Warriors' woes continue as Storm stay on top

The home side got points on the board early, scoring through a James Maloney penalty goal in the 5th minute after the Storm were pinned for being offside.

However the Storm hit back in the 10th after Garreth Widdop collected the mark, scoring off a well weighted Cooper Cronk bomb. Cameron Smith added the extras to give the Storm a four point lead.
Craig Bellamy's side were awarded their second only five minutes later through Billy Slater who grounded a Cronk in goal grubber.

Some good defence ensured both sides remained scoreless for the remainder of the half.

The scoreless passage continued until 15 minutes into the second half when the Warriors were able to capitalise on good field postion to score their first try of the match through Lance Hohaia. Maloney added the extras and placed the Warriors within two points of the lead.

But that was to be the last points for Ivan Cleary's side as they fumbled their way through the remainder of the match to hand the Storm numerous try scoring opportunities.

The Storm were finally over again in the 74th minute when Billy Slater scored his second. Smith added the extras to stretch his side's lead to eight.

The Warriors could not get back into the match from there.

Errors from the Warriors senior players' in particular Brett Seymour and Lance Hohaia cost the Warriors dearly today and Ivan Cleary will have his work set out over the next few weeks if the Warriors are to threaten the title.

Match Details
New Zealand Warriors 8 were defeated by Melbourne Storm 16
National Rugby League - Round 16 (Women in League Round) - Sunday June 26, 2011 12:00pm
Venue: Mt Smart Stadium
Referee: Tony Archer and Brett Suttor
Video Referee: Phil Cooley
Touch Judges: Daniel Eastwood and Shane Rehm
Crowd: 13,362
Halftime: New Zealand Warriors 10 Melbourne Storm 2

Leagueunlimited.com players of the match:
3 Points - Billy Slater (2 Tries)
2 Points - Cameron Smith (2 Conversions)
1 Point - Cooper Cronk

New Zealand Warriors (8)
Tries: Lance Hohaia
Conversions: James Maloney (1/1)
Penalty Goals: James Maloney (1/1)

Melbourne Storm (16)
Tries: Billy Slater (2), Gareth Widdop
Conversions: Cameron Smith (2/3)

LeagueUnlimited.com Live Commentary Good Morning League Fans, an earlier start for Sunday Afternoon Football for Round 16. Kick at 12PM EST, so we can expect kick off in about 45 minutes from now. Full Time in Toyota Cup, the Warriors getting the points 34-16 over the Storm.
TEAM CHANGES: Storm a few positional changes with Bryan Norrie ruled out, with Siku Manu in from the bench into the starting side in the 2nd Row, . Thus on the bench Rory Kostjasyn in 19 is added to the bench.

