NZ Warriors vs Melbourne Storm: NRL live scores and blog
Roar Guru By Junior, 3 Jun 2012 Junior is a Roar Guru & Live Blogger
- Tagged:
- live blog, Melbourne Storm, New Zealand Warriors, NRL, Rugby League
LIVE SCORES
Scores updated each minute. REFRESH NOW
Warriors Vs. Melbourne |
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|---|---|---|
2012 NRL Premiership Season, 3 June, 2012 |
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| Mt Smart Stadium, Auckland | ||
| Melbourne 22 defeated Warriors 12 | ||
| Warriors | Melbourne | |
| 12 | FINAL SCORE | 22 |
| 2 | TRIES | 4 |
| 2/2 | CONVERSION KICKS | 3/4 |
| 0/0 | PENALTY GOALS | 0/1 |
| 0/0 | FIELD GOAL | 0/0 |
Top scorers:
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Important moments:
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| Referee: M Cecchin |
| Touch judges: P Holland & Adam Gee |
The New Zealand Warriors take on the Melbourne Storm at Mt Smart Stadium on Sunday 3 June. Join us for live scores and commentary from 2:00pm AEST.
The Storm have only lost one game all season and have gapped the rest on the competition ladder.
The Warriors however have troubled Craig Bellamy’s men in the past and they’ll be looking to turn them over again.
The vagaries of the modern day NRL draw means these two teams met less than 40 days ago. The Storm ran out 32-14 winners on ANZAC Day, but the game was tighter than that as Melbourne crossed for three late tries to blow it apart. Whippet fullback Kevin Locke also left the field early and Krisnan Inu (since moved to the Bulldogs) made a few crucial errors filling in at the back.
Still, the Warriors go into the clash with some confidence. They have won four out of five games at Mt Smart this season and have beaten the Storm in three of their last five encounters, including last year’s Preliminary Final played in Melbourne. The 16-day rest since their last game is ostensibly a positive as well, though it can also be a hindrance.
The Warriors have announced an unchanged 17 for this clash, with Joe Ropati and Nathan Friend still absent with long-term injuries. There is mail around that Locke may be a late inclusion for the Warriors.
Like the Warriors, Melbourne have named an unchanged 17 from the team that dispatched the under-strength Broncos last round. The Storm squad has injury concerns too, with Sika Manu, Kevin Proctor and Brian Norrie all unavailable for selection this week. With Billy Slater, Cooper Cronk and skipper Cameron Smith all fit, rested and available however, they still present a formidable challenge.
Journeyman forward Michael Greenfield, named on the Storm bench, is in doubt with a neck injury. Ryan Hinchciffe has been named to play in the second row to accommodate Smith back at starting hooker with Rory Kostjasyn moving back to the pine.
The key to today’s game, as ever, will be whether the Warriors turn up with the right attitude in defence. It’s a simple equation. If they turn up, they stand a good chance of stifling the space for Cronk and Smith to work their wizardry. If they do not turn up, Slater and his outside backs will cash in.
Each time the Storm have taken the field this season, they have averaged 30 points and conceded an average of less than two converted tries. A daunting record.
Prediction: Storm by 4
Can the Warriors continue their impressive record against the Storm after an extended layoff or will the Storm be allowed to play their clinical style to secure their eleventh win in twelve?
Find out from 2:00pm AEST as we cover the action with live scores and commentary. If you’re watching or following along, feel free to leave a comment in the space below.
