Round 1
Warriors 16 l. Storm 22

2006 NRL Telstra Premiership Index [Table] [Draw] [Player Stats] [Club Headlines]

Location: Aus_NZ > National > First Grade Competition: NRL Telstra Premiership

New Zealand Warriors
Tony Martin [WG] 4 Pts; 2/3g
Wairangi Koopu [SR] 4 Pts; 1t
Jerome Ropati [CT] 4 Pts; 1t
Manu Vatuvei [WG] 4 Pts; 1t

Melbourne Storm
Matt Geyer [WG] 8 Pts; 2t
Greg Inglis [CT] 6 Pts; 1t, 1/5g
Cameron Smith [BE] 4 Pts; 1t
Steve Turner [BE] 4 Pts; 1t



Clumsy Warriors offer fans some hope
Sun March 12, 2006
The New Zealand Warriors may have lost their opening NRL game against the Melbourne Storm 22-16, but they also gave their fans some hope that they may be able to overcome their 4 point penalty handed out by the NRL for salary cap offences.

For the most part, the Warriors suffered from bad cases of dropsies, but for a length of time just after halftime, they looked more than capable of upsetting the more fancied Storm.

The first half was marred by poor handling from both sides, but the Storm managed to hold onto the ball long enough to score a couple of tries. Greg Inglis, who looks a star in the making, couldnt convert either try, but it was enough to have the Storm up 8-0 at the break.

The Warriors looked like a completely different team for the first part of the second half as they worked their way out to a 12-8 lead thanks to some inspiring play by, Grant Rovelli.

The Storm hit back though, when Cameron Smith strolled through some soft defence, and then Matt Geyer scored almost immediately afterwards. Manu Vatuvei got one back for the Warriors, but Billy Slater slipped a lucky ball out the back which Steve Turner gladly accepted to score the decider.

The Warriors tried to come back, but they just lacked some serious attacking options.

Rovelli played well, but the Tony Martin, Jerome Ropati pairing was a weak link out wide. Faumuina was ok at stand-off, but gave away too many penalties for high shots. Nathan Fien was disappointing at halfback. The forwards tried hard, but it was a lack of imagination in the backs which really hurt the Warriors.


Storm starts season in style
Sun March 12, 2006
Source: www.melbournestorm.com.au

Melbourne Storm has kicked off season 2006 in fine style accounting for the New Zealand Warriors 22-16 in front of 10,000 spectators at Ericsson Stadium in Auckland.

Warriors captain Steve Price was celebrating his 32nd birthday, however veteran Matt Geyer and the Storm front-rowers were in no mood to be giving the New Zealand club or its captain any gifts.

Greg Inglis got the score board ticking over in the 9th minute when he out-muscled and out-sprinted the Warriors defence before winger Geyer extended the Storm lead in the 27th minute to make the score 8-0.

On the stroke of half-time, Storm fullback Billy Slater showed he was back to his electrifying best when he ran down and caught Clinton Toopi, dragging him out of play when it seemed the Warriors were certain to score their first try.

It was a different Warriors outfit that took to the park in the second half, and when former Storm player Tony Martin crossed in the second minute, it looked like the Warriors were ready to make a comeback.

However, replays showed Martin's boot had just touched the line as he was about to score and the video referee ruled it to be no try.

The reprieve for Melbourne was short lived as two minutes later Jerome Ropati scored to get his team back in the game.

Three minutes later the Warriors hit the front when halfback Nathan Fien put up a bomb which no-one could take, and back-rower Wairangi Koopu swooped on the loose ball, gathering and crossing in brilliant fashion.

The see-saw battle continued until momentum swung back in Melbourne's favour when Cameron Smith ran from dummy half and crashed his way through the Warriors defenders to score under the posts.

A minute later Michael Crocker broke the Warriors line, off-loading to Inglis who in turn moved the ball on to Geyer to score his second for the game in the corner to make the score 18-10.

After what seemed an eternity, the video referee finally gave the Warriors the benefit of the doubt when Manu Vatuvei caught a kick and touched the ball down in one motion to give the home team a chance of a victory with 12 minutes remaining.

However, the Warriors' joy was short lived when a Slater flick pass out of the back of his hand found Steve Turner a metre from the try line with no-one to beat to restore Melbourne's six point advantage.

Although pleased with the win, Storm coach Craig Bellamy was not entirely happy with the performance.

"We made it really hard for ourselves, just like last time," said Bellamy.

"We just needed to hold on to the footy and I think both sides were better in the second half on that. It was a tough win and I guess we should be just happy that we've some away with the win."

Melbourne second-rower David Kidwell was happy to get a win, especially as captain in front of 10,000 of his fellow countryman.

"One from one," said Kidwell.

"We've got a leadership group within the team. Just because I've got a 'c' next to my name, I'm just there to toss the coin and ask questions of the referee. There's a group of leaders out there on the field which works for us."

Report source: www.melbournestorm.com.au

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