Melbourne Storm defeat NZ Warriors in one-sided bloodbath

The Melbourne Storm continued their insane win streak over the Warriors, delivering a demolition job in front of their home fans.

Melbourne Storm has extended its win streak over the Warriors to 17 after a dominant 28-point victory in front of packed crowd of 26,427 at AAMI Park.

The game was all but over at half time on Sunday after the Storm powered six tries in a clinical opening 30 minutes to gain a 36-0 lead before the contest petered out in the second half for a 42-14 result.

Star half back Jahrome Hughes didn’t return to play after 40 minutes as a precautionary after a right shoulder knock he suffered in a tackle in the 12th minute.

The Warriors had 14 errors and didn’t register their first try until the 54th minute through 19-year-old Leka Halasima as the Storm took control for the majority to register their second win on the trot after a shock round 4 loss to the St. George Illawarra.

The win in front of a sold-out crowd lifts Craig Bellamy side’s record to 4-1 while the Warriors’ three-game win streak comes to an end.

It was the Storm’s second highest crowd for a regular game at AAMI Park.

MELBOURNE, AUSTRALIA - APRIL 13: Grant Anderson of the Storm celebrates after scoring a try during the round six NRL match between Melbourne Storm and New Zealand Warriors at AAMI Park, on April 13, 2025, in Melbourne, Australia. (Photo by Robert Cianflone/Getty Images)

COATES FIRES

Xavier Coates continued his stunning form against the Warriors with the Storm winger scoring his side’s first and last try.

The 24-year-old now has 12 tries in his past seven games against the Warriors which included last season’s thrilling winner in round 2.

STORM DOMINATE

Storm produced a thrilling first half with a stunning six tries in the opening 30 minutes to take a 36-nil lead at the break.

Ryan Papenhuyzen was at his kicking best, proving faultless with six conversions from six attempts following seven straight last week.

Coates had two try assists to go with his four-pointer in the 2nd minute as front rower Josh King fired with a try assist and the second Storm try in the 14th minute.

Back-to-back long passes from Harry Grant and Papenhuyzen ended with Grant Anderson scoring in the 30th minute to cap off a stunning first-half performance for the home side.

The Storm won linebreaks (7-0) and had 60 per cent of possession in their most promising half of the season.

Papenhuyzen converted his final conversion attempt in the second half to make it 14 faultless conversions in a row from his last two games.

The Warriors had no answers for the onslaught. (Photo by Robert Cianflone/Getty Images)

HUGHES FIGHTS

A packed-out crowd went quiet momentarily when Hughes went down holding his right shoulder in pain in the 12th minute after a heavy landing on it.

But the star halfback got to his feet after some minor medical attention and got the third 40/20 of his career two minutes later which led to Storm’s second try.

Hughes didn’t return to play after halftime as a precautionary with the lead so big and the Storm having a short turnaround next week which Hughes was a chance to return for.

SKIPPER INJURED

Co-captain James Fisher-Harris came off after 11 minutes and was ruled out with a pec injury.

The prop was seen in the changerooms just before half time with ice on his left pec.

In addition, Charnze Nicoll-Klokstad came off for a head injury assessment after a heavy landing in a tackle four minutes into the second half and didn’t return to play.

WARRIORS LIFT

Perhaps helped by coming off the bye, the Warriors finished the game strong with three second-half tries while keeping the Storm to one.

After Halasima’s try just out of the break, Rocco Berry and Luke Metcalf both put down four-pointers in the final 10 minutes to give the visitors something to take home in Erin Clark’s 100th NRL appearance.

Originally published as Melbourne Storm defeat NZ Warriors in one-sided bloodbath