The Crowd Says (62) | Page 1 of Comments
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11:27pm
Emric said | 11:27pm | Report comment
Warriors get slammed again.. Warriors suck
3:59pm
Junior said | 3:59pm | Report comment
FULL TIME SUMMARY: Storm 22 Warriors 12
Storm march on to another victory in true Storm-style. Bellamy should be happy (or less grumpy) with that effort from his team. After giving up 12 easy points in the first 15 minutes, the Storm didn’t concede again. And they looked as slick as ever with the ball too, with Slater in particularly good form (and that’s saying something). The Warriors shouldn’t be too distressed with their own performance. Plenty of teams will do a lot worse against Melbourne Storm this season. If the Kiwi side can cut down the errors and keep their discipline in tact, they should be able to compete for longer periods against teams of this calibre and could well give the competition a real shake. Thanks Roarers for joining us on our live NRL blog this afternoon. Hope you enjoyed the game.
3:44pm
Junior said | 3:44pm | Report comment
FULL TIME: Storm 22 Warriors 12
Storm close this one out. Warriors valiant but the visitors too good.
3:42pm
Junior said | 3:42pm | Report comment
77′ Storm 22 Warriors 12
Hurrell makes another burst but throws it back in desperation and Warriors turn over possession. Game’s gone.
3:41pm
Junior said | 3:41pm | Report comment
75′ Storm 22 Warriors 12
TRY STORM: Smith goes over but Billy did all the work. The Beast made a run down the left hand side and threw the ball in as he went into touch.The ball found its way to Slater (who else?) who stepped around potential tacklers and stood in the tackle and popped the ball onto Smith’s chest over the top. Smith dived over under the posts and converted his own try.
3:38pm
Junior said | 3:38pm | Report comment
73′ Storm 16 Warriors 12
Maatulino rocks Quinn with the hit of the night. Can this lift the Warriors?
3:37pm
Junior said | 3:37pm | Report comment
72′ Storm 16 Warriors 12
Johnson takes Cronk kick and streams away and brought down on the half way line. Bomb on the last taken Duffie.
3:35pm
Junior said | 3:35pm | Report comment
71′ Storm 16 Warriors 12
Vave on for the Storm and makes great yards, setting the table for the Storm machine to do its thing.
3:34pm
Junior said | 3:34pm | Report comment
70′ Storm 16 Warriors 12
Warriors looking tired. Lot of defending in this half. Hurrell claims the bomb on the last and Warriors have 80m to the Storm line.
3:32pm
Junior said | 3:32pm | Report comment
69′ Storm 16 Warriors 12
Mateo has an eye injury but is battling on. Warriors need his craft in the final 11 minutes.
3:31pm
Junior said | 3:31pm | Report comment
68′ Storm 16 Warriors 12
Maloney kick stays in in goal and O’Neill has to bring it back for the Storm. A great defensive set from the Warriors would be ideal here.
3:30pm
Junior said | 3:30pm | Report comment
66′ Storm 16 Warriors 12
Duffie this time does intercept inside the Storm half. Warriors need the pill and need to do something with it. Storm won’t throw this away easily.
3:28pm
Junior said | 3:28pm | Report comment
65′ Storm 16 Warriors 12
Bromwich drops intercept off a Fish on first Warriors tackle. Warriors scrum 30m from their line
3:27pm
Junior said | 3:27pm | Report comment
62′ Storm 16 Warriors 12
A bust on the left side this time but Nielsen pass goes forward. Crowd of 20,000 plus is Warriors’ best for the season.
3:25pm
Junior said | 3:25pm | Report comment
60′ Storm 16 Warriors 12
Lots of yards in that set from the Storm. Looking very Storm-like let’s just say. Towering Widdop bomb claimed by the Fish. Storm give away penalty and Warriors relieved. Warriors need a break to compose themselves. ‘Warriors’ and ‘compose’ in the same sentence – not everyday you see that.
3:22pm
Junior said | 3:22pm | Report comment
57′ Storm 16 Warriors 12
TRY STORM: Chambers goes through the defensive line and over the try line. Off a flat Cronk short pass which could have gone either way. Smith converts.
3:19pm
Junior said | 3:19pm | Report comment
55′ Warriors 12 Storm 10
Warriors looking pumped on that set but Johnson kick goes dead and relieves pressure. Johnson bumped around like a pinball after kick but nothing in it.
