Melbourne Storm
30
Match Complete
New Zealand Warriors
22
| N. Meaney |  | 76 | ||
| H. Grant |  | 75 | ||
| N. Meaney | | 58 | ||
| N. Meaney | | 56 | ||
| N. Meaney | | 49 | ||
| N. Meaney | | 47 | ||
| 44 | | D. Watene-Zelezniak | ||
| N. Meaney | | 35 | ||
| C. Munster | | 34 | ||
| 21 | | S. Johnson | ||
| 20 | | A. Fonua-Blake | ||
| N. Meaney | | 16 | ||
| J. Olam | | 14 | ||
| 12 | | S. Johnson | ||
| 10 | | D. Watene-Zelezniak | ||
| 5 | | S. Johnson | ||
| 4 | | J. Ford |
| 5 | Tries | 4 | ||
| 5 | Conversions | 3 | ||
| 0 | Penalty Goals | 0 | ||
| 0 | Field Goals | 0 |
NRL’s Anzac Round comes to a conclusion with the Melbourne Storm hosting the New Zealand Warriors at AAMI Park. Join The Roar for live scores and commentary from 7pm AEST.
The Storm will be disappointed at their poor attacking performance from their defeat in Sydney last week, but they showed that they have it in them to defensively stay in games. Nick Meaney and Nelson Asofa Solomona come back into the Storm side from injury, while Tui Kamikamica misses out due to suspension.
The Warriors are enjoying the great start they have had, but a huge mental hurdle awaits as they have gotten comprehensively outplayed in the past two ANZAC Day clashes against the Storm. Marata Niukore returns from suspension, boosting the pack as Josh Curran is demoted to the bench.
Prediction
Both sides are buoyed with key inclusions. The key battle remains between New Zealand halfbacks Jahrome Hughes and Shaun Johnson. Johnson is enjoying a late resurgence to his career and is the key man for the Warriors to come up with a victory. But the Storm rarely lose at home, especially in an Anzac Day clash. Nick Meaney to slot in a match winning field goal in the final five minutes. Storm by 1.
Game information
Venue – AAMI Park, Melbourne
Kickoff – 7pm AEST
TV – Fox League
Stream – Kayo Sports
Odds (via PlayUp) – Storm $1.23, Warriors $4
Storm: 1. Nick Meaney 2. William Warbrick 3. Reimis Smith 4. Justin Olam 5. Xavier Coates 6. Cameron Munster 7. Jahrome Hughes 8. Nelson Asofa-Solomona 9. Harry Grant 10. Christian Welch 11. Trent Loiero 12. Eliesa Katoa 13. Josh King 14. Bronson Garlick 15. Alec MacDonald 16. Tom Eisenhuth 17. Tariq Sims
Warriors: 1. Charnze Nicoll-Klokstad 2. Dallin Watene-Zelezniak 3. Marcelo Montoya 4. Adam Pompey 5. Edward Kosi 6. Dylan Walker 7. Shaun Johnson 8. Addin Fonua-Blake 9. Freddy Lussick 10. Jazz Tevaga 11. Jackson Ford 12. Marata Niukore 13. Tohu Harris 14. Bayley Sironen 15. Josh Curran 16. Bunty Afoa 17. Tom Ale
Nick Maguire
Roar Rookie
I agree Joe, I don't think any Storm players should be in origin!
Joe
Roar Rookie
No way Meaney is ready for Origin...threw that dud pass that resulted in a try. Still got a lot to work on in his game.
WithTheDawn
Roar Rookie
I reckon he didn’t cost any tries (one where he is two on one out wide is hardly his fault, another where there was again a big overlap and he tried to rush up and shut it down), scored two of his own and was excellent under the high ball. Id honestly have him as one of our better performer. Different perspectives I guess.
WithTheDawn
Roar Rookie
Could agree more mate. At least we have improved to the point where we need to be screwed over this badly to lose to the Storm in Melbourne though.
jimmmy
Roar Rookie
Cost you two trys mate. Nothing makes up for that.
WithTheDawn
Roar Rookie
Not too much they can do when the other side is gifted tries from clear knock ons, etc. I’d say they played well enough to win tonight, can’t ask for much more. They also had no bench for the last 15 mins or so.
WithTheDawn
Roar Rookie
Extremely. I’d say it’s the usual rubbish, but this was worse than the usual. Reckon with the standard array of 50/50 calls going against us we would have held on. Still proud of what they did given what they were up against.
WithTheDawn
Roar Rookie
Montoya - he is still there. Not sure what game you were watching though mate, DWZ was one of our best.
Relaxed and Comfortable
Roar Rookie
Good luck Gooner boys - whoever you are :silly:
DP Schaefer
Roar Rookie
:unhappy:
Sylvester
Roar Rookie
To be fair to SJ, they had no field position to attack from. It was basically bomb from halfway every set.
Jokerman
Roar Guru
The Warriors couldn’t recover when the ref changed the tune around the 27 min mark and did everything to help Melbourne. It seemed to deflate the Warriors and Johnson withdrew his game and his kicking became innocuous. The bin, the try, the head high by Johnson the non-head high on Walker with ten to go …was all too much. A neutral ref and the Warriors win. Hard to watch. I just had a feeling around the 25 min mark that the ref was going to decide the game. They were pretty even regarding ability…the ref was too much of a hurdle against a quality team.
Sylvester
Roar Rookie
We can talk about "gutsy" performances, but the Warriors need to win these if they want to be a genuine top 4 side.
Agree
Phil
Roar Rookie
What an effort from the Warriors. Their most impressive trait is their gutsy play, fighting to the end. Melbourne can take their lucky two points tonight and relish the win as they didn't deserve it. The improvement under Andrew Webster is incredible, the unheralded coach.
jimmmy
Roar Rookie
The Warriors had another winger before DWZ came back. I thought he was way better.
Arnab Bhattacharya
Roar Guru
The Warriors play the Roosters next week while the Storm get a bye before they face the Rabbitohs in Magic Round. Thank you all for joining. I’m off to bite my nails for the next few days as I hope my Gooner boys can beat Manchester City in the EPL on Thursday morning. I will be back on Friday night for Broncos v Rabbitohs. Till then, take care and goodnight
Duncan Smith
Roar Guru
Yeah I agree. That 3-0 penalty count to the Warriors in the first quater, it was like he was trying to get them to a 12 point lead or something.
Arnab Bhattacharya
Roar Guru
Before I go, Arnab’s takeaways segments time Storm 1. NAS a huge difference. Lifted the energy for the Storm and forced the Warriors into lethargic mode. Helped the Storm build some patience and grind their way back into the game 2. Get Meaney into the NSW Origin side. 218 run metres, 2 tries and 5 conversions. He’s on a hot streak of form. Offers so much as a winger if he makes the NSW side, and the Blues won’t miss the speed of JAC if Meaney is called up (Freddy, read this) Warriors 1. Warriors show rear character. They finally have an identity to be proud of, and they will not back down no matter what. Real premiership traits. 2. Johnson stars again. What a player he’s becoming this year. May this form continue for the rest of his career
Duncan Smith
Roar Guru
That was a great game. Well done Storm, and to the Warriors who are playing the best I've seen since their era of 2002-03.