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.
Emric
Guest
Warriors get slammed again.. Warriors suck
Junior
Roar Guru
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.
Junior
Roar Guru
Yeah, close game again between these two. Warriors seemed to run out of puff by the end. Storm too good.
Junior
Roar Guru
FULL TIME: Storm 22 Warriors 12 Storm close this one out. Warriors valiant but the visitors too good.
Junior
Roar Guru
77′ Storm 22 Warriors 12 Hurrell makes another burst but throws it back in desperation and Warriors turn over possession. Game's gone.
Junior
Roar Guru
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.
Junior
Roar Guru
73′ Storm 16 Warriors 12 Maatulino rocks Quinn with the hit of the night. Can this lift the Warriors?
Junior
Roar Guru
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.
Junior
Roar Guru
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.
Junior
Roar Guru
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.
Junior
Roar Guru
69′ Storm 16 Warriors 12 Mateo has an eye injury but is battling on. Warriors need his craft in the final 11 minutes.
Junior
Roar Guru
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.
Junior
Roar Guru
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.
Junior
Roar Guru
65′ Storm 16 Warriors 12 Bromwich drops intercept off a Fish on first Warriors tackle. Warriors scrum 30m from their line
Junior
Roar Guru
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.
Junior
Roar Guru
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.
Junior
Roar Guru
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.
Junior
Roar Guru
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.
Junior
Roar Guru
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."
Junior
Roar Guru
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