Auckland NZ, Mt Smart Stadium boiled over on the weekend. The local New Zealand Warriors doing enough to beat the NRL premiers Melbourne Storm in a low scoring close affair. The win helping the Warriors in their late NRL finals charge, hoping to not only be in the Top 8 but higher up the pecking order.
Outenthused. Outworked. Outplayed. Just some of the words Storm coach Craig Bellamy used to describe Melbourne Storm’s poor performance against the New Zealand Warriors today in Auckland.
The 8-6 loss in horrible, wintry conditions at Mt Smart stadium puts a serious dent in their minor premiership hopes as they try to become the first team in NRL history to win three minor premierships in a row.
While the lop-sided penalty count didn’t help (most of them were justified), it was the Storm’s inability to hang onto the ball and complete their sets that ultimately cost them the win. In the end they completed 25 of 38 sets, but it seemed like a lot less.
“If we’d have scored at the end their today and won it would have been an injustice, we didn’t deserve to win today,” said Bellamy.
“They were a much better side than us today and we got what we deserved.
“We didn’t hang onto the ball and gave away some silly penalties which released the pressure valve for them a little bit.
“Our handling was poor. We didn’t make a lot of errors playing fancy footy, it was just dropping it in the play the ball, or one off the ruck and stuff like that.”
The first half was particularly ordinary for the Storm, and they were lucky to go in at the break only 4-0 down. A penalty against Melbourne for a strip gave New Zealand another set of six only metres from their line, and they took full advantage when winger Sonny Fai scored in the corner.
The first half could have ended far worse for the Storm. Hooker Ian Henderson crossed next to the posts after burrowing over from dummy-half, but the video referee denied the home side the try, ruling Ryan Hoffman had been impeded from making a tackle by a Warriors player.
Warriors fullback Lance Hohaia made the difference a converted try nine minutes into the second half when he slotted another gifted penalty only 20 metres out and right in front.
A smart piece of thinking by Cam Smith gave Melbourne the opportunity to get back in the game. From a 20-metre restart, instead of tapping and passing to a runner as is the norm, Smith kicked for touch, the ball bouncing well inside the touchline before rolling over at the 40-metre line. As a result the Storm was awarded the scrum feed and from there they made their move.
The Storm produced their best set of six for the game, taking the ball 50-metres up the field before Sika Manu got his hands on the ball. As he gathered the ball 10 metres out from an Adam Blair pass, the tough backrower managed to get across the try-line under the posts with two Warriors defenders hanging off his back.
Smith made no mistake with the extras.
With the scores locked at 6-6, a technically correct, but harsh decision with six minuted remaining went against the Storm that ultimately costs them the game.
Michael Crocker was penalised 40-metres out from his own try-line for not being square when playing the ball. The fact Crocker had two Warriors players hanging off him as he tried to play the ball didn’t seem to play any part in the referee’s decision.
“Obviously he probably didn’t play it square, so it’s hard to complain I suppose if we broke the rule there,” said Bellamy.
“He was just trying to ball the ball there quick and was probably a bit disoriented with exactly where his position is. It’s a tough way to lose a game, but these things happen.”
Hohaia took the kick and made no mistake.
The final few minutes were frantic with the Storm given a couple of chances to rob the Warriors of the win, but they were ultimately denied by a committed Warriors defence.
Bellamy was philosophical after the loss, although from this game onwards he expects a lot better from his team.
“For the Storm this year, when we’ve had all of our players available, this is only the third game we’ve lost,” said Bellamy.
“I’m not making excuses for them because I was disappointed with our performance, but it’s been a while since we’ve had our full side and we’ve lost a game.
“But we expect better next week, and we’ll forgive them for this one.”
STORM 6 (Try: Manu; Goal: C Smith) def. by WARRIORS 8 (Try: Fai; Goals: Hohaia 2) at Mt Smart Stadium, Auckland
