Rugby League: Warriors torn to pieces by rampant Storm

By Peter Jessup

How to lose at rugby league: Move slowly on attack, watch the opposition run, fail to complete your own sets of six and, when you do, kick the ball straight down the opposition's throat.

The Warriors never gave themselves a chance at Ericsson Stadium last night, giving Melbourne an early 10-0 start then - just when it seemed they might come back - softening up again to let the Storm run out 38-10 winners.

The Warriors were out-Warrior'd on attack, Melbourne taking it too them in broken play with off-loads and back-up.

And their defence ... any side that gets eight tries in this competition is getting them too easy. And no way could the home side claim poor refereeing this time.

Soft tackling allowed Melbourne far too much easy progress in the early stages.

The Warriors needed to signal their intentions with some damaging hits and certainly missed Tony Tuimavave in that department.

Coach Mark Graham showed planty of faith in replacing him with 19-year-old, week-old signing Wairangi Koopu. He showed he's got a good future but has much to learn, mostly about the speed of the top-level game.

When the Storm forwards found out the Warriors' middle was marshmallow they ran at it, the big forwards at Gene Ngamu. You could FEEL Ngamu trying but maybe he was trying too hard and was rattled by the tackling - kicks too deep or out on the full, a pass intercepted and a late throw Tony Tatupu knocked on.

The home side and the crowd of around 10,000 was shocked by two early tries, Storm centre Paul Bell and prop Robbie Kearns running straight through ineffective tackles.

The Warriors showed some spark towards the end of the half and were rewarded when Stacey Jones dropped a bomb with pinpoint accuracy for Lee Oudenryn to speed on to.

They could have gone to the break wih a lucky 10-6, but in the next attack Jones put a fifth-tackle kick straight to an unmarked Marcus Bai and the Papua New Guinea speedster ran the 70 metres to take another four points.

So the Warriors needed the first points of the second spell. They didn't get them, Matt Geyer converting a spilled pass and some quick passing for another, then coverting his try. At 6-20 the fat lady was lining up on the sideline.

She'd soon moved to the halfway line and the Ericsson shuffle started as the Storm broke out from broken play and took the home side by surprise too often to mention.

Melbourne 38: Paul Bell 2, Marcus Bai 2, Matt Geyer 2, Robbie Kearns, Ben Roarty tries; Matt Geyer 2 cons, Brett Kimmorley 1 con.

Auckland 10: Lee Oudenryn, Ali Lauitiiti tries; Stacey Jones 1 con.

Halftime: 14-6.