3:18pm
Junior said | 3:18pm | Report comment
54′ Warriors 12 Storm 10
Slater knocks on under pressure from a Smith pass. Warriors scrum on half way. Billy complains. Ref to Billy: “It happens mate.”
3:16pm
Junior said | 3:16pm | Report comment
52′ Warriors 12 Storm 10
Fisiiahi (OK FIsh) is back on. Maloney makes a final strong charge from fullback before the Fish gets back into position. Penalty Warriors. 40m out from Storm line
3:15pm
Junior said | 3:15pm | Report comment
50′ Warriors 12 Storm 10
Warriors just hanging on. Slater another burst but Warriors snuff out the attack. Warriors work it away and finish the set with a brilliant Johnson kick.
3:12pm
Junior said | 3:12pm | Report comment
48′ Warriors 12 Storm 10
Slater scythes through the middle and is away for point but is called back fro a forward pass. The move? Yep, outside-inside.
3:11pm
Junior said | 3:11pm | Report comment
47′ Warriors 12 Storm 10
Warriors get it back. Johnson puts up bomb on the final tackle but O’Neill defuses and goes back to 20m fro Storm.
3:09pm
Junior said | 3:09pm | Report comment
45′ Warriors 12 Storm 10
Now Maloney knocks it on 45m from Warriors line. Storm get early chance for points.
3:08pm
Junior said | 3:08pm | Report comment
43′ Warriors 12 Storm 10
Maloney takes quick tap from 20m and finds Vatuvei who makes 20 meters. Warriors cough it up later in the count and Storm now work it away with some charges from Lowe et al
3:06pm
Junior said | 3:06pm | Report comment
42′ Warriors 12 Storm 10
Warriors run it on the last. Looked exciting but finished up kicking out over the sideline. Storm have it back just inside their own half.
3:04pm
Junior said | 3:04pm | Report comment
41′ Warriors 12 Storm 10
There’s the kick off. Storm taking it away from their line
3:03pm
Junior said | 3:03pm | Report comment
HALF TIME KEY STATS ALERT:
Possession: 57% Warriors 43% Storm
Both teams have 88% completion rates in this high quality affair. Storm has made four line breaks to two and more offloads (seven to four). Less missed tackles too (14 vs 21 for Warriors).
3:00pm
Junior said | 3:00pm | Report comment
HALF TIME SUMMARY: Warriors 12 Storm 10
The game has certainly lived up to expectations. Warriors took an early lead with two converted tries and were looking very strong. It was a matter of possession though and once the Storm began to get some they made it count. A couple of tries of their own and a couple of near misses shows just how potent this Storm team is. The Warriors’ big men are being forced to move around as Melbourne attack both extremities of the field. Up the middle too, the Storm have made good yards on the back of quick play the balls. Warriors will have to address this at half time. Warriors defended well towards the end but have become less effective with the ball as the half has played out. We know the Warriors can find something when up against the Storm. Can they do it again here? We’ll be back in a few moments to find out.
2:51pm
Junior said | 2:51pm | Report comment
HALF TIME Warriors 12 Storm 10
Kick unsuccessful from Smith. Players off to the sheds for a well earned break.
3:00pm
Ian Whitchurch said | 3:00pm | Report comment
Good game of footy so far – its beem a great week for close matches
3:46pm
Junior said | 3:46pm | Report comment
Yeah, close game again between these two. Warriors seemed to run out of puff by the end. Storm too good.
2:50pm
Junior said | 2:50pm | Report comment
40′ Warriors 12 Storm 10
Penalty Storm against Mannering for not being square. No time on the clock. It’s out wide on Smith’s wrong side but Storm look to take the two to even it up,
2:48pm
Junior said | 2:48pm | Report comment
39′ Warriors 12 Storm 10
Right side attacking raid this time. Slater, everywhere it seems, puts in grubber and Maloney coolly takes it touch in goal. Fisiiahi literally back on the bike, should be back on the field later.
