Warriors 20 Storm 42
Storm (Jennings, Kaufusi, Hynes, 2 R Smith, Olam, 2 Addo-Carr tries; Munster 5 conversions)
Warriors (3 Maumalo, Murdoch-Masila tries Nikorima 2 conversions)
Fulltime
80 mins
The Warriors have one final set in the contest and win a penalty for a swinging arm from Nelson Asofa-Solomona. Walsh will kick down to the 30-metre line of the Storm and the Kiwi side have one final play but it comes to nothing wrap up the contest.
79 mins - TRY Warriors to Ken Maumalo
From the scrum on the first play, Walsh grubbers in behind and Maumalo sneaks it down just before the dead-ball line and the big wing has a hattrick, the first of his career.
Nikorima converts the try. (STO 42-20)
77 mins
The Warriors are finishing this contest strongly with strong carries from Taunoa-Brown and Curran. On the final play Nikroima puts a kick in behind that Hynes drops, so scrum to the Warriors 10-metres out.
76 mins - TRY Warriors to Ken Maumalo
Another lovely piece of play from Reece Walsh who has real potential. The Warriors come down the short side and Walsh used his speed to get in the gap before firing a cut out pass under pressure to put Maumalo over in the corner.
Nikorima can't convert the try. (STO 42-14)
73 mins
The Warriors just can't stop the Storm right now. Munster puts a chip kick in behind and Addo-Carr somehow keeps it in. He kicks it on and in the in-goal area, it bounces over both Walsh and Addo-Carr and goes dead.
The bunker is looking at a push from Walsh but they rule it was accidental contact. Seven tackle set for the Warriors.
71 mins
Melbourne is on fire and Hughes is back at the centre of it. He breaks down the lefthand side before offloading to Reimis Smith who quickly dishes it off to Eisenhuth but the scrambling Warriors defence forces him into touch just short of the Kiwi sides line.
70 mins - TRY Melbourne to Josh Addo-Carr
Melbourne goes back-to-back. A scrappy piece of play sees Montoya knock the ball down to stop the attack. It looks like Maumalo will dive on it but Grant gets there just before him to keep the ball alive.
The Storm comes straight to the left where Addo-Carr tip-toes down the sideline and beats Tuivasa-Sheck before having too much pace for Walsh and crashes over for his second try.
Munster converts the try. (STO 42-10)
67 mins - TRY Melbourne to Josh Addo-Carr
From the scrum, Melbourne keeps the ball in for an extra second to fool the Warriors defence. This has the Kiwi sides defence shot to bits and Munster fires a high pass over the top of Maumalo to the unmarked Addo-Carr to score in the corner.
Munster converts the try. (STOR 36-10)
65 mins
The next set sees the Storm get through a regulation set. On the final play, Hughes puts up a high kick to Walsh who can't handle it and Melbourne will have the ball 10-metres out.
64 mins
Just as the Warriors are starting to look dangerous in attack, Tuivasa-Sheck fires a pass to Murchie who bats it on over his head but Montoya can't control it and knocks it on.
Melbourne will start with the ball 20-metres from their own line.
62 mins
For the time tonight Tuivasa-Sheck injects himself into the attack and fires a short pass to put Murchie in a hole and he is brought down 25 metres out.
On the final play, Nikorima puts up a high kick, which Curran brings down but can't get the ball away to end the set.
60 mins
The Storm could be in again. It looks like Munster is tackled but he finds a way to offload. They came to the righthand side where Hynes fires a low pass which Reimis Smith who then sprints through to score in the corner.
The referee goes to the bunker with a no-try decision and the bunker has found a knock-on from Smith.
58 mins
The Storm are getting scrappy in the second half which won't please coach Craig Bellemy. Hynes fires a cut out pass to gets to Addo-Carr on the bounce and he can't control it and it's knocked on.
The big winger has used the captain's challenge but is unsuccessful and the Kiwi side has a scrum just short of halfway.
57 mins - NO TRY Warriors to Marcelo Montoya
The Warriors grab their third of the evening and make the Storm pay for their error. Nikorima produces great footwork to find himself in some space.
