Live Blog: Warriors hang on in bruising battle for key win

Press conferences

Rabbitohs

Storm

Magnificent Mitchell: Rabbitohs star Latrell Mitchell wins the Spirit of the Anzac medal as the best on ground. In this game, he had three line break assists, two try assists with 164 run metres and four tackle breaks. 

Bunnies break the hoodoo: In 20 games played in Melbourne prior to tonight, the Bunnies had lost. Tonight, they have smashed that hoodoo with a dominant performance from the second minute to the 80th. 

Storm woes: This equals the longest losing streak in Storm history. They lost six in a row in 2002.

Full-time: That will do it. The Bunnies bury their Melbourne hoodoo in emphatic fashion with a 48-6 victory. 

79th min: A punctuation on a truly dominant display by the Rabbitohs, with Duncan going over for his hat-trick. Mitchell slots this one too and it's a 48-6 lead for the Bunnies. 

70th min: One of their hardest toilers all night, Sua Faalogo scores the opening try for the Storm. It had to be something special to crack the Bunnies and it was. From a grubbing short kick-off he puts in for himself, scoops it up and races to the try line. Nick Meaney converts and it's 42-6. 

69th min: Just for fun, Mitchell boots a two-point field goal. It never looks like missing and it's now a 42-0.

67th min: It's the Rabbitohs night tonight. Even when they are denied a try, they still get to score a try. Some gutsy tryline defence from the Storm only a play earlier, denying a rampaging Mitchell at the line, but he gets a flick away to continue the play. The Bunnies are then able to get the ball out wide to their right and Graham goes over again. Mitchell converts for a 40-0 lead. 

66th min: Jahrome Hughes has been battling a suspected wrist issue and is off the field. 

64th min: A double for Duncan, who fends himself away from Cam Munster at the line and charges over. Once again, the Storm were trying to get over for their first try down the other end of the field, but they make an error, Rabbitohs make another line break to charge up field and it ends in a try. Mitchell converts this one for a 34-0 lead. 

58th min: Rabbitohs half Jamie Humpreys is off the field with a reported rib issue.

56th min: After a somewhat quiet period for them when they absorbed the Storm attack at the other end, the Rabbitohs have charged downfield and scored at their earliest opportunity. Euan Aiken proves too strong at the line and simply forces his way over to score. Mitchell's having trouble with his kicks so the score remains 28-0. 

48th min: The Storm have a run of possession and go over next to the posts via Trent Loiero after a quick run from dummy half from Harry Grant. However, the try is overturned by the Bunker, who have ruled a double movement. Score remains 24-0 to the Rabbitohs. 

43rd min: Cam Murray is off for a HIA

Second half: Rabbitohs get the action started with the first set of the second half. 

Stats at the break: They tell the story - the Rabbitohs have eight line breaks to none with 57 percent of the possession to play with as well. Storm have made seven errors to three and have a completion rate of 63 percent from 12/19 sets.

Half-time: A dominant first half performance from the Rabbitohs who had raced to a 24-0 lead in Melbourne. Before this game, the Bunnies have lost all 20 games played in Melbourne, but look on track to break that hoodoo if they can keep up this pressure in the second half. 

36th min: One way traffic. Tallis Duncan the latest Bunny to score. A line break from Keaon Koloamatangi makes a break through the middle of the field to set this one up. However, the Bunker had a good look at it, with Cam Munster seemingly getting a touch on the ball causing Duncan to juggle it before getting over the line, but it is all cleared. Mitchell converts this one and it's 24-0. 

30th min: More points for the visitors, with Dufty the player to get over the line. Storm are reeling on the back foot and the Rabbitohs have been relentless. They earn a line drop out and get the ball back to stay on the attack. Mitchell again can't convert so the score is 18-0. 

23rd min: After finding success to their left, the Rabbitohs try their luck on their right and strike gold. Campbell Graham goes over in the right corner to extend their lead. Mitchell can't convert and it stays 14-0. 

