League: Warriors slip further off pace after first-up loss

The New Zealand Warriors, down four points before the start of the National Rugby League season because of salary cap breaches, fell even further off the pace when they lost 16-22 to Melbourne Storm in Auckland today.

The Storm scored five tries to three at Ericsson Stadium, with veteran winger Matt Geyer grabbing a brace.

Both sides made plenty of mistakes, but the Storm were able to take greater advantage of their opportunities.

In a first half full of early-season scratchiness, both teams were guilty of errors, in particular the Warriors, who found themselves often close to the Storm line only to turn over the ball.

The Storm punished the Warriors for two of their early mistakes.

With nine minutes gone, from a scrum after a Warriors knock-on, young Melbourne centre Greg Inglis stood up marker Tony Martin and then scampered 60m to score.

On 27 minutes, from a penalty on their own 20m line, the Storm worked the ball downfield before winger Matt Geyer crossed in the corner for an 8-0 lead.

The Warriors came out from halftime showing greater respect for possession.

Substitute hooker Grant Rovelli, who impressed at dummy half in his first-grade debut, threw a superb pass to Martin, who only just put a foot into touch before dotting down.

The Warriors then grabbed two quick tries to hit the front 10-8.

First, a backline move put centre Jerome Ropati over. Then a bomb by halfback Nathan Fien was not mopped up by the Storm defence and substitute forward Wairangi Koopu was on hand to pick up pieces and score.

Just when it looked like the momentum was heading the Warriors' way, Melbourne hit back with their own quick double.

Hooker Cameron Smith scored a soft dummy-half try, before a bust by second rower Michael Crocker was eventually finished off by Geyer.

Down 10-18, the Warriors closed the gap when fullback Brent Webb's chip in-goal was pounced on by unmarked winger Manu Vatuvei, and Martin converted from the sideline.

But again Melbourne came back, a Bill Slater offload out the back door finding substitute back Steve Turner, who dotted down.

Melbourne Storm 22 (Matt Geyer 2, Greg Inglis, Cameron Smith, Steve Turner tries; Inglis goal)
New Zealand Warriors 16 (Jerome Ropati, Wairangi Koopu, Manu Vatuvei try; Tony Martin 2 goals).

Halftime: 8-0.

Crowd figure: 10,035.

- NZPA