He grubbers into the in-goal area and Montoya comes through and looks to have grounded the ball. The referee awards the try but the bunkers have ruled it out for a knock-on.
55 mins
Walsh slips when kicking off and it skews off down field. Add-Carr picks it up and fires a pass forward to Christian Welch to give the Warriors a scrum 10-metres out.
53 mins - TRY Melbourne to Justin Olam
The Storm makes the Warriors pay for another error which saw Curran give away a penalty for offside. Hynes delivers a perfect cutout pass which put Olam in a hole and then he used his size to fight his way over to give Melbourne their first try of the second half.
Munster can't convert the try, which sees the Storm open up a 20-point lead. (STO 30-10)
50 mins
On tackle three, the Warriors work a nice play down the left-hand side which sees Murchie get down to the Storm's 30-metre line. On the final play, Nikorima puts in a high kick which Curran gathers but is tackle to hand the ball over.
48 mins
Hughes produces a brilliant kick in behind Walsh who slides into the ball inches from his line. He can't gather it but Maumalo gets back to clean up but if forced into his in-goal area for a goal-line dropout.
On tackle two, Brandon Smith makes an error to let the Warriors off.
43 mins - TRY Warriors to Ben Murdoch-Masila
The Warrior have first points in the second half with Walsh starring. The teenager put Curran in a small hole and he was brought down inches short. On the next play, Murdoch-Masila receives a short ball from Egan and he hits and spins to crash over.
Nikorima converts the try. (STO 26-10)
Kickoff - Warriors get second half underway. Can they get back in it? They'll need a big effort and the Storm make an error through Grant on tackle three to give the Kiwi side a chance straight away.
Halftime
40 mins
The Warriors finally getting an attacking set. Nikorima threads a grubber kick in behind the Melbourne defence. The kick hits the goalposts and Berry picks it up but as the Warriors start throwing it round they are called for a tight offside penalty to close out the first half.
38 mins
A penalty you don't see every day with Nelson Asofa-Solomona penalised for an incorrect play the ball.
36 mins
The Warriors make another error this time from Walsh who tries to fire a high looping pass over the top to Maumalo but it goes slightly forward.
The Storm go straight down the other end and Munster places a perfect kick into the ingoal area and they trap Tuivasa-Sheck for a goaline drop out
34 mins - TRY Melborune to Reimis Smith
The Storm makes the Warriors pay one more for an unforced error. Melbourne works an attacking play down the left and Kaufusi shows kick hands to draw Warriors defenders in. Hynes delivers a quick ball to Reimis Smith who steps past Walsh to crash over.
Munster converts the try as the rain comes down (STO 26-4)
31 mins
On the final play, the Warriors pull out some razzle-dazzle. Nikorima runs before flicking the ball out the back to Maumalo who grubbers in behind for Hynes to clean up.
The Storm goes straight down the other end on the attack, Addo-Carr breaks down the right before putting a kick in behind. Munster goes to gather but gets a little knock on when trying to gather to stop a certain try.
Replays show Bayley Sironen took out Brandon Smith off the ball so the referee will go 50 metres back for a Melbourne penalty and they will get the ball back.
29 mins
The Warriors get a rare touch of the ball in the last 10 minutes with the Storm having seven of the last eight sets. The Kiwi club gets through a regulation set to hand the ball back 30 metres out from Melbourne's line.
25 mins - TRY Melbourne to Reimis Smith
Melbourne goes back to back. Hughes is on fire tonight and uses his footwork to get through weak Warriors defence as Egan falls off the tackle.
Hughes draws in Walsh before passing to Smith to score in the corner. Munster can't convert the try. (STO 20-4)
24 mins - TRY Melbourne to Nicho Hynes
Melbourne have made the Warriors pay for the Tuivasa-Sheck error. Hughes is at the centre of the try again as he uses his footwork to draw in two Warriors defenders. He offloads to Hynes who is tackled inches short of the line but reaches out to score.
Munster's conversion hits the posts and misses, so the Storm has opened up a 12 point lead. (STO 16-4)
23 mins
The Warriors survive their last set with 12-players with Walsh claiming a high kick brilliantly. On the first tackle Tuivasa-Sheck drops a simple pass and Melbourne will attack.
