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As it happened: Warriors salvage some pride after disastrous first half against classy Melbourne Storm

April 25, 2018
MELBOURNE, AUSTRALIA - APRIL 25:  Simon Mannering of the Warriors is tackled by Cameron Smith of the Melbourne Storm during the round eight NRL match between the Melbourne Storm and New Zealand Warriors at AAMI Park on April 25, 2018 in Melbourne, Australia.  (Photo by Scott Barbour/Getty Images)

The Melbourne Storm have thumped the Warriors 50-10 tonight in their ANZAC Day clash in Melbourne.

FULLTIME - WARRIORS 10 STORM 50

The Warriors showed early signs of fight in the second spell, but the Storm were just too good in Melbourne tonight.

72 mins - WARRIORS 10 STORM 50

TRY! Billy Slater gives away a freebe offloading the ball for Ryley Jacks to score, after a good break and run from Sam Kasiano.

Cameron Smith lands the conversion over from easy range.

69 mins - WARRIORS 10 STORM 44

NO TRY! Billy Slater comes up with a try saver after a well-weighted grubber kick from Mason Lino. Slater had to get on his bike and go after it with the veteran fullback on the other side of the pitch. He bats the ball out and the Storm have a ball-line dropout.

64 mins - WARRIORS 10 STORM 44

TRY! Cameron Smith pops the ball to Billy Slater who then throws a slick skip ball out to Josh Addo-Carr who goes in over the left edge for his second try of the match.

Cameron Smith makes no mistakes with his shot at goal from out wide.

61 mins - WARRIORS 10 STORM 38

TRY! David Fusitu'a goes in for the Warriors' second try after what started out as a sloppy play. But the Warriors recover and give the pill to their star winger who dots down over the try-line with one of his vintage diving attempts.

Mason Lino misses his conversion attempt from the side-line. 

54 mins - WARRIORS 6 STORM 38

KNOCK ON! The Warriors go close to scoring after a great cross-field kick from Blake Green, David Fusitu'a gets up but Melbourne's Josh Aldo-Carr gets a hand to it and the Warriors get another attacking set.

50 mins - WARRIORS 6 STORM 38

GOAL LINE DROPOUT! The Warriors have turned to play in the second spell, David Fusitu'a was unlucky not to score his second of the match with Billy Slater coming up with the try-saver knocking the ball back.

46 mins - WARRIORS 6 STORM 38

SCRUM! Roger Tuivasa-Sheck breaks through the Storm's defence showing great footwork at the line before finding open space. The Warriors are in good attacking position but Mason Lino goes for an early cross-field kick for David Fusitu'a but the ball hits the ground. Storm have the ball but they fumble it in the tackle. The Warriors have a scrum 10m out.

45 mins - WARRIORS 6 STORM 38

TRY! Another vintage David Fusitu'a try diving over the touch line but grounds the ball over the try-line before hitting touch. Some excellent ball movement from the Warriors. The get their first points on the ball.

Mason Lino lands the kick from out wide.

40 mins - WARRIORS 0 STORM 38

And we are back underway! The Storm get things started with a deep kick-off to the Warriors. 

HALFTIME - WARRIORS 0 STORM 38

The Warriors have been blown off the park in the first spell. The Storm have run in six tries, Melbourne have been getting the rub of the green in the first half, but the Warriors' defence has been simply appalling. Issac Luke seems to be gone for the rest of the match due to injury. He is replaced by Jazz Tevaga at hooker.

37 mins - WARRIORS 0 STORM 38

TWO! Another call goes against the Warriors, it was a call from the lines-woman who says Simon Mannering was offside after Sam Kasiano offload. Cameron Smith points at the sticks. Bad news for the Warriors Issac Luke is injured and appears to be gone for the rest of the match.

Cameron Smith slots his penalty kick at goal.

32 mins - WARRIORS 0 STORM 36

TRY!  Josh Addo-Carr takes off from inside his own 20m line, skips out of several tackles and gasses off Roger Tuivasa-Sheck. He dots down over the right corner and the Storm are now 36-0. The Warriors look shell-shocked, Storm have six tries in the match.

Cameron Smith lands the kick from out wide.

22 mins - WARRIORS 0 STORM 30

TRY!  Young Tonumaipea dives in to score down the right flank for the Storm, this time it is the Warriors' left edge defence that makes a poor read. Anthony Gelling is caught ball watching and Felise Kaufusi slices through.