23rd min: A double to Johnston, with Souths scoring from a scrum play just out from their own line. Storm were too compressed in their defence and missed players one-on-one, allowing the ball to go out to Souths Sydney's left, with Johnston making no mistake. Mitchell makes no mistake with the conversion and it's 10-0.

9th min: He scores them for fun ... Alex Johnston gets the Bunnies on the board first, running onto a tap on from Latrell Mitchell to run in untouched out wide. Set up by a great kick return from Matt Dufty, the Rabbitohs are in the lead. Mitchell can't convert and it's 4-0 to Souths Sydney. 

1st min: Storm halfback Jahrome Hughes kicks a 40/20.

Kick off: Storm get the first use of the ball in front of their home fans. 

Late Mail

Storm: A late game-day change with Manaia Waitere shifting to centre and Nick Meaney to the right wing as they did last week. Earlier, despite losing five-straight games, Craig Bellamy has a settled squad as they look to continue an unbeaten record against the Rabbitohs in Melbourne. Jack Hetherington and Moses Leo dropped out of the squad on Friday night, with Josiah Pahulu added to the six-man bench in jumper No.21. 

Rabbitohs: One late change on game day with Edward Kosi coming into the extended bench for Liam Le Blanc. Earlier, Euan Aitken is pushing to make his first appearance since suffering a leg injury in Round 2 and remains on the six-man bench. Brandon Smith is also set for a new role after being named in the back row. Bronson Garlick starts at hooker as a result. The Rabbitohs are 0-20 against the Storm in Melbourne. No changes in Friday's 24-hour update, Latrell Siegwalt and Tom Fletcher dropping out of the squad. 

Warriors v Dolphins at Hnry Stadium, Wellington

Warriors

Dolphins 

Full-time: The Warriors to just enough to defeat the Dolphins in front of a sold out crowd in Wellington. After plenty of points in the first half, in the second, there was only one and it was enough for the Warriors to claim the 20-18 win. 

79th min: Isaako's attempt at a two-point field goal is unsuccessful.

79th min: Tensions are high in a close the game and DZW gives up a penalty for dissent after the Dolphins get a penalty in their favour. The boot it up field and go on the attack with the clock ticking down. 

71st min: The Dolphins are denied a try and are also penalised in a close run thing for Fuller tackling AKP without the ball has he attempted to clean up a kick in the in-goal. 

66th min: Averillo comes off the field with a suspected finger dislocation, caught between his own body and Halasima's in a tackle. 

62nd min: Leiataua is off for a HIA.

62nd min: The weight of possession tells against the Dolphins with Tuaupiki sailing over out wide to put the Warriors on level footing. Boy's conversion attempt from the right touchline is successful and the Warriors are in front 20-18. 

A bit of a kerfuffle in back play with Tom Flegler in trouble for a tackle on Ali Leiataua which has the Warriors centre down. It's a head clash, but Flegler is sent to the sin bin. 

 58th min: A late call of a knock on relieves some pressure on the Dolphins who have been camped on their own line for multiple sets with the Warriors mounting an attack. 

55th min: Dolphins captain's challenge on whether Selwyn Cobbo knocks on or if it goes backwards off his shoulder is unsuccessful. Dolphins now have also lost their challenge. 

50th min: Captain's challenge from the Warriors on whether Taine Tuaupiki knocks on is unsuccessful. Warriors have lost their challenge. 

45th min: Mitch Barnett comes off the field for a HIA after collecting the head of CHT in attempting to make a tackle.

Second half: The Warriors have first use of the ball in the second half. 

Stats at the break: The Dolphins have done well to be in front with the Warriors having 59 percent of the possession. The Warriors have also completed at 92 percent with 23/25, with the Dolphins have a completion rate of 76 percent with 13/17. Jackson Ford continues on his wild run of good form, with 134 run metres already while new Dolphins centre Trai Fuller has two try assists. 