22 mins - TRY Melbourne Storm to Felise Kaufusi
The Warriors can't hang on. Hughes has looked dangerous in the opening 20 minutes and he has starred in this try. He takes the ball to the line to draw Nikorima in before putting Kaufusi in a big hole to stroll over and grab Melbourne's second try.
Munster converts the try (STO 12-4)
Jennings his failed his HIA meaning they can use their 18th man.
20 mins
Warriors are doing well with 12 players as they survive another set. On tackle three Reimis Smith makes a small break down to halfway. On the next play Hughes kicks behind Walsh but he cleans up inches from his own line.
17 mins
What a tackle from Jack Murchie who stops a certain try. Melbourne look dangerous as they come down the right.
Addo-Carr breaks clear and draws Walsh in and delivers to Hynes. It looks like the Storm fullback will score but Murchie comes from nowhere and forces the error.
14 mins
The Warriors survive the first set after points with Tom Eisenhuth grubbing the ball dead to give the Kiwi side a seven-tackle set.
12 mins - Yellow Card Warriors to Josh Curran
There is real intensity to this contest. Walsh puts a high kick up on the final tackle. Josh Curran who is chasing through smashes Jennings to force the error. The Storm players aren't happy but it looked like a legal tackle.
Jennings has stayed down and the bunker is having a look at the tackle. Massive call from the bunker. Curran is sent to the sin bin for the tackle that looked like a legitimate tackle but the players just clashed heads.
11 mins
The Warriors make a mistake on the set after points, which sees Brandon Smith strip the ball off Maumalo.
The offloads are killing the Warriors who are scrambling in defence. On the final play, Munster fires the ball at Olam who can't handle it and the Kiwi side hang on.
9 mins - TRY Warriors to Ken Maumalo
The Warriors have scored on their first opportunity down the Storm's end. A great run from Walsh who stepped into first receiver and made a mini-break. Off the back of that carry, Egan goes down the short side to find Maumalo who finishes acrobatically in the corner.
Nikorima can't convert the try. (STR 6-4)
7 mins
In Melbourne's set after points, they are throwing the ball around causing the Warriors all sorts of problems but fullback Nicho Hynes knocked the ball on to give the visitors their first opportunity.
5 mins - TRY Melbourne to George Jennings
What a start from the Storm. It all started from a great dummy-half run from Brandon Smith who went 20 metres before being brought down.
The next play sees Hughes step through the Warriors defence to get into the backfield. He put a grubber in behind for Jennings to finish in the corner. Munster converts the try from the sideline. (STO 6-0)
3 mins
Both sides get through their opening set unscathed. Hughes puts up a high kick down to Walsh who lets it bounce but he cleans it up on his own line.
Kickoff - The Melbourne Storm get us underway with Kane Evans bringing ti back for the first hit-up
8:15pm - Both sides are on the field and are lined up for the Anzac Day ceremony.
7:45pm
In team news just in, Warriors coach Nathan Brown has handed teenager Reece Walsh his NRL debut at fullback in place of halfback Sean O'Sullivan.
This will see captain Roger Tuivasa-Sheck move to the wing with debutant Roco Berry moving into the centres. Versatile forward Bayley Sironen will move into halfback and after initially being named at centre Jack Murchie will move to his favoured position of second-row.
*****
Kia ora, and welcome to Newshub's coverage of this NRL round-seven Anzac Day clash between NZ Warriors and the Melbourne Storm at AAMI Park.
The Warriors come into this Anzac Day clash off the back of their impressive 20-14 victory over the St. George Dragons that saw them move to 3-3 for the season and eighth on the table.
The Kiwi club suffered some bad injury news on Saturday, with utility back Paul Turner ruled out for the season after requiring "extensive surgery" to his shoulder, while key players Tohu Harris and David Fusitu'a will not feature due to concussion and a hamstring injury.
The Warriors record against the Storm is terrible with their last victory way back in 2015 when they won 28-14 at Mount Smart Stadium, which is an incredible 2114 days ago.
With the injury to Fusitu'a, teenager Roco Berry will make his NRL debut on the wing while Jazz Tevaga comes into the lock position for the injured Harris with Tom Ale coming onto the interchange bench.
