Storm thunder past meek Warriors

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Melbourne Storm v Warriors

A first half blitz put the game beyond doubt for the Melbourne Storm as they ran out 42- winners over the New Zealand Warriors in front of 26,000 fans at the Melbourne Rectangular Stadium.

The Warriors actually had first chance when the Storm couldn't take the kick-off and an early penalty put the visitors in attacking position but an error saw Melbourne put on the counter-attack and Xavier Coates scored out wide.

The Storm then just opened the flood gates as Josh King went over from close range through some soft Warriors defence. The hosts then increased their lead 5 minutes later when Shawn Blore was put over after a pinpoint kick from Cam Munster was caught by Xavier Coates before the ball was handed off to Blore who scored.

A miracle try-saver from the Warriors went for nothing when Luke Metcalf put Moses Leo into touch but a pullback on Ryan Papenhuyzen was penalised and Jackson Ford was given 10 minutes into the bin by referee Ashley Klein. Harry Grant scored just shy of the half hour mark to extend the Storm lead further.

The Warriors defence was porous as Trent Loiero found it pretty easy to get through to score. A sixth try in the 33^rd minute came through Grant Anderson when Melbourne had looked to shift the ball down one edge before going out to the other for Grant Anderson to score. Ryan Papenhuyzen kept his perfect goal kicking record in tact as he converted.

The second half was less exciting by the standards set in the first half as the Warriors opened the scoring just shy of the hour mark when Leka Halasima outjumped the Storm defence and fought his way to the line.

The Storm added a seventh try for the game around the hour mark when Xavier Coates went himself and scored in the corner to extend the lead after Papenhuyzen's conversion to 42-6.

Two late tries to the Warriors went unconverted as they put some respectability into the scoreboard with Rocco Berry and Luke Metcalf scoring.

The win for the Storm came at a cost with a shoulder injury to Jahrome Hughes being a concern before a game against the Dolphins on Friday night whilst the Warriors take on the Broncos next week.