The visitors’ start could not have been worse, as the Warriors dominated the first 20 minutes, with practically all of the possession going to the home side, and they opened the scoring just six minutes when Adam Pompey was able to glide over in the wet circumstances.
A penalty goal for the Warriors put them ahead by eight points before the 20-minute mark. Marcelo Montoya was able to get over in the corner, but it was Charnze Nicoll-Klokstad’s miracle flick pass out the back that did the damage. Adam Pompey scored his third goal of the night, giving the Warriors a 14-0 advantage.
Things quickly turned in the visitors’ favor as a penalty put the Storm in offensive position, and Eli Katoa was able to perform some magic by quickly pinching the ball from Adam Pompey after he landed to score Melbourne’s first.
As Grant Anderson went over after the X Man, Xavier Coates was able to fly high and tap the ball back to Anderson for a score. Nick Meaney’s botched conversion left the Storm four points down.
Melbourne were able to equalize the score and eventually take the lead in seven minutes as Dean Ieremia went over as the Warriors defence was caught infield, before Nick Meaney scored following more great work from Eli Katoa. Meaney’s conversion of his own try gave the Storm a surprising 20-14 lead at halftime.
The Warriors opened the second half quickly, as Mitch Barnett saw a sniff on the line and went straight at it, closing the difference to just two points as Adam Pompey’s conversion attempt was a complete failure, and the score remained 20-18.
The wheels had truly gone off the Warriors wagon in the second half, as an attempt for a Jazz Tevaga try was refused, with the bunker referring back to an earlier foul play penalty against Te Maire Martin, who was placed on report but fortunately not sin binned.
Marcelo Montoya was not so fortunate, as he was given 10 minutes in the sin bin for a professional foul after tackling Jahrome Hughes in an offside position after the Storm halfback took a fast tap. The Storm took advantage of the extra man when they went right, allowing Sua Fa’alogo to get over in the corner.
If things weren’t bad enough for the Warriors, they got even worse when DWZ was banished to the sin bin following a lengthy argument between Gerard Sutton and bunker official Liam Kennedy after Dallin was punished for a high and off-ball hit on Grant Anderson.
The Storm capitalized on the increased numbers with a slight kick through the defensive line, allowing Xavier Coates to get over in the corner. Nick Meaney converted, giving the visitors a 32-18 advantage.
The Warriors attempted a late comeback, with Marcelo Montoya scoring a second try in the corner and Chanel Harris-Tavita converting to cut the deficit to eight points, but the Storm responded in the last 90 seconds with Sua Fa’alogo going over. Nick Meaney clinched the 38-24 victory with a convert right before full time.
The Storm, without their Origin heroes, face the Dolphins in Brisbane next week, while the Warriors also play the Titans in Queensland.
Leave a Reply