Will Warbrick’s Storm career has come to a heartbreaking end after the high-flying winger was taken from the field on a medi-cab with a suspected ruptured Achilles.
MATCH CENTRE: Roosters v Storm, score, live blog
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The New Zealand international was in tears as he left Allianz Stadium where the Storm’s finals hopes were all but extinguished after they were beaten 14-6 by the Roosters on a wet night in Sydney.
Warbrick clutched his left leg as Roosters centre Billy Smith slid over for a try in the 25th minute, with Melbourne players consoling him as he left the field for the final time as a Storm player.
The winger will miss the World Cup for the Kiwis and will then link up with the Warriors after he signed a three-year deal to move across the ditch.
The injury is the latest setback for the competition heavyweights who now look set to miss the finals for the first time since 2010 unless they can win five of their remaining six fixtures.
But they’ll have to pull off the miracle without both of their starting wingers with Xavier Coates not playing a game all year due to an Achilles injury of his own, while Eli Katoa (brain bleed) and Tui Kamikamica (stroke) won’t return in 2026.
They were already without superstar halves Cameron Munster (knee) and Jahrome Hughes (hamstring) for Friday’s match, with legendary coach Craig Bellamy searching for enough fit players to face the Rabbitohs next week.
“It’s a shame for Will to end his career with us on that note,” Storm coach Craig Bellamy said in his post-match press conference.
BIG HITS
MISSED CALLS
A couple of refereeing faux pas from the second half have come under the microscope.
First, the Roosters were pinged for a high tackle which looked very soft.
The Storm took advantage by scoring in the ensuing set.
It was a call Mick Ennis labelled “disgraceful”.
“There was a high tackle on Nat Butcher which was a disgraceful call. It was nowhere near a penalty,” he said.
The other blunder proved costly as well.
Roosters half Sam Walker appeared to have kicked a drop out after the shot clock buzzer had sounded, but referee Gerard Sutton allowed play to continue.
Had it been called, the Storm receive a penalty right in front and a chance to level the score at 8-8.
“That’s a penalty in front. There’s a couple of moments that we’ll hear a little bit more about,” Ennis said.
Two MASSIVE missed calls | 00:34
STORM BOMB PAIR OF TRIES
Incredibly, Melbourne almost pulled off the impossible and should have won had it not been for a terrible pass from Tyran Wishart with 13 minutes left.
Wishart made a break inside the Roosters’ half and had an open Sua Fa’alogo to his right. Make the pass, Fa’alogo scores and it’s a one-try game, but Wishart threw it too low and the Roosters dived on the loose ball.
Down 14-6 with two minutes to play, Nick Meaney had an open try line in front of him but drops the final pass.
Granted, it wasn’t the best pass, but it’s one he should have swallowed up to score.
In an eight point loss, the Storm will rue two certain tries they butchered.
“They were completely bombed,” Braith Anasta said on Fox League.
BOMBED chances for Storm | 00:27
SUPER COOPER
It took 54 minutes for the visitors to play the ball inside the attacking 20, but it only took them another set to grab a try thanks to a ridiculous high shot penalty on Nat Butcher who barely grazed Alec MacDonald’s hair.
Harry Grant took advantage of the field position to set up Stefano Utoikamanu under the posts, before Wishart burst through but couldn’t link up with Sua Faalogo.
Young gun Cooper Clarke was enormous for the visitors with 48 tackles and 16 runs on his 20th birthday.
Bellamy praises Storm effort in defeat | 08:54
HUNT IS ON
The Roosters are now only two points behind the ladder-leading Panthers, but it took them 75 minutes to feel safe when veteran Daniel Tupou crossed out wide in game 301.
The night started well with Daly Cherry-Evans and Mark Nawaqanitawase combining to set up Siua Wong for an early try, before the former Sea Eagle nailed a 40/20 which led to Smith’s try.
They dominated possession and territory but couldn’t crack the Storm’s defence for 50 minutes until Tupou crossed and then Sam Walker finally landed a conversion to seal victory.
The hosts had to survive a nervy finish with Nick Meaney spilling the ball in the final three minutes with the line wide open.
They’ll gladly accept the two competition points given their awful record against Melbourne, with skipper James Tedesco to return next week following his head knock in the Origin decider.
STAT ATTACK (Fox Sports Lab)
Fox Lab Expected Set Points: Roosters 22.7. Storm 17.4
A poor attacking performance from the Roosters in wet conditions, struggling to convert their 56 percent possession and 31 tackles to 17 in the opposition 20 into points.
Four straight wins for the Roosters – moving at least temporarily into second place on the ladder. Six straight wins at Allianz.
Roosters lowest scoring win since round 15 last season (12-8 v Knights). Third time in the past six games Roosters have conceded single figures.
Two losses from past three games for Storm – first time since 2015 they have lost 10 regular season matches. They are two wins behind eighth position with six games remaining. Have now won just one of their last eight games away from AAMI Park.
Only the Roosters 3rd win from 16 games against Storm since 2020. Their first win against them in Sydney since the 2019 Prelim Final. 7 of the Roosters 21 wins against Storm have now come when holding them to nil at half time.
Jack Howarth placed on report mid-way through the first half for a crusher tackle. No prior charges.
Will Warbrick was taken from the field on the medicab just before the 30 minute mark after tearing his Achilles tendon. His career with Storm is likely over as he has signed with the Warriors for next season.
Jack Hetherington was placed on report for a high tackle late in the first half – No charges since 2024.
Alec MacDonald left the field just before half time with a bad cut to his face – but passed his HIA at half time and returned in the second half.
Jack Howarth suffered a shoulder injury during the second half, but managed to play on til the end of the game.
Fox Lab POTM – Naufahu Whyte led the way from the front again for the Roosters. 19 runs, almost 180 metres, three offloads and 20 tackles with only 1 miss.
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