Shaun continues to shine as Warriors outplay the Storm

The New Zealand Warriors have outplayed the Melbourne Storm at Mt. Smart Stadium in Auckland on a Sunday afternoon of entertaining Rugby League, to score their first back to back win at home all season.

The Storm started positively with a huge kick from the first set of the game that almost saw a 40/20 from Cooper Cronk. The ensuing set almost saw the opening score of the game, but the Warriors defence started as they would continue, bundling Marika Koroibete into touch.

Raymond Faitala-Mariner was unlucky not to score in the 7th minute as he was ruled, via video referee, to have knocked it on after the ball ricocheted off his shoulder into Tomkins.

David Fusitua, in for an injured Konrad Hurrell, made the first big bust of the afternoon, sprinting 40 metres to set-up Tuimoala Lolohea for the first points. Ten minutes later, Fusitua was involved again, as he dived for the corner post, planting the ball deftly in the corner to put the Warriors up 8-0 after 22 minutes. Shaun Johnson nailed the sideline conversion for a 10 point lead.

The rest of the half saw the Warriors punishing defence prevent any scoring from the Melbourne Storm. Shaun Johnson was starting to stamp his authority on the game as he grabbed a Tomkins pass after a quick tap and ran 50 metres only to be foiled by the hand of Koroibete who knocked down the pass.

It was Bodene Thompson that would slice through the wilting Storm defence in the 35th minute. The successful conversion put the Warriors up 16 nil.

If not for two try-saving actions from Jonathan Wright, the Storm would have had something to show for their efforts in first half. The first, a knocked down pass destined for the winger and minutes later a try saving tackle on the Storm's winger Richard Kennar exemplified the commitment the Warriors had in the first half. Enterprising attack and even better defence.

The Warriors, however, are not known for retaining their leads and the second half seemed to re-inforce this as the Storm took just 3 minutes to score through Koroibete. As if on a string, Cooper Cronk, placed a beautiful swinging banana kick to his left winger who simply had to catch and dive to score the first Storm try of the afternoon.

10 minutes later, the Storm would continue their comeback with a smart attacking raid ending with a Kenneath Bromwich try. His first for the season. The unsuccessful conversion made the score 16-8, but the Warriors were starting to leak points, as they are want to do when tired.

In the 57th minute, the Warriors bounced back with a try that will go down as one of the best, if not THE best of the season. A Townsend bomb was caught by Nathan Friend in the air who whilst falling backwards over a Storm player managed to offload it and perform a gymnastic like backflip. Lolohea managed to place the ball down with his fingertips in the corner and the Warriors were up by 12 with 20 minutes to go.

As usual, when the Warriors are playing, anything is possible and just two minutes later, Kenny Bromwich scored his second after a nice pass from Blake Green and Cameron Munster saw him power over the try-line.

It took the brilliance of the best player in the world right now to close out the game for the Warriors. Shaun Johnson. A clever offload from Simon Mannering saw Johnson take the ball 22 metres out and a goose-step, a palm and a sprint later he scored the try that would prove to be the winning points.

The Warriors, always the entertainers, finally managed to close out a game that they dominated in, and scored their first back-to-back win at home all season. For the Melbourne Storm, they just seemed to lack the fire-power to score when they needed to, finding it hard to break the tenacious Warriors defence.

The Storm have now lost four in a row and come up against the Panthers next Friday night in Round 19, the last team they have beaten. The Warriors have won three in a row, moving in to the top four and take on another top four team in the Roosters at Allianz Stadium next Sunday afternoon.

Match Details

New Zealand Warriors 28 Melbourne Storm 14
Venue: Mt Smart Stadium
Crowd: 17278
Halftime Score: New Zealand Warriors 16 Melbourne Storm 0

NEW ZEALAND WARRIORS (28)
Tries: Tuimoala Lolohea (2), Shaun Johnson, David Fusitua, Bodene Thompson
Field Goals: Chad Townsend (0/1)
Conversions: Shaun Johnson (3/5)
Penalty Goals: Shaun Johnson (1/2)

MELBOURNE STORM (14)
Tries: Marika Koroibete, Kenneath Bromwich (2)
Conversions: Cameron Smith (1/3)

LeagueUnlimited.com Players of the Match:

3 points - Shaun Johnson
2 points - David Fusitu'a
1 point - Cooper Cronk

LeagueUnlimited.com Live Commentary

Welcome to Mt Smart Stadium for a clash that's always got plenty of fireworks - the Warriors and Storm will both be keen to keep their spot in the eight intact going into the business end of the season. Kickoff coming up at 2pm. Earlier today the Warriors downed Illawarra 38-22 in VB NSW Cup, while the Storm came out 24-20 winners over the Warriors in Holden Cup Under 20's.