Warriors Mason Lino. Vodafone Warriors v Melbourne Storm, NRL preseaon league, Rotorua, New Zealand. Satturday, 17 February, 2018. Copyright photo: John Cowpland / www.photosport.nz

Cameron Smith lands his shot at goal from out wide.

20 mins - WARRIORS 0 STORM 24

TRY! They are lining up to score down the left edge for the Storm. Josh Addo-Carr delivers the final pass inside for Billy Slater who scores the fourth try of the match inside 20 minutes. The Storm are simply on fire. It's the Warriors' right edge that needs tweaking on defence, inviting the Storm in.

Cam Smith makes no mistakes with his kick at goal.

18 mins - WARRIORS 0 STORM 18

TRY! Christian Welch powers over to score for Melbourne, a bad read by Mason Lino and Simon Mannering on defence. Melbourne have had all the possession early on.

Cameron Smith nails his third kick at goal.

17 mins - WARRIORS 0 STORM 12

TRY! Ryan Hoffman pounces on a loose ball and scores the home side's second try of the night. A perfect grubber kick from Storm's half Cameron Munster.

Cameron Smith lands the kick from out wide.

12 mins - WARRIORS 0 STORM 6

SCRUM! Adam Blair has the ball inside the Storm's 30m but he loses it backwards but the refs rule it is a knock on. Melbourne have a scrum inside their own 30.

8 mins - WARRIORS 0 STORM 6

PENALTY! Issac Luke makes an excellent break up the middle and tries to get a quick play of the ball but he flops and earns his side a penalty. The Warriors are hot on attack.

5 mins - WARRIORS 0 STORM 6

TRY! Billy Slater puts in a pin-point cross field kick with Young Tonumaipea making an excellent catch and grubber with Ryley Jacks pouncing onto the bouncing ball and scoring the first try of the match.

Cameron Smith lands the extras.

WARRIORS 0 STORM 0

KICK-OFF! And we are underway with the Warriors kicking off to the Storm.

PRE-MATCH:

The Warriors have made one tweak to their starting side for their Melbourne clash. The Warriors beat table toppers the Dragons 20-12 last Friday in Auckland.

Tohu Harris has been ruled out with concussion with 19-year-old Isaiah Papali'i getting the nod to start at second row.

The Storm have beaten the Warriors twice in the last two years in the Anzac Day showdown, downing the Warriors 20-14 in 2017 and thumping the New Zealand club 42-0 in 2016.

An interesting battle tonight will be between the No. 9s Cameron Smith and Issac Luke. Luke was instrumental for the Warriors last weekend landing a crucial 40/20 late in the game and scoring an important try against St George Illawarra.

Roger Tuivasa-Sheck has been in hot form for the Warriors and will be up against one of the best in the game Billy Slater.

A win tonight by the Warriors could possibly see them go to the top of the log if the Dragons go down to the Sydney Roosters.

TEAMS:

Warriors:  1 Roger Tuivasa-Sheck (c), 2 David Fusitu'a, 3 Peta Hiku, 17 Anthony Gelling, 5 Ken Maumalo, 6 Blake Green, 7 Mason Lino, 8 Bunty Afoa, 9 Issac Luke, 10 Agnatius Paasi, 11 Simon Mannering, 12 Isaiah Papali'i, 13 Adam Blair.

Interchange:  14 Jazz Tevaga, 15 Sam Lisone, 16 Albert Vete, 17 Charnze Nicoll-Klokstad.

Reserves:  19 Joseph Vuna, 20 Tevita Satae.

Storm: 1 Billy Slater, 21 Young Tonumaipea, 3 Will Chambers, 4 Curtis Scott, 5 Josh Addo-Carr, 6 Cameron Munster, 7 Ryley Jacks, 8 Tim Glasby, 9 Cameron Smith (c), 10 Nelson Asofa-Solomona, 11 Felise Kaufusi, 12 Ryan Hoffman, 13 Kenny Bromwich.

Interchange: 14 Brandon Smith, 15 Christian Welch, 16 Sam Kasiano, 17 Joe Stimson.

Reserves: 18 Patrick Kaufusi, 20 Brodie Croft.

12 mins - WARRIORS 0 STORM 6

18 mins - WARRIORS 0 STORM 18

18 mins - WARRIORS 0 STORM 18

20 mins - WARRIORS 0 STORM 24

37 mins - WARRIORS 0 STORM 38

46 mins - WARRIORS 6 STORM 38

50 mins - WARRIORS 6 STORM 38

64 mins - WARRIORS 10 STORM 44

69 mins - WARRIORS 10 STORM 44

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