Half-time: An entertaining and action-packed first half with six tries scored - three apiece, with Isaako's successful conversions the difference at the break for the Dolphins to lead 18-14. 

37th min: Leka Halasima gets a try taken off him by the Bunker with a huge defensive effort from Jake Averillo to get his hand around the ball, forcing the Warriors power play to lose the ball in the field of play after going high to collect a Boyd kick. Dolphins keep their 18-14 lead.

32nd min: Lewis Symonds comes on for his NRL debut with the Dolphins. 

29th min: The Warriors are in again with a spectacular aerial effort out on the left edge from Khan-Pereira for his second. Nice pass from the inside out from Chanel Harris-Tavita to the winger, with the try set up from a great bust through the middle from Erin Clark. Boyd can't get the conversion over and it's 18-14 to the Dolphins. 

26th min: Dallin Watene-Zelezniak scores an easy try from a scrum, ball just going out through the hands. The penalty up the other end of the field was compounded by a Dolphins error and the Warriors were good enough to capitalise right away. Boyd's attempt is waved away and Dolphins lead 18-10.

23rd min: Fuller runs in for what he hopes is a try - but referee says no go, spotting that Isaako had touched the ball into Khan-Pereira who was trying to take the bomb. It's a penalty to the Warriors who will be looking to get back on the front foot. Score remains 18-6 to the Dolphins. 

20th min: Back-to-back for the Dolphins with Isaako again over in the right corner with Fuller again helping set up his man with his speed, getting on the outside of his player. Isaako's conversion is successful and it's an 18-6 lead for the Dolphins. 

18th min: Against the run of play, the Dolphins go ahead with Jamayne Isaako finding space out on his right, before running in to make his conversion attempt easier. The Warriors had been on the attack down the other end of the field, but an error handed the ball over. A good run from Max Plath to help set up the play and the backs did the rest. Trai Fuller, a late switch to five-eighth is actually playing right centre and helped set up his winger. Isaako converts for a 12-6 lead. 

16th min: A captain's challenge from the Warriors, with Halasima claiming he didn't strip the ball from Connelly Lemuelu and the home side are successful 

16th min: Dallin Watene-Zelezniak goes over in a bit of a messy play out to the right, but the Bunker overrules with an earlier obstruction from Leka Halasima impeding Thomas Flegler.  

11th min: A great individual effort from Herbie Farnworth to score the first try for the Dolphins get the right back in the game. The England centre puts in an unexpected kick and chases himself, winning the race and scoring next to the posts. Jamayne Isaako converts and scores are locked 6-6. 

4th min: In his third game as a Warrior, Alofiana Khan-Pereira gets the home team on the board first with a nice Roger Tuivasa-Sheck tap on creating the space for the speedy winger to go out on their left edge and score. Tanah Boyd converts for a 6-0 lead. 

Kick-off: Dolphins have the first use of the ball in Wellington. 

Late Mail

Warriors: No changes on game day after Eddie Ieremia-Toeava came on to the six-man interchange on Friday in place of Marata Niukore, while Adam Pompey also dropped out of the squad. Fullback Charnze Nicoll-Klokstad is set to miss Saturday's match after suffering a neck injury, with Taine Tuaupiki returning to the starting side. 

Dolphins: A change 90 minutes before kick-off with Trai Fuller starting at five-eighth in jersey No.17 and Brad Schneider dropping out. Tom Gilbert will play lock in jersey No.8 in place of Morgan Knowles, who dropped out on Friday with a calf injury. Tom Flegler lines up at prop. Brian Pouniu and John Fineanganofo are part of the six-man bench. 

Numbers Game

• The Warriors have won four of their last five games in Wellington.
• Dolphins winger Jamayne Isaako has scored six tries in five games in New Zealand.
• Warriors winger Dallin Watene-Zelezniak has scored six tries in his last three games.
• Dolphins centre Herbie Farnworth has scored seven tries in his last five games against the Warriors.
• Warriors five-eighth Chanel Harris-Tavita will play his 100th NRL game.

