Melbourne Storm trailed early but found a way to outlast an injury-hit New Zealand Warriors 30-22 and win their annual Anzac Day clash at AAMI Park.
The Warriors lost skipper Tohu Harris (knee) before half-time while fullback Charnze Nicoll-Klokstad (concussion), Jazz Tevaga (achillies) and Bayley Sironen (concussion) were all forced off in the second half but remained in the match until the final minutes.
The Storm trailed 22-12 early in the second half but power runs from Nelson Asofa-Solomona and Justin Olam plus the creativity and dare of Cameron Munster, Harry Grant and two-try hero Nick Meaney led to a comeback win.
Melbourne coach Craig Bellamy threw giant forward Asofa- Solomona into the action on 21 minutes after several weeks out with injury, and he fired up his side with 96 metres and four offloads up to half-time, finishing with 157 metres, 67 of them post-contact.
Warriors playmaker Shaun Johnson used a staggering run to make the Storm’s line move up before he swung it to Dylan Walker who attacked on the left and threw an inside pass to Jackson Ford who powered over for a 6-0 lead just minutes into the match.
That lead was doubled on 12 minutes when Dallin Watene-Zelezniak ran over untouched after some more quality setup work as the Warriors dominated the ball in the first 17 minutes, which saw the home side have just three possessions.
Nelson Asofa-Solomona offloads against the Warriors.Credit: Getty
Munster changed the game in one kick roosting a 40-20 kick that went almost 45 metres and won his side an extra possession, that led to Justin Olam scoring a try.
Warriors forward Addin Fonua-Blake made the Storm defence look silly when he burst through multiple tackles to make it 18-6, but Cameron Munster’s late try made it 18-12 at half-time.
Storm premiership player turned Warriors captain Tohu Harris wrenched his knee attempting a tackle, limped off and didn’t return.
Walker was sin-binned at the same time Harris was heading off for “head-slam” tackle on Eliesa Katoa who suffered a concussion in the tackle. and replaced by 18th man Grant Anderson.
The Storm thought they would score first as the Warriors were a man down for the first eight minutes of the half and missing Harris, but the Warriors waited for their chance with Adam Pompey flicking a pass to Watene-Zelezniak who made it 22-12 after 44 minutes.
Meaney replied straight back as Xavier Coates broke down the left sideline and kicked back inside to his unmarked fullback to cut it 22-18.
Warriors fullback Charnze Nicoll-Klokstad was forced off with concussion after slamming into the hip of Tariq Sims during a tackle and moments later Meaney scored his second try after a high ball was knocked into his path, putting the Storm ahead 24-22 with 21 minutes remaining.
Grant powered over with five minutes left to make sure of the win after a line break from Munster and his own burrowing run.
Stream the NRL Premiership 2023 live and free on 9Now.
Sports news, results and expert commentary. Sign up for our Sport newsletter.
