The last time they met back in Round 2 the Warriors and Storm played out one of the most thrilling games of the season to date.
An unbelievable finish by Xavier Coates with seconds on the clock completed an incredible Storm comeback win in which they scored 12 points in the final two minutes to extend their winning run over the Warriors to 15.
This Saturday Melbourne head across the Tasman for the return leg, looking to protect their spot atop the NRL Telstra Premiership ladder against a Kiwi side who are unbeaten in their past three games and looking to move back into the top eight.
The Storm were effective, if far from perfect, in a 36-28 victory over the Knights in Round 14, while the Warriors trounced the Cowboys 42-12 last up.
Craig Bellamy's men have won in five of their past six visits to Go Media Stadium and that one loss wasn't even against the Warriors, instead coming against the Wests Tigers in a game taken there as part of an Auckland double-header in 2018.
Match: Warriors v Storm
Round 15 -
home Team
Warriors
10th Position
away Team
Storm
1st Position
Venue: Go Media Stadium, Auckland
Match broadcasters:
- WatchNRL
Team News
Warriors: Shaun Johnson returns for his first game since Round 10 when he suffered a pectoral injury and will partner Te Maire Martin in the halves. Chanel Harris-Tavita keeps a spot in the 17 on the bench at the expense of Freddy Lussick. Roger Tuivasa-Sheck (hamstring) is in the extended squad but is likely to be held back until Round 16.
Storm: Dean Ieremia comes in for his first game of the season at centre, with Reimis Smith out after suffering concussion at the back end of last week's win over the Knights. Eliesa Katoa is free to return to play in Auckland for the first time since he left the Warriors in 2022, after receiving a monetary fine for a dangerous contact charge picked up last week.
Team Lists
Backs
-
Fullback for Warriors is number 1 Charnze Nicoll-KlokstadFullback for Storm is number 1 Sualauvi Faalogo
-
Winger for Warriors is number 2 Dallin Watene-ZelezniakWinger for Storm is number 2 Grant Anderson
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Centre for Warriors is number 3 Rocco BerryCentre for Storm is number 3 Dean Ieremia
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Centre for Warriors is number 4 Adam PompeyCentre for Storm is number 4 Nick Meaney
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Winger for Warriors is number 5 Marcelo MontoyaWinger for Storm is number 5 Xavier Coates
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Five-Eighth for Warriors is number 6 Te Maire MartinFive-Eighth for Storm is number 6 Tyran Wishart
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Halfback for Warriors is number 7 Shaun JohnsonHalfback for Storm is number 7 Jahrome Hughes
Forwards
-
Prop for Warriors is number 8 Addin Fonua-BlakeProp for Storm is number 8 Tui Kamikamica
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Hooker for Warriors is number 9 Wayde EganHooker for Storm is number 9 Harry Grant
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Prop for Warriors is number 10 Jackson FordProp for Storm is number 10 Josh King
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2nd Row for Warriors is number 11 Marata Niukore2nd Row for Storm is number 11 Shawn Blore
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2nd Row for Warriors is number 12 Mitchell Barnett2nd Row for Storm is number 12 Eliesa Katoa
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Lock for Warriors is number 13 Tohu HarrisLock for Storm is number 13 Trent Loiero
Interchange
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Interchange for Warriors is number 14 Chanel Harris-TavitaInterchange for Storm is number 14 Bronson Garlick
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Interchange for Warriors is number 15 Dylan WalkerInterchange for Storm is number 15 Christian Welch
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Interchange for Warriors is number 16 Jazz TevagaInterchange for Storm is number 16 Nelson Asofa-Solomona
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Interchange for Warriors is number 17 Kurt CapewellInterchange for Storm is number 17 Joe Chan
Reserves
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Replacement for Warriors is number 18 Tom AleReplacement for Storm is number 18 Young Tonumaipea
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Reserve for Warriors is number 20 Roger Tuivasa-SheckReserve for Storm is number 19 Jack Howarth
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Reserve for Warriors is number 21 Taine TuaupikiReserve for Storm is number 20 Lazarus Vaalepu
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Reserve for Warriors is number 22 Freddy LussickReserve for Storm is number 21 Chris Lewis
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Reserve for Warriors is number 23 Jacob LabanReserve for Storm is number 22 Kane Bradley
Warriors Ins
- Jacob Laban
- Roger Tuivasa-Sheck
- Shaun Johnson
- Tom Ale
Storm Ins
- Chris Lewis
- Dean Ieremia
- Kane Bradley
- Lazarus Vaalepu
- Young Tonumaipea
Warriors Outs
Storm Ins
- Reimis Smith
Last updated:
Stat Attack
- The Warriors last defeated the Storm in 2015 at Mt Smart Stadium.
- The Storm have won their past 15 games against the Warriors.
- Warriors winger Dallin Watene-Zelezniak has scored six tries in his last five games against the Storm.
- Storm winger Xavier Coates has scored nine tries in his last five games against the Warriors.
- Warriors prop Addin Fonua-Blake has scored four tries in his past five games.
Stats supplied by David Middleton, League Information Services,
