After stringing together three straight wins for the first time this season, the One New Zealand Warriors face their stiffest challenge against the Jersey Flegg Cup’s top side Melbourne at North Harbour Stadium on Saturday (10.15am kick-off),
Comeback wins over the Sea Eagles (26-22), the Silktails (40-18) and the Wests Tigers (44-42) have carried the Warriors to seventh spot on the ladder with 18 points from eight wins, two draws and eight losses.
The Storm are on a different level, though, leading the under-21 competition on 31 points boasting 14 wins, a draw and three losses including a 38-12 win over the Warriors when they met in Melbourne in May.
On that occasion the Warriors scored first and were just 6-12 behind at the break before conceding 26 points in the second half.
Match: Warriors v Storm
Round 20 -
home Team
Warriors
away Team
Storm
Team Lists
Backs
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Fullback for Warriors is number 1 Joseph RatcliffeFullback for Storm is number 1 Hugo Peel
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Winger for Warriors is number 2 Motu PasikalaWinger for Storm is number 5 Luke Cesari
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Centre for Warriors is number 3 Patrick MoimoiCentre for Storm is number 3 Mitchell Jennings
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Centre for Warriors is number 4 Caelys-Paul PutokoCentre for Storm is number 4 Liam Williams
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Winger for Warriors is number 5 Brandon NorrisWinger for Storm is number 20 Amaziah Murgha
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Five-Eighth for Warriors is number 6 Maui Winitana-PatelesioFive-Eighth for Storm is number 23 Eli Morris
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Halfback for Warriors is number 7 Jack ThompsonHalfback for Storm is number 7 Dylan Brettle
Forwards
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Prop for Warriors is number 15 Emosi RavosaiProp for Storm is number 8 Talas Abell
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Hooker for Warriors is number 9 Jeriko Filipi-TalisauHooker for Storm is number 21 Ioane Lui
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Prop for Warriors is number 22 Tepatasi LaumaliliProp for Storm is number 10 Suli Pole
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2nd Row for Warriors is number 12 Alvin Chong Nee2nd Row for Storm is number 11 Preston Conn
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2nd Row for Warriors is number 18 Dezman Laban2nd Row for Storm is number 12 Angus Hinchey
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Lock for Warriors is number 13 Paea SikuveaLock for Storm is number 13 Zayvian Langkilde-Fale
Interchange
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Interchange for Warriors is number 16 Simi VeatupuInterchange for Storm is number 15 Jai Bowden
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Interchange for Warriors is number 17 Gordon Pailegutu Taanuu AfoaInterchange for Storm is number 16 Cooper Clarke
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Interchange for Warriors is number 20 Kahu CapperInterchange for Storm is number 18 Stanley Huen
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Interchange for Warriors is number 21 Harry Tauafiafi-IutoiInterchange for Storm is number 25 K-CI Newton-Whare
Reserves
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Replacement for Warriors is number 14 Tallan EganReplacement for Storm is number 24 Josiah-Ekkehard Neli
Last updated:
Since then they’ve won six of their last nine games to move into the top eight picture although their last three victories have been achieved in heart-stopping fashion, none more so than last Saturday when they were down 22-42 to the Tigers with nine minutes to play – and then unleashed the craziest comeback.
In short order they scored four tries – two in the last two minutes – to win 44-42 with Brandon Norris the hero with his last second try which he converted for a scarcely believable victory.

It was the forerunner to a super Sunday for the Warriors when they put together wins in all three grades at Go Media Stadium to give the club four wins from four for the weekend.
Tomorrow the Jersey Flegg side is back at North Harbour Stadium for the third successive weekend this time playing the first leg of a doubleheader ahead of the New South Wales Cup encounter between the Warriors and North Sydney (12.00pm kick-off).