The Melbourne Storm have blown the Warriors off AAMI Park with a second half onslaught to run away 70-10 winners on Anzac Day.
Following a tightly contested opening half, in which the Storm only led by six at the main break, the Storm poured on 10 unanswered tries to hand the Warriors their biggest defeat in club history.
The 70-point total is also the equal-most points Melbourne has scored in a match.
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Storm winger Xavier Coates led the way with four tries while his opposite number Nick Meaney had two.
Fullback Ryan Papenhuyzen also racked up two tries, as did playmaker Jahrome Hughes.
The deficit could’ve been much larger if Papenhuyzen, Melbourne’s regular kicker, had taken all conversion attempts.
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The Storm shared the kicking duties in the second-half between Cameron Munster, Grant and Meaney.
Melbourne converted only seven from 13 attempts.
In shocking scenes, Dallin Watene-Zelezniak was taken from the ground on a stretcher following an ugly head clash.
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Competing for a high ball with Papenhuyzen – who took possession and scored – Watene-Zelezniak subsequently fell awkwardly before his head collided with the stray knee of Nelson Asofa-Solomona.
Warriors’ lock Joshua Curran also left the field with a knee injury.
“The way we performed in the last 30 minutes, the injuries are not an excuse. We were right in that contest and competing well, there wasn’t a great deal in the game. When we picked up a couple of injuries, we certainly didn’t respond well,” Warriors coach Nathan Brown said afterwards.
Papenhuyzen was outstanding all over the field for the Storm. His efforts were later acknowledged with the player of the match honours.
Addressing the media, Brown admitted that some players did appear to give in as the contest heated up.
“We had some players who were a little below their best at that stage, and when it got harder and harder, thought the easiest option was to look for the easiest option. Unfortunately for a lot of our middle forwards, who worked really hard and did a great job, not having the ball and being under fatigue made it extremely difficult at the end of the game,” he said.
“Some people did [give up], I’ve got no doubt at all. I’ve been in this game a long time, it’s disappointing to actually sit here and say that… that’s sad. That’s not a reflection of all players, we had some who worked extremely hard.”
NRL Highlights: Storm v Warriors – Round 7
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