NZ Warriors have suffered a tough 30-22 Anzac Day defeat to Melbourne Storm, but the real toll of their loss may be measured in injuries over coming days.
Knocked out in last year's drubbing, winger Dallin Watene-Zelezniak scored a try double, as the visitors dominated the early exchanges at Melbourne's AAMI Park, but the home side ground them down after halftime to maintain their dominance of this traditional fixture.
Their performance wasn't helped by the injury toll that cost them captain Tohu Harris before halftime, fullback Charnze Nicoll-Klokstad and utility Bayley Sironen to concussion, and forward Jazz Tevaga with an Achilles strain. All four must now be doubtful against Sydney Roosters in just five days.
The Warriors have been habitually slow starters this season, but were quickly on top, when second-rower Jackson Ford crashed over for a try in the fourth minute, with Watene-Zelezniak finishing off in the corner for an early 12-0 advantage.
Storm superstar Cameron Munster turned momentum with a 40-20 kick that put his team hot on attack, with centre Justin Olam putting them on the scoreboard.
Warriors prop Addin Fonua-Blake was dominating the centre of the park and, fittingly, he was next to score, but Storm coach Craig Bellamy countered his influence by bring giant Kiwis forward Nelson Asofa-Solomona off the bench.
Originally named in the starting line-up, Asofa-Solomona has a late relegation to the interchange, undoubtedly a strategic change to take advantage of the Warriors' tiring forwards - and it worked a charm, as the enforcer changed the course of the match, with his powerful running and offloads.
Outstanding Warriors half Shaun Johnson gifted the Storm their next opportunity, when he was penalised for an incorrect restart, kicking his goal-line dropout well over the mark. Asofa-Solomona provided the initial impetus, before Munster found an open run to the tryline.
Moments before the break, the Warriors lost both Harris to injury and half Dylan Walker to the sin-bin for a high tackle on Storm forward Eliesa Katoa. Walker may also miss the next outing to suspension.
Despite Walker's absence, the Aucklanders were next to score after the break, with Watene-Zelezniak capitalising on another overlap for a 22-12 lead.
Storm fullback Nick Meaney had been culpable in the last Warriors try, with a loose pass that did centre Reimis Smith no favours, but more than atoned for his error, when he chased a kick into the goal area for a try and then had another, when another kick from Jahrome Hughes was missed by the Warriors defence.
By then, Nicoll-Klokstad had exited for his concussion check and Watene-Zelezniak had moved to fullback, with centre Marcelo Montoya to wing and second-rower Marata Niukore to centre.
Tevaga limped off soon after, followed by Sironen, leaving Warriors coach Andrew Webster with no cavalry left to call on.
Despite their losses and trailing only 24-22, they continued to press for a gamewinner, but instead, after a long run from Munster, hooker Harry Grant spun out of three tackles on the tryline to clinch the contest for the Storm.
The result - a third loss in eight games - leaves the Warriors still in the playoff zone on the NRL table, with the teams sitting third to ninth all on 10 competition points. After edging St George Dragons in their Anzac clash, the Roosters sit just outside the top eight on points differential.
Webster will need to name his team for that encounter on Wednesday, a selection that will test the club's depth, especially among the forwards.
Melbourne Storm 30 (Meaney 2, Olam, Grant & Munster tries; Meaney 5 conversions) NZ Warriors 22 (Watene-Zelezniak 2, Ford & Fonua-Blake tries; Johnson 3 conversions)
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