 

Dragons v Roosters at Allianz Stadium

Press conferences

Roosters

Dragons 

No quit in Toby: On a dark day for the Dragons their young prop Toby Couchman could hold his head high with 122 metres from 15 runs. He also made 43 tackles while his brother Ryan made 37.

Full-time: The Roosters completed at 83 per cent and simply had too much class for a Dragons side that hasn't tasted victory since Round 23 last year. The Roosters have racked up 167 points to 78 across the four-game win streak.

80 min: Kade Reed looks to have a try on debut but Loko Pasifiki Tonga is penalised for obstruction and the four-pointer is ruled out for the debutant.

78 min: Mark Nawaqanitawase looks to get around Val Holmes on the outside but the Dragons centre does well to reel him in and take him into touch.

77 min: Victor Radley looks to have a piece of the tryscoring action as he powers over from close range but replays showed he had lost the ball in his attempt to ground it.

72 min: Chalk up No.189 for the career for Daniel Tupou as he finishes off slick inside work from Victor Radley, Sam Walker, James Tedesco and Hugo Savala. Roosters 64-12

68 min: Daniel Atkinson goes to the air, Setu Tu climbs high above Daniel Tupou to bring it down and slips an offload to Moses Suli who scores. Val Holmes converts. Roosters 58-16

63 min: A poor pass by Tyrell Sloan is spilled by Val Holmes and the Roosters make the most of the gift to go the distance and score a 10th try with Hugo Savala throwing the final pass for Daniel Tupou to grab the 188th try of his career. Sam Walker converts. Roosters 58-10

59 min: Kade Reed looks to create on the left for the Dragons but the ball is spilled and James Tedesco swoops and races 80 metres to score. Sam Walker lands his eighth conversion of the day. Roosters 52-10

56 min: Tyrell Sloan sends a long ball to Setu Tu who beats Hugo Savala before sending it back inside to Sloan in support and the fullback scores. Val Holmes adds the extras. Roosters 46-10

54 min: Sam Walker nudges a perfectly weighted grubber into the in-goal and Angus Crichton follows through to score the eighth try for the Roosters. Walker converts. Roosters 46-4

48 min: Connor Watson loses the ball in a tackle but no call comes from the officials and Reece Robson goes into dummy half and scurries over from 10 metres out. Sam Walker converts. Roosters 40-4

46 min: Val Holmes catches a kick and is trapped in goal. Tyrell Sloan goes short with the dropout and it travels only five metres. Roosters go on the attack.

45 min: Ryan Couchman comes up with a dropped ball to make it eight errors for the day for the Red V.

42 min: James Tedesco toys with the Dragons defence and sends Rob Toia through a big hole to score but the try is ruled out due to an obstruction by Siua Wong.

41 min: The Dragons are under the pump immediately after Daniel Atkinson throws a forward pass to Loko Pasifiki Tonga.

Marky makes his mark: Roosters flyer Mark Nawaqanitawase bagged yet another double and ran for 133 metres as he tormented the Dragons' left edge defence. 'Marky Mark' is going better than a try a game with the Roosters with 32 tries in 31 matches.

Captain's knock: James Tedesco continues to dominate with 102 run metres, two line breaks, two try assists and four tackle breaks. The Roosters' No.1 gun has been in sensational form and has a NSW Origin jersey well in his sights.

Half-time: The Dragons play half of the opening term with 12 men after Luciano Leilua (16th min) and Daniel Atkinson (30th min) are sin binned and the Roosters punish them. The Roosters completed 22 of 24 sets and racked up 988 run metres to the Dragons' 548 metres.