TEAM NEWS - the Warriors have lost three big guns in Manu Vatuvei, Konrad Hurrell and Ryan Hoffman, while the Storm have tinkered with their bench a little. Get the full list of changes in our LATE MAIL.

Tomkins puts boot to ball and Kaufusi takes the first hit up for the Storm.

1: WELL. A near 40-20 for the Storm ends up with the visitors getting their result anyway, Wright tries to bat it in-field but takes it into touch. Storm scrum 18m out!

3: Good early defence from the Warriors, they thwart a Storm left-side raid and put Koroibete into touch. Warriors scrum.

6: First penalty of the afternoon for the Warriors, on their own 30m, they advance to the Storm 40m. Their first chance coming up in Melbourne territory...

7: VIDEO REF | Possible Warriors TRY to Raymond Faitala-Mariner. Looks interesting... on-field call is TRY.

7: Faitala-Mariner plucks it from the air after it bounces of his chest... it went up green, and it comes back... red.

9: Penalty for the Warriors, Storm inside the ten. Another attacking chance now.

9: UNFORCED ERROR NEW ZEALAND WARRIORS
Raymond Faitala-Mariner makes an unforced error.
Townsend delivers an ordinary low pass to RFM, who spills it forward. Storm scrum.

11: TRY NEW ZEALAND WARRIORS
Scored by Tuimoala Lolohea. Kick to come.
BOOM! Tui gets his 7th NRL try, all at this venue! Beautiful right side play inside their own half, set up by Johnson initially. Lolohea runs a good 40m to score!

13: UNSUCCESSFUL CONVERSION NEW ZEALAND WARRIORS
Conversion attempt by Shaun Johnson unsuccessful.
From a difficult position and into the sun, SJ misses his first attempt.

16: VIDEO REFEREE | Possible Storm NO TRY for Richie Kennar. He's plucked a bomb out of the air against Wright, but it doesn't look like he's got it down.

16: NO TRY. Kennar didn't get it down, it's a Warriors handover. Great Warriors desperation there to stop the grounding!

18: Bodene Thompson with an outstanding bust up the middle, then Johnson grubbers on the last which traps Munster in-goal following a spirited chase from Sam Tomkins.

20: The Warriors attack the right side with Johnson and Lolohea, but can't break the line. The Storm run it out of their half now...

21: Chambers get pushed over the sideline on the Warriors 40m line. They'll get it back!

21: Great passing and running downt he right from the home team and the Warriors could be in here through Fusitua! The video ref will check if he's gone out...

22: TRY NEW ZEALAND WARRIORS
Scored by David Fusitua. Kick to come.
What a try to Fusitua! Plants the ball in the corner with an acrobatic leap! Excellent lead-up work from Johnson and Tomkins. Well deserved try to the Warriors!

23: SUCCESSFUL CONVERSION NEW ZEALAND WARRIORS
Conversion attempt by Shaun Johnson successful.
Shaun Johnson from the touch-line, sun in his eyes, nails it!

23: Pretty simple catch and pass try from the Warriors, but they make it look good!

24: From the kick-off, there is an offload from Matulino. It's on the ground, but the Storm end up knocking it on!

25: Munster takes a towering bomb from Johnson well. Storm run it out of their red zone...

27: UNFORCED ERROR NEW ZEALAND WARRIORS
Ben Matulino makes an unforced error.
Matulino drops it cold as the Warriors were running it out of their half. Storm with great field position here...

28: PENALTY Storm - Solid defence here from Warriors, but a little too much attention in the play of the ball..

29: The Storm, through Blake Green, attempt to get over on, but almost certainly held up here. Video ref will check.

30: NO TRY: Blake Green held up. Last tackle, Tomkins chips it through, but the Warriors clean it up.

