Warriors 18
Storm 14
A magnificent second-half defensive display secured the Warriors a shock win over NRL pace-setters Melbourne Storm in Melbourne last night.
The Storm hadn't been beaten at AAMI Park since round 14 last season, but the Warriors have a decent record in Melbourne and they added to that with a display that dramatically reversed their insipid form this season.
In a classic clash of styles, the Warriors won the contest up the middle, while the Storm hit back with some scintillating counter-attacking football that in turn was countered by a tremendous Warriors scrambling defensive effort.
After scoring 18 points in 11 minutes late in the first half, the Warriors went scoreless in the second.
Against a Storm side with the combined threat of Billy Slater, Cooper Cronk and Cameron Smith such a barren spell is usually a recipe for defeat.
But after conceding a try to Cronk from a Slater bat-back in the 44th minute, the Warriors repelled the Storm continually to record their third win from seven matches.
Makeshift centre Lewis Brown made what turned out to be a game-saving tackle on try line-bound Beau Champion with three minutes remaining, but there was no shortage of heroes for the Warriors.
Props Jacob Lillyman and Russell Packer were outstanding, as were wings Kristan Inu and Kevin Locke and backrower Feleti Mateo.
Coach Ivan Cleary has been in the gun after his side's mediocre start to the season.
But his recall of halfback Brett Seymour came up trumps, Seymour's boot giving a significant boost to the side's kicking game.
Seymour was also a valuable defensive cog, cutting down Slater repeatedly to help neutralise the superstar fullback's threat.
The Warriors could hardly have a made a worse start, when Champion crossed after four straight sets and three minutes of constant pressure.
But when they did get their hands on the ball the signs were encouraging.
Lillyman led a powerful forward effort, and Locke - in for the injured Bill Tupou - provided the impetus for a brief but decisive offensive onslaught, climbing superbly to reel in a towering bomb and then splitting the Storm defence with a 50m run.
Only a fine Slater tackle prevented Locke going the distance, but his effort put his side firmly on the front foot.
Seymour hoisted a bomb that Matt Duffie dropped under pressure from Inu, with the Warriors wing twisting to ground the ball for the try.
Melbourne's struggles under the high ball became reminiscent of the Warriors' opening day nightmare against the Eels.
Anthony Quinn was the next to shell a Seymour bomb and hooker Aaron Heremaia sent Lillyman over with a neat short ball.
Things continued to fall the Warriors' way when Heremaia received a fortunate penalty, and Quinn's strip on the rampaging Ukuma Ta'ai fell kindly for Micheal Luck to score his first try in more than two years.
Smith pulled two points back for the Storm when Luck was harshly penalised in the final minute of the half, and Cronk's try early in the second half put the Storm firmly within striking distance.
But the Warriors dug deep, suggesting there may well be reasons for optimism this season after all.
