Melbourne Storm delivered an emphatic performance against the New Zealand Warriors, clinching a decisive 42-14 victory at AAMI Park on Sunday afternoon. This win marks Melbourne’s 17th consecutive victory over the Warriors.
Injuries affected both teams, with key players James Fisher-Harris and Jahrome Hughes uncertain for their upcoming round seven matches. Hughes has already faced injury setbacks this season, having undergone surgery for a broken hand acquired during the second round.
Xavier Coates shone for the Storm, scoring two tries, assisting another, and accumulating an impressive 233 run metres before being substituted with 10 minutes left. The Warriors briefly threatened to score early after a penalty against Stefano Utoikamanu, but their decision to play the ball instead of taking the kick backfired, allowing Melbourne to counterattack effectively. Coates opened the scoring just two minutes into the match, marking the beginning of a tough day for the Warriors.
Adding to their troubles, Fisher-Harris exited the field in the 10th minute due to a pectoral injury, while Hughes suffered a shoulder complaint but was able to continue for a while before being replaced to manage his condition. Fisher-Harris will undergo scans to assess the injury’s severity when the team returns to Auckland.
Melbourne continued to dominate, with Josh King scoring their second try in the 14th minute, quickly followed by another from Shawn Blore. The Warriors’ defence struggled further when Jackson Ford was sent to the sin bin for a holding infringement, opening the floodgates for the Storm. Unopposed tries from Trent Loiero, Harry Grant, and Grant Anderson resulted in a commanding 36-0 lead for Melbourne at halftime, with Ryan Papenhuyzen successfully converting all six tries.
Commentator Braith Anasta praised Melbourne’s dazzling style of play, referring to it as “poetry in motion.” Hughes did not return for the second half, with Melbourne taking a conservative approach ahead of their next match against the Dolphins.
The Warriors eventually got on the scoreboard in the 54th minute with a try from Leka Halasima following a kick bomb. Coates added his second try shortly after, reinforcing his prowess against the Warriors. However, Warriors fullback Charnze Nicoll-Klokstad did not finish the match after failing a head injury assessment.
Despite a late show with tries from Rocco Berry and Luke Metcalf, which provided some consolation for the Warriors, the game was largely dominated by Melbourne, solidifying their position as a formidable force in the league.