31: Johnson kicks it straight into the Storm on the last and it trickles over the sideline. The Storm get the feed just 40m out.

32: Storm kick it dead and the Warriors quickly tap from the 20 and back 60 metres! From one end to the other, but they lose it after a solid tackle from Koroibete!

33: Smart play from Shaun Johnson with the tap and run. Even better from Marika to catch him!

33: PENALTY Warriors: End to end stuff. The Storm lose it as they attack the Warriors and now the Warriors have a relieving penalty.

34: It was a hand from Koroibete that knocked a pass from Johnson down in the end to deny the Warriors. Great stuff.

35: TRY NEW ZEALAND WARRIORS
Scored by Bodene Thompson. Kick to come.
They're in! After a frantic few minutes, Bodene, cuts through the Storm line to plant the ball down beside the post. Nice set-up from Mannering and Johnson.

35: SUCCESSFUL CONVERSION NEW ZEALAND WARRIORS
Conversion attempt by Shaun Johnson successful.
Easy conversion for Johnson. Warriors pull out to a tidy lead!

36: UNFORCED ERROR NEW ZEALAND WARRIORS
Charlie Gubb makes an unforced error.
Gubb loses the ball on his own 30m and the Storm have a chance here at the end of the half...

37: Try saver from Johnno Wright! The Storm were attacking the right and the final pass from Chambers is knocked down by Wright. Lucky!

38: PENALTY Storm : Too much attention on Asofa-Solomona there. Storm with a big chance, just 5 metres out...

39: Video Ref: Wow. Another huge try-saver from the Warriors! Looks like a massive tackle from Wright again has knocked Kennar over the sideline!

39: NO TRY: Jonathan Wright has denied the Storm again! This time his last ditch tackle of Kennar has knocked the ball out. Amazing defence!

40: UNSUCCESSFUL FIELD GOAL NEW ZEALAND WARRIORS
Field goal attempt by Chad Townsend unsuccessful.
The Warriors attack at the end of the half and Townsend has a ping at a field goal, but can't nail it. That's half--time!

40: Half-time here at Mt. Smart Stadium and the Warriors have been outstanding! After soaking up early pressure from the Storm, they have run in three tries and been amazing in defence.
The big question. Can they keep it up? We know they are not so good at playing 80 minutes.
Second half coming soon!

40: Kick-off in the second half here as the Storm and Warriors battle for the Michael Moore Trophy!

42: Storm with a scrum on the Warriors 20 metres. Great chance for early points in the second half here!

43: VIDEO REF: Possible try here to Koroibete! A banana kick from Cronk has landed in the left wingers arms and it looks like he's gone in!

43: TRY MELBOURNE STORM
Scored by Marika Koroibete. Kick to come.
Try! What an amazing kick from Cronk. It was a curving banana kick that landed straight on Koroibete's chest and all he had to do with dive over. Reverse swing?

44: UNSUCCESSFUL CONVERSION MELBOURNE STORM
Conversion attempt by Cameron Smith unsuccessful.
From the sideline, Cam Smith can't quite bring it around. Just misses to the left.

46: Double knock-on here, but the Warriors did it first, so the Storm get the feed right near half-way.

47: PENALTY Storm: Ruck penalty and the Storm quickly kick for sideline. Trying to get a roll on here...

48: Storm attempt some tricky attacking here, but it becomes unstuck and the Warriors get the ball back..

48: A great crowd of 17,278 here in Auckland for the Michael Moore Trophy!

49: A sneaky little run from Johnson ends in a forward pass, but boy is he looking dangerous again!

52: The Warriors have been judged to have knocked it on in a messy ruck. Storm back on the attack. Uh oh, Warriors!

53: VIDEO REF: Possible try to the Storm's Bromwich here. The ref is checking for obstructions, but looks good for the Storm!

53: TRY MELBOURNE STORM
Scored by Kenneath Bromwich. Kick to come.
Try to Kenny Bromwich here after some impressive movement from the Storm. The Warriors defence, which was so good in the first half, is starting to tire...again.

53: UNSUCCESSFUL CONVERSION MELBOURNE STORM
Conversion attempt by Cameron Smith unsuccessful.
Poor attempt from Smith.

54: Warriors have had a bad run here, but the Storm have really lifted this half.

