Melbourne have extended their winning streak over the Warriors to 12, putting the injury-hit New Zealand side to the sword with a record-breaking 70-10 win at AAMI Park on Monday night.
Storm winger Xavier Coates crossed for four tries in the 60-point romp while fullback Ryan Papenhuyzen was enormous for the side after missing most of the training week with an ankle injury.
Papenhuyzen notched up his 10th try of the season with another career double to secure the ANZAC medal as the Storm piled on 13 in total to secure their biggest ever win over the Warriors and most points scored at AAMI Park.
In the annual ANZAC day fixture between both clubs, the Storm and Warriors were in an arm wrestle early for a 16-10 scoreline at half-time before Craig Bellamy's side piled on seven unanswered tries in 21 minutes.
The momentum continued with three more tries in the final 10 minutes of the clash to cap the result.
Flying Coates with a fabulous fourth
The Warriors weren't helped by an injury toll in the second half with workhorse Josh Curran (knee) and Dallin Watene-Zelezniak (head knock) being taken from the field with serious injuries.
Their defence throughout the second half, however, became a nightmare with the Storm showing no mercy with an 81% possession rate in their favour.
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Match snapshot
- The Storm crossed first through Jahrome Hughes when the Kiwi international finished off a Ryan Papenhuyzen break down the right edge after Warriors winger Edward Kosi spilt the ball with the try-line in sight.
- Some quick thinking down the short side got the Warriors on the board to level the scores with Chanel Harris-Tavita finding an unmarked Dallin Watene-Zelezniak who touched down in the corner.
- Melbourne continued to pounce on Kosi's poor handling for the night with Xavier Coates picking up an error in-goal to score after a Hughes kick.
- Shaun Johnson went from villain to hero next, throwing an intercept for Nick Meaney to run in the Storm's third of the night before placed a pinpoint kick for Wayde Egan to score for a 14-10 scoreline.
- Warriors prop Aaron Pene was placed on report for high contact after a shot on former teammate Reimis Smith, who missed the rest of the game after failing a HIA.
- Josh Curran was next to leave the field just after half-time with a lower leg injury after landing awkwardly while attempting to defuse a kick.
- The blows continued for the Warriors when Dallin Watene-Zelezniak was knocked out by an accident knee from Nelson Asofa-Solomona during Ryan Papenhuyzen's first try of the evening.
- The Storm enjoyed a 66% possession rate for the match.
- Xavier Coates' four tries in a match was the first of his NRL career.
- It was the third time the Storm have put 50 points on the Warriors in the ANZAC clash, while the 70 points was the highest the Warriors have ever conceded by the club.
- Melbourne's 70-10 win was their equal best against a side in NRL history.
Play of the game
The old saying a prop should never be able to kick the ball was put aside on this occasion with Nelson Asofa-Solomona's boot coming to fruition to give the side their fourth of the evening in the 47th minute.
From there it became all one-way traffic as the Storm motored towards reaching 70.
Papenhuyzen takes flight from an Asofa-Solomona kick
What they said
"It was quite unbelievable in the second half, they obviously had a few injuries which helps a little bit. We didn't let them score a try in the second half. I don't really know what to say, it's nice to score some points and also a privilege to play on this special day." - Storm fullback Ryan Papenhuyzen.
"Some people [gave up], I've been in this game for a long time and it's disappointing to sit here and say that but some people looked for the easiest way out they could and that's sad. It's not a reflection of all the players, we had players working extremely hard and put themselves on the line but when you're playing against the best teams and don't have the ball, the best players can not look good. - Warriors coach Nathan Brown.
Coates goes over for his hat-trick
What's next
Melbourne have a six-day turnaround before preparing for a clash against the struggling Knights in Newcastle.
The Warriors travel back to their adopted home turf in Redcliffe to host the Raiders at Moreton Daily Stadium on Saturday night.
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