Warriors end Melbourne's run 24-20
Melbourne may have won the NRL minor premiership but there was no reason to celebrate as the Storm's incredible winning streak came to a shock end 24-20 at the hands of the New Zealand Warriors.
The lowly Warriors, out of the finals race, brought Melbourne's run of 11 straight wins - and 15 successive at Olympic Park - to a shuddering halt in a nail-biting affair.
The lead changed hands several times throughout the match but the visitors hit the front when it mattered.
With seven minutes left on the clock Warriors fullback Brent Webb scored his second of the night when he made a break in his own half and got the ball away to winger Manu Vatuvei, who charged down the sideline before he found Webb again.
The two sides were never separated by more than four points and Lance Hohaia lifted his side to that with a successful conversion to wrap up the match.
Storm coach Craig Bellamy said before the match that the Warriors were a danger team and his prediction rang true as the visitors more than matched Melbourne across the park.
The Storm edged ahead 14-12 at halftime thanks to the side's third try by Test back Matt King nine minutes before the break.
Veteran wing Matt Geyer and Steve Turner, who has being embroiled in a contractual tug-of-war between Melbourne and the Gold Coast this week, scored the others, while Warriors centre Simon Mannering and Vatuvei both crossed.
Early in the second half Webb again put his side back in front as he ran on to a neat grubber into the in-goal by halfback Grant Rovelli for an 18-14 lead.
An almost identical try was disallowed in the first half as the video referee ruled he had failed to ground the ball.
However that lead only lasted two minutes as whiz-kid Greg Inglis kept his try-scoring tally ticking over with his 15th of the season, hard-working hooker Cameron Smith and crafty halfback Cooper Cronk again setting up the four-pointer.
In front of the second biggest Melbourne crowd of the year, 13,477, it appeared Melbourne would hang on for the win until Webb struck again to silence the Storm faithful.
Melbourne claimed the JJ Giltinan Shield Friday night after the Bulldogs' stunning loss to Brisbane ended their challenge with two rounds remaining.
![AAP](https://www.thefanatics.com/images/aaplogo2.gif)
Post a comment about this article
Please sign in to leave a comment.
Becoming a member is free and easy, sign up here.