Warriors fall to Storm on Anzac Day despite almighty effort

Warriors players react to conceding a try during the round eight Anzac Day NRL match between the Melbourne Storm and New Zealand Warriors. Photosport

The Warriors have fallen again on Anzac Day in Melbourne – but what an almighty effort.

They pushed the Melbourne Storm to the limit, defying the loss of Tohu Harris, Charnze Nicoll-Klokstad and Jazz Tevaga to injury and the sinbinning of Dylan Walker, before eventually falling 30-22.

Given what they have endured in this fixture over the years, they certainly passed the examination, proving they can live with NRL heavyweights.

But they will cross the Tasman on Wednesday with a sense of what might have been, after holding a 22-12 lead early in the second half.

They weren’t able to maintain the quality of a brilliant first period, while the Storm’s greater big match experience proved the difference, as well as their quality in key positions.

But the Warriors played without luck – especially with their injury toll – while the home side benefited from some questionable calls, particularly with their fourth try.

It was a brutal contest, with the Warriors ending with no interchange players on the bench and there may be long term ramifications, with Harris (knee) and Tevaga (achilles) expected to be out for the foreseeable future. The Warriors made a remarkable start, with two unanswered tries in the first 11 minutes.

They clicked into gear straight away – after the prolonged, emotional last post ceremony – and earned an early penalty. From there Johnson held up the defensive line, before Jackson Ford ran off a pinpoint Dylan Walker pass. The Storm were repelled – with Edward Kosi doing enough to deny Reimis Smith – before an even better try.

After rolling up the field, slick hands from Nicoll-Klokstad sent Dallin Watene-Zeleniak across, after a cut out ball from Johnson had created space. As Warriors fans were rubbing their eyes with disbelief, Justin Olam crossed with Melbourne’s first opportunity, after a brilliant Cameron Munster 40-20.

But the Warriors kept ploughing forward – before Addin Fonua-Blake – who was the best player on the field in the opening quarter, smashed through three defenders under the posts for an 18-6 lead.

Unfortunately, that was as good as it got. Melbourne were always going to strike back and the introduction of Kiwis enforcer Nelson Asofa-Solomona changed the dynamic. The Storm started to gain a few penalties, while the Warriors, who had been mistake free, came up with some errors.

Harris exited after a heavy collision with Tom Ale, appearing to re-injure his right knee, before Munster strolled across after Johnson was pinged for taking a drop out off the mark. To close a difficult period Walker was binned – after a head slam on Eli Katoa – and only some desperate defence kept their lead intact.

That courage paid off, with Watene-Zelezniak’s second try just after the interval, after slick hands from Adam Pompey and Nicoll-Klokstad sent him to the corner. But instead of capitalising, the Warriors got loose again, with Watene-Zelezniak caught out badly defensively, allowing Xavier Coates to set up Nick Meaney.

As the match settled into a grind, the Warriors suffered a second major loss, with Nicoll-Klokstad off for an HIA after getting his head position wrong. The tide was turning and a fortunate rebound from a kick, led to Meaney’s controversial second, with the try not being referred to the bunker despite an apparent knock on.

The calls started to go Melbourne’s way, as the Warriors discipline slipped and the casualties mounted. The visitors couldn’t produce a rousing finale, with so many players out of position and the Storm iced the match with Grant’s 85th minute try.

Warriors 22 (Jackson Ford, Dallin Watene-Zelezniak 2, Addin Fonua-Blake tries; Shaun Johnson 3 cons) Melbourne Storm 30 (Justin Olam, Cameron Munster, Nick Meaney 2, Harry Grant tries; Meaney 5 cons) Halftime 18-12