League: Warriors withstand Storm

The New Zealand Warriors got their National Rugby League campaign going again with a 24-16 win over Melbourne Storm in Auckland today.

After their away loss to St George Illawarra last weekend, the Warriors needed a victory to try to build some momentum going into the second half of the season.

But it was nailbiting stuff for the home fans in the 7898-strong crowd before the second of winger Todd Byrne's two tries eight minutes from fulltime sealed the result.

Byrne has now scored 11 tries in his last 11 matches.

Melbourne were without their three Queensland State of Origin representatives - fullback Billy Slater, centre Matt King and hooker Cameron Smith.

But they struck first after 12 minutes when halfback Matt Orford kicked to the corner early in the tackle count for unmarked winger Matt Geyer to dot down.

However, the Warriors took control with four tries in 13 minutes late in the spell.

A Nathan Fien kick ahead wasn't cleaned up by the Storm defence, allowing Jerome Ropati to pounce for a try.

Then a Warriors penalty on the Storm line led to the ball being shifted to winger Francis Meli, who went over in the corner.

A kick into the in-goal by halfback Stacey Jones produced Byrne's first try.

From another penalty on the Melbourne line, prop Iafeta Paleaaesina bullocked his way over to help the Warriors to a 20-4 lead.

Jones almost scored just before halftime when his kick and chase in his own half was regathered by fullback Brent Webb, who passed to Jones, but the veteran playmaker was pulled down 1m short.

Early in second spell the Storm were awarded a rare penalty try when video referee Steve Nash ruled that Byrne had pushed five-eighth Cooper Cronk as they chased an Orford bomb in the in-goal.

They closed to 14-20 when a strong run by fullback Greg Inglis led to Geyer's second try.

An Orford penalty then reduced the gap to four points.

But Byrne's second try, through a Jones crossfield bomb during a period of Warrior dominance, secured the win.

New Zealand Warriors 24 (Todd Byrne 2, Jerome Ropati, Francis Meli, Iafeta Paleaaesina tries; Stacey Jones 2 goals)

Melbourne Storm 16 (Matt Geyer 2, penalty try; Matt Orford 2 goals).

Halftime: 20-4.

Referee: Jason Robinson.

Crowd: 7898.


- NZPA