NRL: WARRIORS SQUANDER STRONG START, FALL TO MELBOURNE AT MT SMART - AS IT HAPPENED
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Kia ora, good evening and welcome to Newshub's live coverage of the NZ Warriors v Melbourne Storm NRL clash at Auckland's Go Media Stadium.
After a horror run of five games without victory, the Warriors seem to have pulled their campaign around with three straight wins, two of which were achieved with very makeshift line-ups against competition highflyers.
Last week, they overran North Queensland Cowboys, as many of their frontliners returned from injury, and they will have veteran half Shaun Johnson back against the Storm, alongside now in-form five-eighth Te Maire Martin.
Melbourne are atop the competition table, but needed a miracle last-gasp try to winger Xavier Coates to pip their trans-Tasman rivals earlier in the season - a result that still stings the Warriors.
The Warriors have not beaten the Storm since 2015, but will have a soldout Mt Smart behind them tonight.
Join us at 7:30pm for kickoff.
TAB Odds: Warriors $1.75, Storm $2.10
Wahs who? Storm coach Bellamy pleads ignorance of Warriors' beloved new moniker
NZ Warriors will look to end a nine-year losing record against Melbourne Storm, when they host them at a soldout Go Media Stadium on Saturday.
Although the Warriors will have a strong home crowd advantage over Melbourne, it might not work in their favour this time around.
Storm coach Craig Bellamy has certainly been oblivious to the 'Wahs' hype machine.
"I didn't even know about the Wahs," he said. "The other day, I thought someone was talking about the Waratahs.
"There were a few people talking about it in the lift this morning, so I've got the message now."
The prospect of it being chanted at their heaving fortress doesn't make the challenge any different, Bellamy insists.
"It's 100 metres long and 75 metres wide, and we play on grass," he said. "At the end of the day, we can only worry about what we can do."
Maybe that ability to block external noise, paired with their dominance on the field, has helped them become a near-impossible hurdle for the Warriors. They haven't beaten the Storm for 15 games, dating back to 2015.
"We know they're a great side," said Warriors coach Andrew Webster. "Even when they don't play their best footy, they know how to find a way to win."
Under the guidance of Webster, the Warriors have become a much different proposition.
"He's a good bloke, so I'm sure what he's been doing with the Warriors, he will continue to do, and they'll get better and better," said Bellamy.
The Storm know the Warriors pack will be one of their biggest threats.
"I thought we were very good against them last time, but that doesn't mean we will be good again, so we have to go after it," Webster said.
Securing a win on Saturday would ensure Melbourne remember the 'Wahs' name.
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