2:46pm
Junior said | 2:46pm | Report comment
38′ Warriors 12 Storm 10
Attacking raid down the left. Duffie shows real pace but bundled over the line. Last touched Warriors. Will want to hold them out so close to the break.
2:45pm
Junior said | 2:45pm | Report comment
37′ Warriors 12 Storm 10
Back to back penalties to Storm. Warriors sloppy. Tap taken by Storm 45m out from Warriors line.
2:44pm
Junior said | 2:44pm | Report comment
36′ Warriors 12 Storm 10
Rapira has hyper-extended left elbow. Could be back later.
2:43pm
Junior said | 2:43pm | Report comment
35′ Warriors 12 Storm 10
Warriors getting rocked here by quick play the balls, but Maloney again picks up the kick and works it away, Relieving penalty as Smith strips the ball from the Beast. Braver man than me.
2:41pm
Junior said | 2:41pm | Report comment
32′ Warriors 12 Storm 10
Another outside inside move with Smith to Cronk to Slater busts them open but Warriors bring Nielsen down short. Cronk grubber on the last scooped up expertly by Maloney now covering at fullback. Rapira now off too.
2:39pm
Junior said | 2:39pm | Report comment
29′ Warriors 12 Storm 10
Ad-lib bomb from Maloney on the last. Duffie turned inside out and punches it dead. Fisiiahi (he of the two i’s) apparently has a medial ligament strain at this stage. Has gone off for treatment. Rapira looking proppy too with a dodgy arm.
2:36pm
Junior said | 2:36pm | Report comment
28′ Warriors 12 Storm 10
Fisiiahi hurt but struggles to his feet. Leg injury. Will watch him closely. Warriors force line drop out. Another chance for the home team to capitalise.
2:35pm
Junior said | 2:35pm | Report comment
27′ Warriors 12 Storm 10
Quick dummy half darts from the Storm. Widdop puts up bomb on the last and Storm get it back but changeover to Warriors.
2:32pm
Junior said | 2:32pm | Report comment
25′ Warriors 12 Storm 10
TRY STORM: It’s Ref’s Call and he awards it. Lowe was pushed back but on field ref ruled he reached the line first. Good lead up with an outside-inside line bust. Smith misses kick.
2:30pm
Junior said | 2:30pm | Report comment
24′ Warriors 12 Storm 6
Video ref call: Lowe lunges from dummy half. Looks very close. Maybe benefit of doubt. Let’s have a look…
2:29pm
Junior said | 2:29pm | Report comment
23′ Warriors 12 Storm 6
Both teams exchanging solid sets with good kicks. Storm bringing it away in their own half.
2:26pm
Junior said | 2:26pm | Report comment
20′ Warriors 12 Storm 6
TRY STORM: Did they need that. Cronk switches point of attack and finds Widdop on the blindside who steps inside a couple of lame tackles from Hurrell and Fisiiahi to score. Smith converts. We have a match on our hands.
2:24pm
Junior said | 2:24pm | Report comment
18′ Warriors 12 Storm 0
Warriors looking outstanding in attack. Another near chance but Tupou taken over the sideline just short. Storm need this set with the ball just to get their breath back. Offside penalty relieves all pressure. Suck it in boys.
2:21pm
Junior said | 2:21pm | Report comment
15′ Warriors 12 Storm 0
TRY WARRIORS: Vatuvei strides over off a 25m pass from Johnson. Deserve their lead the Kiwi side. Kick goes over from the other sideline this time. Will the hoodoo strike again?
2:19pm
Junior said | 2:19pm | Report comment
13′ Warriors 6 Storm 0
Not much of a threat in that set but Warriors get penalty for protecting kick receiver from a bomb. Warriors would love to go over again here.