Warriors also a few positional changes with Feleti Mateo going back to the bench and Steve Rapira starting in the second row. Sione Lousi is on the bench today in 20.
Kick off moments away with the Storm already out at Mt. Smart Staduim, as the Warriors join them from cheers from the home fans.
1 min: Time On! Storm have the first use of the ball with the Warriors kicking off.
1 min: Good defence early from the Warriors, holding the Storm in their own 25, forcing the kick which only found the Storm's 40m line, easy work for the Warriors at the return.
1 min: Billy Slater collecting the kick from Seymour in the in goal area too easily for a 20m tap.
2 min: First Penalty to the Storm for the Warriors slowing the ruck down as they laid there too long according to the referee.
3 min: Cooper Cronk on the 4th tackle trying a low inside grubber kick, however nothing doing as it was found by Lance Hohaia easily, Warriors attacking inside their 20.
4 min: James Maloney's kick from a good Warriors set going dead over the dead ball line. Storm with the 20m tap.
5 min: First penalty for the Warriors against the Storm for Kevin Proctor offside.
5 min: PENALTY GOAL
Another penalty for the Warriors following the previous ruck penalty, however again the Storm caught offside. As a result James Maloney taking the opportunity at penalty goal. In front no mistake.
New Zealand Warriors 2-0
7 min: Warriors coughing up the ball on their own 40m line. Storm coming away with the ball.
8 min: Manu Vatuvei saving the day for the Warriors. The Storm raiding the line in that set, Keven Proctor coming the closest, however the kick of the Storm collected in a sliding enough from Vatuvei to collect the ball in the field of play.
9 min: Brett Seymour with a long kick down field, looking for a possible 40/20 however not pulling off as he was outside his 40, but as a result a 20m tap for the Storm.
10 min: TRY
TRY! Kick going high from Cooper Cronk, as the ball fell the Warriors caught out as it bounced down and away from Lance Hohaia and as a result Gareth Widdop on the spot to collect the ball and put the foot down for the first try in the match. Coverted by Smith from in front of the posts.
Melbourne Storm 6-2
13 min: Simon Mannering penalised for being offside at the ruck. the storm on the attack on halfway.
14 min: Penalty to the Storm again for player taken out at the contest of the ball. Brett Seymour the one who took out Slater. Storm on the attack from the tap.
15 min: Video Referee Decision Pending for the Storm, Billy Slater may of been offside.
15 min: TRY
GREEN LIGHTS TRY! - Storm passing it wide in the set going to the left of the field. A tap kick going into the goals for Bill Slater to collect around so defence. Video Referee happy with the onside, the Storm happy to collect the points, however the conversion from the sideline from Smiths just going to the outside of the posts, no goal.
Melbourne Storm 10-2
18 min: Zero tackle for the Storm, as firstly Cronk put a kick on into the Warriors line, the Kiwi's looking to collect the ball however knocking it on for the Storm to pick up the ball and restart the count. Attacking 30m out.
19 min: Knock on against Cronk. Warriors getting the Scrum as the Storm trying to push the inside ball pass. Possession from the early stats, MEL 88% WAR 22%
21 min: James Maloney attempting a bomb up high, and the Storm with Slater collecting an easy ball for them to play it inside their 10.
22 min: Storm being contested inside their own 30 for the whole set from good defence of the Warriors. Cronk however getting a clearly kick down field.
23 min: The grubber kick from the Warriors having too much on it, going over the dead ball line. 20m tap for the Storm. As interchanges made for both sides, Mateo on for the Warriors and Hinchcliffe about to enter for the Storm.
24 min: Nicely weighted kick from the Storm, as the ball sat up in the in goal area forcing Inu to play at the ball and run it out of the goals. Storm holding them in the 10.
25 min: Well great set from the Warriors. Mateo going for a lovely run out of his own 20m line. He made it up over the Storm's halfway line, however with support on the inside, not opting to go with them. James Maloney and Hohaia getting closer to the line in the set as well, but to no avail, knocking on in the end from the Warriors. Storm with the play of the ball.
27 min: Warriors chancing their arm on the last tackle, with a tap back from the Warriors in Manu, going left to right Lewis Brown keeping it alive and spreading it to Taylor to put it on the toe, however at the end of the set, the Storm with the ball at the change over.
28 min: Warriors making a break up field, they are attacking short inside the 10metre line. Storm out on their feet.