The mounting injury toll will see Jack Murchie fill in at centre after Peta Hiku and Adam Pompey were ruled out.
The Storm have been on form over the past two weeks with victories over premiership hopefuls the Sydney Roosters and the Canterbury Bulldogs allowing them to sit fourth on the ladder with a 4-2 record.
Melbourne are filled with Kiwis in their lineup with halfback Jahrome Hughes, hooker Brandon Smith and captain Jessie Bromwich some of Melbourne's key players to watch.
A big loss for the Storm is fullback Ryan Papenhuyzen who picked up a shoulder injury in Melbourne's victory over the Roosters.
TAB odds:
Warriors $7.80 Melbourne $1.07
NZ Warriors: 1-Roger Tuivasa-Sheck (c), 2-David Fusitu'a, 3-Marcelo Montoya, 4-Jack Murchie, 5-Ken Maumalo, 6-Kodi Nikorima, 7-Sean O'Sullivan, 8-Jamayne Taunoa-Brown, 9-Wayde Egan, 10-Kane Evans, 11-Josh Curran, 12-Ben Murdoch-Masila, 13-Tohu Harris.
Interchange (from): 14-Jazz Tevaga, 15-Bunty Afoa, 16-Leeson Ah Mau, 17-Bayley Sironen, 21-Reece Walsh, 23-Edward Kosi
Melbourne Storm: 1-Nicho Hynes, 2-George Jennings, 3-Reimis Smith, 4- Justin Olam, 5-Josh Addo-Carr, 6-Cameron Munster, 7-Jahrome Hughes, 8-Jesse Bromwich (c), 9-Brandon Smith, 10-Christian Welch, 11-Felise Kaufusi, 12-Kenneath Bromwich, 13-Nelson Asofa-Solomona
Interchange (from): 14-Harry Grant, 15-Tui Kamikamica 16-Tom Eisenhuth 17-Dale Finucane, 19-Ryley Jacks, 22-Chris Lewis
Pre-match banter:
Warriors' Turner ruled out for season with shoulder injury
NZ Warriors have received more bad news on the injury front, with utility back Paul Turner ruled out for the rest of the NRL season.
The 20-year-old injured his shoulder after coming off the bench against St George Illawarra Dragons last weekend, but battled through the pain to grab his first try for the club and help the team to their third win of the season.
He now requires "extensive surgery" to repair his shoulder, which will sideline him for the rest of the year."I don't think we will see him again this year, which is really disappointing," Warriors assistant coach Craig Hodges says.
"Even though he had only had two games, I thought he did a really good job in that utility role off the bench.
"[Turner] requires pretty extensive surgery, so it was pretty courageous for him to carry on the other day to show what the team and the club mean to him.
"It shows the sort of character he has to continue to play on because it was pretty obvious to all our medical staff straight after the game that he wasn't in a good way."
Hodges did provide some positive news, with centre Adam Pompey's injury prognosis not as grave as its initial assessment of six to eight weeks.
"He should only be a couple of weeks, which is great news for him and the team because he's been playing some really good footy," Hodges adds.
"I think he was starting to feel part of the group and the position was his."
The Warriors also hope young second-row forward Eliesa Katoa will be back in contention for selection shortly.
"Katoa's injury is turf toe I know that," Hodges says. "He's had it for a couple of weeks and it just got worse and worse, so any injury below the hips is a bit more debilitating for rugby league players because you run on your legs.
"That one is in getting treated but so far in the first couple of days, it has responded well to treatment, so hopefully it won't be any more than two or three weeks."
Centre Euan Aitken and halfback Chanel Harris-Tavita are also slightly ahead of schedule, and are expected to be available in round nine or 10.
"[Aitken] and Chanel are both just started running again," he says. "By running I mean they're on the field doing very very slow laps around the oval, so it's not high intensity yet but they're up on their feet.
"I believe they're both progressing well and the medical staff are pretty happy but they will still be a little while off."
The Warriors face a stern test of their progress, when they face the Melbourne Storm in an ANZAC Day clash in Melbourne on Sunday.