2:17pm
Junior said | 2:17pm | Report comment
12′ Warriors 6 Storm 0
Damaging run from the Hurrell-cane. What thighs! Another repeat set for the Warriors.
2:16pm
Junior said | 2:16pm | Report comment
11′ Warriors 6 Storm 0
Lowrie knocks on for Storm, Warriors recover and get penalty for Storm not releasing this time.
2:15pm
Junior said | 2:15pm | Report comment
10′ Warriors 6 Storm 0
Penalty Storm, Maloney not releasing player. Good position to attack from for Storm.
2:13pm
Junior said | 2:13pm | Report comment
7′ Warriors 6 Storm 0
TRY WARRIORS: Conrad Hurrell goes over easily after play broke down and Duffie slipped over at the crucial moment. Warriors looking sharp early. Conversion goes through from out wide by Maloney.
2:10pm
Junior said | 2:10pm | Report comment
4′ Warriors 0 Storm 0
Innocuous bomb from Johnson taken comfortably by Slater. Ryles loses ball in tackle from Mara and Matulino. Attacking scrum for Warriors.
2:08pm
Junior said | 2:08pm | Report comment
2′ Warriors 0 Storm 0
Some big defence form the Warriors. That’s what they need today. Cronk kicks early but misses 40-20. Scrum 25m out from Warriors line.
2:07pm
Junior said | 2:07pm | Report comment
1′ Warriors 0 Storm 0
Solid set from Warriors. Find touch 20m out at the end of the count.
2:06pm
Junior said | 2:06pm | Report comment
1’ There’s the kick off. Storm send it long and Packer takes it up for the for the first hit up.
2:05pm
Junior said | 2:05pm | Report comment
Late, late team change. Rory Kostjasyn will start the game instead of Quinn. Bellamy playing ducks and drakes. There’s a surprise.
1:55pm
Junior said | 1:55pm | Report comment
Quinn starting selection is a strange one. Hinchcliffe is highly regarded. Maybe he has a niggle. Quinn’s played a more utility role in recent weeks. Maybe Bellamy is trying to get him into Ricky’s NSW squad because NSW just MUST HAVE a utility right?
Not long til kick off now. Should be a cracker!
1:54pm
Junior said | 1:54pm | Report comment
Team updates: Only change to the respective 17s announced midweek is the expected withdrawal of Michael Greenfield due to a neck injury. Siosaia Vave (ex-Sharks) will take his place on the bench. Surprisingly, Anthony Quinn, named on the Storm bench initially, will start at lock, with Lowrie moving to the second row and Ryan Hinchcliffe moving back to the bench.
Warriors are 1 to 17. Kevin Locke played NSW Cup for the Auckland Vulcans yesterday and reportedly came through unscathed. Could make his return to first grade for the Warriors next weekend.
1:48pm
Junior said | 1:48pm | Report comment
Welcome to this afternoon’s live NRL blog of the NZ Warriors vs Melbourne Storm clash from Auckland’s Mt Smart Stadium. Crowd looks pretty healthy. Probably helps that the sun is out in Auckland. Don’t adjust your sets.
These two teams have given us some tight contests in recent times. Should be no exception today. No Krisnan Inu at the Warriors anymore so expect fewer errors (or fewer tries or match-winning field goals or fewer something). The Warrriors forwards seem to relish the challenge of taking on the benchmark Storm team. Will they turn up again here or will Smith & co. be allowed to pull the strings for another Storm victory?
Join us very shortly to find out. Feel free to share your thoughts with us during the game.
1:30pm
Junior said | 1:30pm | Report comment
NYC full time score: Warriors 30 Storm 8. Much tighter second half. Junior Warriors closed out the game nicely and move up to fourth on the ladder for now. Two other games still to be played this round.
12:28pm
Junior said | 12:28pm | Report comment
NYC half time score: Warriors 24 Storm 4. Five tries to one to the home team. Warriors NYC team running sixth heading into this game, Storm boys sitting in 12th.