29 min: Warriors catching the Storm out, a kick in the goals for the Storm to bat it to Cronk for a drop out.
30 min: Not how you go it. Warriors knocking on the ball on the first tackle after the goal line drop out. Storm with the ball on their 40m line.
30 min: Not how you go it. Warriors knocking on the ball on the first tackle after the goal line drop out. Storm with the ball on their 40m line.
30 min: Possession Stats: MEL 59% WAR 41%
31 min: End of the Storm's set and a kick finding the Seymour, and he got a cut out ball to Lewis Brown who poleaxed by the storms defence as he collected the ball.
32 min: Penalty to the Storm, high shot the call against Seymour. Getting a review from the Video Referee.
32 min: On review from the video referee, and Brett Seymour has been placed on report and penalty given for a high shot. Storm attacking from the penalty on the Warriors 40m line.
33 min: On the last tackle, Maurcie Blair going close to the line, deciding to run it on the 5th tackle into the Warriors line, However held up in goals. Warriors have the ball and play it on their own 10m line.
34 min: James Maloney trying a 40/20 kick however not having the legs to go dead bouncing back in field and collected by the Storm. They are on the attack on their 20m line.
35 min: Not the best kick from the Storm down to the Warriors. As a result on the first of the set, the Storm caught offside and the Warriors will attack 35mts from the line.
36 min: Penalty to the Warriors for a strip. First call came for a knock on, however then a call of a strip. Quick tap the play for the Wariors. 10m out.
37 min: Knock on against the Warriors as Maloney tried to pass the ball wide, nothing on at the Storm line as the Melbourne side get the scrum feed.
38 min: Well the Storm escaping the eyes of the Referees with two forwards in the set. However at the end of the set, the kick grubber into the goals from Smith as Billy Slater chasing through and meeting the banners behind the goals and colliding with the fence. He is okay however and the drop out ruled against the Warriors.
39 min: Great defence from the Warriors on the last as Matt Duffie looking for the line, and Manu Vatuvei and Lewis Brown wrapping up the ball and the player before he could dive into the corner.
40 min: HALFTIME: Siren sounds in NZ, Manu Vatuvei looking worse for wear as he heads to the sheds. Both sides heading in for a rest after an entertaining 40 minutes. The Storm on top for most of it, but the Warriors picking up their defence in the last 20mins of the half. 2 tries to NIL of the storm. Maloney getting the only points of the Warriors through a penalty goal.
40 min: Second half under in NZ. Storm kicking off with the Warriors. getting the ball up first.
41 min: Storm lacking in kick chase allowing the Warriors with Lance Hohaia getting up to the 40m line.
42 min: Warriors chancing their hand early in this set, with Berrigan through the cutout ball to his winger who kick it back infield to Berrigan. However going into touch at the end. Scrum feed to the Storm on their 20m line.
43 min: On the last, the Storm not getting over halfway, thus forced to kick inside their own half. the Warriors return the ball 25mts from their line.
44 min: Billy Slater not fussed with the high ball looking into the sun. Comfortable in the air to collect the ball for the Storm. They work it from their 30m line.
45 min: Again some good defence from the Warriors holding them in their own half. The kick down field to the corner for the Warriors to run back. It's end to end stuff in the opening 6 mins here. A game being played it seems between the two 40m lines.
47 min: Under a load of pressure Matt Duffie managing to get to his feet and escape the in goal area. Mara jumping up to him but bouncing off him and getting into the field of play. Warriors again chancing their kick with a good chase, but no points coming.
48 min: End of the set for the Storm again in their own half, Smith from inside the 40 looking for a possible 40/20 but not coming off the Warriors coming away with it.
48 min: Again with the Zero tackle and the Warriors knocking it on with Brett Seymour losing the ball, Storm finally making it over halfway from the tackle restart.
49 min: Could be been a different result, Storm kicking across field to the corner and Seymour coming away with the ball and almost getting a short ball away in front of his line, could of been dangerous.
50 min: Another error from the Warriors and the Storm have the ball on the Zero tackle on halfway. Warriors keep hurting themselves with errors like this and the Storm will score more points
51 min: The Storm maybe getting a little frustrated as the Warriors hold them out, Billy Slater looking for a hole on the 4th tackle, however a little grubber kick collected by the Warriors for them to attack inside their half.
