NZ Warriors have retained their grip on a top-three position on the NRL ladder, with Melbourne Storm stumbling to a 24-18 defeat against Newcastle Knights.
The Auckland side continued their run of red-hot form with a 21-20 goldenpoint win over Canberra Raiders on Friday - their third consecutive victory and sixth from the last seven games - as they chase their first playoff spot since 2018.
Their cause has been greatly helped by those around them, with the Storm surprisingly toothless against the Knights, who have also won three straight.
Newcastle trailled 12-0 early, after converted tries to fullback Nick Meaney and second-rower Trent Loiero gifted Melbourne the advantage, but by halftime, the Knights were 18-12 ahead, with Auckland-born Greg Marzhew among their tryscorers.
They took full advantage of a sin-binning to interchange forward Tariq Sims for a high tackle to pile on three tries in his absence.
Their success broke an 11-game, eight-year losing streak against the Storm.
The result sees Melbourne locked with the Warriors and Raiders on 28 competition points, but behind the former on points differential. Only Cronulla Sharks can overhaul the Warriors this weekend, if they can beat Manly Sea Eagles by 10 points.
Next week, the Warriors will receive an automatic two points from their third bye of the season, before a run home that pits them against Gold Coast Titans (13th), Wests Tigers (17th), Manly (12th), St George Dragons (15th) and the Dolphins (14th) - all outside the playoff race.
