Marata Niukore scores a try for the Warriors against the Storm.
Photo: AAP/Photosport
Wing Dallin Watene-Zelezniak has scored a try double – and should have had a third – as NZ Warriors snapped a 17-game, 11-year losing streak against Melbourne Storm 38-14 in Melbourne.
The Auckland side had not toppled their rivals since 2015, suffering some horrendous beatings in the meantime, but buried that hoodoo in style at AAMI Park, running in 26 unanswered points.
Watene-Zelezniak had his first try after half an hour, putting his team ahead 16-14, and grabbed another 10 minutes after halftime.
Moments later, he was open on the right sideline with no defenders in sight, but fullback Taine Tuaupiki elected to keep the ball and cut infield, as the opportunity died.
Melbourne entered the game off three straight losses, including a 50-10 collapse against Penrith Panthers last week, but showed no signs of regrouping against a rampant Warriors outfit.
Coach Andrew Webster was forced to shuffle his backline, after losing both centres Adam Pompey (suspension) and Charnze Nicoll-Klokstad (neck injury) during the week, and eventually moved star wing Roger Tuivasa-Sheck into the midfield, handing Alofiana Khan-Pereira his club debut.
The disruption had no effect on their performance, with Tuivasa-Sheck scoring his first try of the season soon after halftime, as the Warriors found another gear.
Front-rower Jackson Ford played an entire 80 minutes and also found the tryline, while leading his team in both running metres (162) and tackles (35).
The result – the Warriors’ biggest-ever win over the Storm – catapults them to second on the NRL table with four wins from six games, trailling on Penrith, edging six other teams on points differential.
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