set but had to wait until the 14th minute to eventually break the deadlock, Chris Dean the man to get over during a third successive set.
Salford didn't lack for effort, Harrison Hansen producing one huge hit in defence, but struggled to break down a stubborn home defence without Rangi Chase. That was, though, until they crossed twice in the space of two minutes.
It seemed they needed something special to breach Widnes and that's exactly what they got when Greg Johnson grabbed a superb solo score, the winger somehow wriggling free from three tacklers inside his own half before cutting off his right foot to round the stranded Rhys Hanbury.
The Vikings had barely had time to recover when they conceded again, Tim Smith's grubber setting free Jason Walton, who threw the ball inside for Jake Mullaney. The full-back drew his opposite number in Hanbury and then passed on to the supporting Tommy Lee to touch down.
Mullaney added both conversions to make it 12-6, though a Danny Tickle penalty, awarded for obstruction, with the final piece of action in the half cut the gap to four. The scoring continued to alternate in the third quarter, Salford surrendering the lead when Mellor made them pay for allowing fellow half-back Brown's high kick to bounce.
However the Red Devils recovered to go 18-14 ahead when Mullaney stepped off his left foot on three occasions to cut loose and set up a try for Theo Fages that had to be checked by the video official to discover if the young Frenchman had been halted as he attempted to break free.
That, though, was the last time Brian Noble's side would have their noses in front. Hanbury reached out from dummy-half to see the lead change hands for a fourth, and now final, time, before Brown's brace made sure his side would stay perfect.
The former Huddersfield Giant worked a give-and-go to perfection with Macgraff Leuluai to make it a two-score cushion, then made certain of the win when he crashed over on the left-hand side. Tickle finished with a perfect record, kicking all six of his conversion attempts to add to first-half penalty.