The hosts were inspired by centre and two-try hero Jack Bostock, in his first NRL match in 10 months, and hooker Max Plath in one of his greatest club matches in Dolphins colours.
The Storm conceded 24 or more points for the sixth occasion in a row but had turned their attitude around at Suncorp Stadium on Friday night to lead 10-0 late in the first half.
On Thursday the club announced that coach Craig Bellamy had been diagnosed with an unspecified neurological degenerative condition and the players clearly lifted for their respected mentor, but it wasn't enough.
Storm general manager of football Frank Ponissi fronted the post-match press conference and said Bellamy was an inspiration.
"It's been a big week for Craig. With respect he was never coming in (to media), win lose or draw," Ponissi said.
"He has been through a lot with his family but the way he coached tonight, you wouldn't think anything was wrong, he is quite remarkable.
"He is already working on next week, that's the great thing about him. He just wants to now focus on coaching and getting us back winning."
Already without star half Jahrome Hughes (concussion), the Storm lost his replacement Tyran Wishart in the 13th minute in the process of scoring a try.
Wishart did wonderfully well to burst into a hole and twist his body to get the ball down in traffic but injured his left ankle in the process.
The Perth-bound playmaker hobbled off and 26-year-old half Trent Toelau entered the fray for his club debut.
Last week the Storm allowed 15 line breaks against South Sydney but they were resilient in the first half.
Fullback Sua Faalogo scored one of the great individual tries, his 11th for the season, with an 85m effort. He left Herbie Farnworth in his wake and then beat Dolphins fullback Hamiso Tabuai-Fidow with a sprint and a crafty piece of deception.
In the 39th minute, razzle dazzle got the hosts a try through winger Selwyn Cobbo thanks to a slick cutout pass by Plath.
Tabuai-Fidow was sin-binned early in the second half for holding down Faalogo but the hosts did well not to concede any points.
"I was really proud of that. I thought overall we defended great," Dolphins coach Kristian Woolf said.
When he came back on the Dolphins talisman set up Jamayne Isaako in the corner, and the winger converted his own try to level it up at 10-all.
Dolphins centre Bostock, returning after an ACL recovery, sprinted diagonally from 20m out to score after a brilliant Plath run through the middle.
Bostock, formerly a winger at NRL level, added another when he snaffled an Isaiya Katoa bomb.
"It is great to have Jack back. He wants to be a centre. I see him as a centre and he will be our centre going forward," Woolf said.
Plath had a stunner in front of Queensland coach Billy Slater and is close to a Maroons debut.
"Max is built for it," Dolphins co-captain Tom Gilbert said when asked of Plath's Origin credentials.
The Storm are languishing in 16th position and appear set to miss finals football.
16°C