At Go Media Stadium, the Melbourne Storm defeated the New Zealand Warriors 38–24, extending their winning run over the Auckland team to 16 games.
After 18 minutes, Andrew Webster’s team was up 14 to nil, and it looked like this would be one of his team’s easiest wins after 20 minutes.
The Storm’s series of cheap set restarts and the first set penalty gave the Warriors the opportunity to establish themselves well inside Melbourne’s 20.
After four minutes, Adam Pompey collapsed, and just before Charnze Nicoll-Klokstad’s amazing flip pass, Marcelo Montoya managed to find himself with his first of the evening.
After 15 minutes, the home team held 82% of the possession and had forced 19 of the Storm’s 20 tackles. In contrast, Melbourne had made four times as many tackles and had only completed three teams at that point.
But as soon as the Storm got themselves together, reduced the number of mistakes they made, and straightened out their discipline, the tide turned in their favor.
Throughout the first forty minutes of the match, Jahrome Hughes had a stronger impression on the match and helped his team score three of their four tries.
Corey Parker of Fox League praised Storm No. 7 on commentary, saying that Hughes is “picking apart the Warriors’ defensive line, single-handedly.”
Throughout the first forty minutes of the match, Jahrome Hughes had a stronger impression on the match and helped his team score three of their four tries.
Corey Parker of Fox League praised Storm No. 7 on commentary, saying that Hughes is “picking apart the Warriors’ defensive line, single-handedly.”
It was much the same in the second half. The first few minutes of the match saw New Zealand’s intensity on display, both with the ball and in defense.
Mitch Barnett pulled three defenders across the line in the 45th minute to score and put the Warriors within striking distance of victory.
Before Warriors wingers Marcelo Montoya and Dallin Watene-Zelezniak were sin-binned in rapid succession, the game appeared to be decided, forcing Andrew Webster’s team to play defense with 11 men for a short while.
As they tend to do, Melbourne picked apart their weakened opposition, showcasing the ruthlessness that has them leading the competition halfway through the season.
Electric fullback Sua Faalogo scored in the first set after Montoya was binned, before Coates crossed a handful of tackles after DWZ was sent for 10.
There was no coming back from there, as Melbourne, and Hughes in particular, tightened the screws and rode the game out, delivering the two points to Craig Bellamy’s side and ensuring the Warriors will have to wait even longer for their first win over the Storm since 2015.