38 min: Mark Nawaqanitawase has a double after Rob Toia gets a flick pass away that rolls around on the ground and is scooped up by the winger who gets rid of Kade Reed to dive over. Sam Walker converts. Roosters 34-4

36 min: Hamish Stewart leaves the field for a HIA.

33 min: Another Daly Cherry-Evans kick and another try for the Roosters as Rob Toia outleaps Mat Feagai to come down with the ball and plunge over the line. Sam Walker converts. Roosters 28-4

30 min: The Roosters go left and create space for Daniel Tupou but the winger spills it.

30 min: The Dragons go down a man again after Daniel Atkinson is sin binned for a professional foul.

29 min: Kade Reed grubbers and the ball rebounds back to him before he passes to Moses Suli who tries to put Setu Tu away again but the pass is ruled forward. 

25 min: Great strength from Setu Tu to score in the corner after good lead-up from Daniel Atkinson and Moses Suli, who comes up with a brilliant tip-on for his winger. Tu had to evade Hugo Savala and then pull through a Daly Cherry-Evans tackle to stretch out and score. Val Holmes pushes the conversion left. Roosters 22-4

22 min: Siua Wong's flick pass is too high for Rob Toia who puts the ball down. That's the Roosters' first error after starting the game 14 of 14.

19 min: Reece Robson skips out of dummy half and puts James Tedesco into space before the fullback again finds Sam Walker in support for a fourth try for the Roosters. The halfback converts his own try. Roosters 22-0

17 min: The Dragons are made to pay immediately as Daly Cherry-Evans sends a superb long ball to Mark Nawaqanitawase who slides over in the corner. Sam Walker fails to convert from wide out. Roosters 16-0

16 min: Luciano Leilua is penalised and sent to the sin bin after making high contact on Sam Walker after the Roosters playmaker had kicked the ball.

12 min: Mat Feagai makes a mess of a Daly Cherry-Evans bomb and the ball spills to Rob Toia who sends it on to Siua Wong who crosses for the Roosters' second. Sam Walker converts. Roosters 12-0

9 min: James Tedesco brushes off Luciano Leilua and explodes into the back field before picking up Sam Walker who races away for the opening try. The conversion from Walker is good. Roosters 6-0

8 min: Tyrell Sloan fails to control a catch off a Sam Walker bomb but Luciano Leilua is on hand to tidy up.

4 min: The Dragons look to have struck first after Josh Kerr catches a high ball and offloads for Damien Cook to scoop the ball up and send it on to who Kade Reed who throws a long ball for Mat Feagai to cross but replays show Tyrell Sloan had knocked the ball on in the contest before Kerr came down with it.

3 min: Daly Cherry-Evans launches a high ball for the corner, Mark Nawaqanitawase soars high but can't control the catch and the Dragons come away.

Kick-off: After an emotional pre-game ceremony it's the Dragons who kick off and Naufahu Whyte brings it back on the first carry.

Late Mail

Dragons: One late switch for the Red V with Josh Kerr coming into the run-on side and Hamish Stewart reverting to the interchange. Interim coach Dean Young revealed during the week that Kyle Flanagan will act as hooker Damien Cook's back-up off the bench. Moses Suli is on track to line up in the centres after recovering from an eye socket injury. Emerging playmaker Kade Reed will make his NRL debut at halfback having impressed in the Pre-Season Challenge and the opening weeks of the NSW Cup season. 

Roosters: No late changes for the Roosters with Egan Butcher the last man tp drop out of the squad 90 minutes before kick-off. Billy Smith has again fallen short in his bid to return from a knee injury and dropped out of the squad on Friday. Tommy Talau comes onto the six-man bench in jersey No.22. 

Numbers Game

• The Roosters have won five of their last six Anzac Day clashes against the Dragons.
• The Dragons have won only two of their last 15 games against the Roosters.
• Roosters second-rower Angus Crichton will make his 150th NRL appearance.
• The Dragons have conceded 175 points in four games at the new Allianz Stadium.