League: Warriors hoping to make most of Origin disruption

The New Zealand Warriors are hoping State of Origin disruption works in their favour as they face three of the National Rugby League's top four teams in consecutive weeks.

After their 24-16 win over Melbourne yesterday kept them just two points outside the top eight, the Warriors meet second-placed Parramatta in an "away" fixture in Hamilton on Saturday.

They then host leaders Brisbane, who have won nine in succession, and are away to fourth-place North Queensland the weekend after.

The Eels, the Broncos and the Cowboys all have players involved in the State of Origin series, which Queensland lead 1-0 going into the second match on Wednesday night.

The third Origin game will be after the Warriors travel to Townsville to face North Queensland.

Skipper Stacey Jones said the situation facing opposition clubs over the next three weeks was something the Warriors needed to take advantage of.

Those clubs would have players absent in camp with either the Blues or the Maroons, or backing up just days after a tough Origin clash.

"It's a chance for us to take control of things with what's happening in the Origin," Jones said.

"Some players will be missing and some players backing up. It's an opportunity for us to take advantage of that, take some points and move up the ladder."

Melbourne had three players who missed the loss to the Warriors because of Origin duty -- fullback Billy Slater, centre Matt King and hooker Cameron Smith.

The Warriors were also without their one Origin representative, club skipper Steve Price, who is out with a knee injury that is expected to keep him sidelined until late in the regular season.

The Warriors had to withstand a Storm comeback at Ericsson Stadium to get the victory that keeps them in touch with the top half of the table.

They scored five tries to three, with Todd Byrne getting a brace, as did opposition winger Matt Geyer.

Byrne's double extended his impressive personal streak to 11 tries in his past 11 appearances.

The decisive period of the contest was in the second quarter, when the Warriors ran in four tries in 13 minutes to go into the halftime break 20-4 ahead.

A rare penalty try and Geyer's second touchdown helped to pull the Storm back to within four points midway through the second spell.

But Byrne's second effort eight minutes from fulltime sealed the result.

Coach Tony Kemp believed the Warriors' performance in the opening 40 minutes was their best of the season.

"I thought we won the game in the first half."

He also praised his players' ability to hold out the Storm late in the game.

"I'm really proud of the way they gutsed it out," he said.

"They had to get tough and they had to show some resolve and some composure.

"We've got a bit of steel about us this year. We're not done yet. We're still in touch and that's my main priority."

- NZPA