55: PENALTY Warriors: Lifting penalty against Koroibete. Not much in it, but the refs are harsh.

56: Shaun Johnson is a freak. Juggling take from a Mannering offload. Exciting stuff!

57: VIDEO REF: THAT WAS AMAZING. A backflip tackle, and chip, a take, a pass, a dive. That possible try had EVERYTHING.

57: TRY NEW ZEALAND WARRIORS
Scored by Tuimoala Lolohea. Kick to come.
Tui with his second! Finger tip stuff after an AMAZING lead-up to it. Nathan Friend literally took a catch on top of a Storm player, did a backflip as he passed it backwards. If you can, watch this replay. Absolutely insane!

59: UNSUCCESSFUL CONVERSION NEW ZEALAND WARRIORS
Conversion attempt by Shaun Johnson unsuccessful.
Can't land it from the sideline this time. Phew. Take a breath!

59: SUB Warriors: Gubb on for Lilllyman

60: 20 minutes to go. 12 point lead. Remember, this is the Warriors. Anything can happen...as we've seen!

61: TRY MELBOURNE STORM
Scored by Kenneath Bromwich. Kick to come.
What did I say! The Storm get a quick answer with a break from Munster after a nice inside ball from Green. Munster gives it off to Koroibete and back in to a support K. Bromwich and the Storm are right back in it!

62: SUCCESSFUL CONVERSION MELBOURNE STORM
Conversion attempt by Cameron Smith successful.
Smith nails it and the Storm are just 6 points off the Warriors. Stay tuned!

64: PENALTY Storm: Warriors called offside and the Storm again get a chance inside the Warriors half. How hard is it to be a Warriors fan?

64: Cronk tries another banana kick to the left wing but this time Fusitua plucks it out of the air. Great take!

65: TRY NEW ZEALAND WARRIORS
Scored by Shaun Johnson. Kick to come.
The freak. The man. Shaun Johnson pushes off Storm players and scores a beauty! He is amazing to watch!

66: Set-up by a brilliant offload by Mannering, but Johnson is in the form of his life. Steps, palms, runs. He does everything. So great!

67: SUCCESSFUL CONVERSION NEW ZEALAND WARRIORS
Conversion attempt by Shaun Johnson successful.
The freak lands the extras and we're back to a 12 point game!

69: Tough call for the Storm. Koroibete takes a bomb near the sideline but is pushed over the sideline by the Warriors. Warriors with a feed just 15 metres out from Storm line.

70: Townsend attempts the grubber in goal, but Munster cleans it up. Storm run it out of their red zone now.

71: Deja vu! The Warriors bustle Koroibete out over the sideline in a dubious call. Unlucky to the Storm, but the Warriors defence is lifting again!

73: PENALTY Warriors: The Storm with hands in the ruck forced the ball out and the Warriors will take the 2 points from right in front here.

74: SUCCESSFUL PENALTY GOAL NEW ZEALAND WARRIORS
Penalty goal attempt by Shaun Johnson successful.
The Warriors land a 14 pont lead and surely they can't lose it from here! Johnson with an easy goal.

75: Short kick-off from the Storm! They get it back and attack the Warriors with just 4 and a half minutes to go!

75: PENALTY Storm: The Storm are throwing it around and score a ruck penalty. 4 minutes to go. Surely not enough time, but they'll keep attacking..

77: Grubber from Smith is taken dead in-goal by Tui. We'll have a drop-out. Just 2 and a half mins to go...

77: UNFORCED ERROR MELBOURNE STORM
Nelson Asofa-Solomona makes an unforced error.
Asofa-Solomona drops the drop-out cold! A heartbreaker for the big man!

79: A sneaky chip from Cronk takes us down to the Warriors try line, but the Warriors clean-up and will drop it out again. Just 45 seconds left.

79: ....and just when you thought the game had everything, we have an interception and a break from Johnson and he runs 70 metres down the field! Cronk chased him down and Lolohea tried to get over the line, but the Warriors get a penalty after the Storm held him down too long!

79: UNSUCCESSFUL PENALTY GOAL NEW ZEALAND WARRIORS
Penalty goal attempt by Shaun Johnson unsuccessful.
Johnson's attempt is short. The Storm get the ball and run it back another 50 metres, but the siren has gone and that's the game!