Melbourne Storm beat New Zealand Warriors 22-12 in NRL round 13

SKIPPER Cameron Smith highlighted his team's patience as NRL leaders Melbourne came from behind to beat a gallant Warriors side in Auckland yesterday.

Billy Slater

SKIPPER Cameron Smith highlighted his team's patience as NRL leaders Melbourne came from behind to beat a gallant Warriors side in Auckland yesterday.

The Storm overcame an early 12-0 deficit to keep the Warriors scoreless for the remaining 65 minutes.

It was Smith himself who dealt the killer blow, dotting down with six minutes to go after a blistering run from fullback Billy Slater, who was an attacking threat throughout the match.

Smith said the Storm spoke at half-time about needing to control the speed of the game.

"They turned up with a lot of energy, the Warriors," he said.

"We knew they were going to do that, but I think our defence and our patience with the footy built a lot of pressure and really wore them down at the end."

GALLERY: WARRIORS V STORM

Smith said the Storm spoke at half-time about needing to control the speed of the game.

"They turned up with a lot of energy, the Warriors," he said.

"We knew they were going to do that, but I think our defence and our patience with the footy built a lot of pressure and really wore them down at the end."

For the Warriors, it was the second match in a row, after their defeat to Wests Tigers, where they had hit the front early only to finish on the wrong side of the ledger. Coach Brian McClennan was disappointed that they had allowed the Storm to get back to 12-10 at half-time "too easily".

"That's something we have to work harder on - when we've got a team under the pump we have to keep them that way," he said.

"In the second half, it became a bit of a war and we just didn't stay in it."

Match centre: Game details and stats, plus use our Dally M player rater

Defeat was compounded by a serious injury to prop Sam Rapira who tore his left triceps late in the first half and will require surgery, which will likely put him out for three months.

It was another typically enthralling encounter between Melbourne and the Warriors, who have often given the Storm problems in the past.

It took until the 57th minute before Melbourne hit the front for the first time at Mt Smart Stadium.

A great short ball from halfback Cooper Cronk sent centre Will Chambers over the line, with Smith adding the extras for a 16-12 lead.

The visitors sealed victory when Slater, who was a menace throughout, sliced up the middle before offloading to Smith to score under the posts.

In front of 20,487 fans, the mid-table Warriors jumped out to an early 12-0 lead.

Boom centre Konrad Hurrell got the opening try, after five-eighth James Maloney's stray pass caught out the defence as it bounced towards Hurrell. Winger Manu Vatuvei got the second try courtesy of a massive cut-out pass from halfback Shaun Johnson.

Maloney landed both sideline conversions and the Warriors almost went further ahead when winger Bill Tupou was forced out just out from the corner.

That was the catalyst for a Melbourne comeback.

A piggy-back penalty gave the Storm field position and five-eighth Gareth Widdop obliged by dancing his way over.

Then a big break by Slater up the middle set up interchange forward Jaiman Lowe to burrow over from dummy half to close the gap to 12-10.

Melbourne finished the half camped in Warriors territory, but came up empty handed despite five consecutive sets.

MELBOURNE 22 (W Chambers J Lowe C Smith G Widdop tries C Smith 3 goals) WARRIORS 12 (K Hurrell M Vatuvei tries J Maloney 2 goals) at Mt Smart Stadium. Referees: Matt Cecchin, Adam Devcich. Crowd: 20,487.