52 min: Warriors getting to the kick, the Storm attacking from their goal line. the Storm looking to just be grinding and going through the paces.
53 min: Cameron Smith getting a tired kick for a Warriors charge down inside the storm's 20m line.
54 min: Poor Disincline from the Storm, laying too long in the tackle, penalty.
54 min: Referee warning Smith for the double penalty for laying in the ruck. this time Adam Blair penalised. Referee saying that the next penalty for laying in the ruck will be going to the Sin Bin.
55 min: TRY
TRY! From the good field position and a double penalty for ruck interference. Brett Seymour passing the ball wide to the left to find Lance Hohaia running onto the ball to a hole opened up in the Storm's line. James Maloney from the sideline striking the ball beautifully, not missing here to bring the gap to 2 points.
Melbourne Storm 10-8
57 min: OUCH! Knock on from the kick restart of the try. Brett Seymour knocking on in goals to give the Storm a goal line drop out. Not a good way to back up a try.
58 min: Gareth Widdop trying a kick in the goals, too much on it as it rolled dead over the line. 20m tap.
58 min: Feleti Mateo finding a hole in the Storm line, getting the Warriors going up into Storm territory. up to the 35mts from the line.
59 min: Storm escaping the raid of the Warriors the kick at the end of the set finding the arms of winger Matt Duffie.
61 min: The Warriors again finding holes in the Storm line, the hands spreading for the Kiwi's, however the good work undone with Maloney's kick rolling dead. 20m tap for the Storm.
62 min: The same fate for the Storm, the kick from Cronk finding the dead ball over behind the goals. 20m tap for the Warriors. Truly end to end stuff here in the last 5 minutes.
63 min: The crowd appealing for a Storm offside penalty. The Warriors going again for a made up play, the kick from Maloney finding the arms of Waqa, however not caught, going through the arms and then into touch for the Storm scrum.
65 min: Warriors failing to come away with it, knocking on the ball. Storm with scrum feed on the Warriors' 10m line As Jacob Lillyman goes to the blood bin and taking an interchange
65 min: From the scrum base the Storm going to the blind side with Nelison, and finding the cameraman as they collided in touch. Warriors turn it around with a scrum feed to them on their own 10.
67 min: The cheers go up as Referee Tony Archer has fallen in the play, the Storm have the ball from a 20m tap with the Warriors ball going too long into touch.
68 min: Lance Hohaia doing a better job under the high ball and collecting it on the full. However penalty going the way of the Warriors for pushing the player back into the goals. Tap taken.
70 min: James Maloney has saved the day as he collected the ball from the in goals off the grubber of the Storm, skipping into the field of play for the Warriors to work it from the goal line.
71 min: Lewis Brown attempting to steal the ball as Cooper Cronk fell with the catch of the high ball. Storm looking to make it over halfway in this set.
73 min: Interesting play from the Warriors, Lewis Brown throwing the ball back on the inside to a teammate however not found but only a hand of a storm player as Brown went into touch. Scrum feed going the way of the Warriors. Looking for points in this set as they attack on their 40m line.
73 min: Call against the Warriors for Barrigan offloading the ball after the held call. Scrum feed going the way of the Storm on their 40m line. We are playing between the 40m lines for the final 5 mins it seems.
74 min: Video Referee Decision Pending, possible try to the Storm.
74 min: TRY
TRY! Green Lights! Game over you would think here. Billy Slater chasing through the line off the kick of Cronk. Lance Hohaia put under pressure and failing to wrap him up. Slater twisting around to ground the ball. Smith from beside the post converts the try.
Melbourne Storm 16-8
77 min: Scrum feed to the Storm, Seymour showing his no look pass back on the inside for a forward pass. Shocker of a pass from the half. Not a good game from Seymour today. Storm attacking in their half
79 min: Warriors chancing their arm in their final set of the match with a kick down field. Bill Tapou chasing through the line and going into touch. Scrum feed to the Storm, however time continues to count down.
80 min: FULLTIME: Siren sounding around the ground here at Mt. Smart Stadium, the Storm sealing another win 3 tries to 1, ending it 16 points to 8. The errors from the Kiwi's costing them today featuring Brett Seymour and Lance Hohaia. however the Storm in their 7 week in a row they have keep their opposition to 10 points.

Click Here to view the live update of the game. | To discuss the game with 1000s of other fans, please click here.