Jackson Ford makes a try for the Warriors as they face the Melbourne Storm on 25 April. Photo: NRL Photos / www.photosport.nz
Hopes were dashed for the clash at AAMI Park in Melbourne to be a promising marker for the way the rest of the Warriors' campaign could unfold in 2023.
The Warriors lost 30-22 to the Storm after blowing an early 12-point lead.
It had been pitched as a chance to bury memories of the same clash last year when the Auckland-based side slumped to a 10-70 defeat on the back of a woeful second-half performance.
This time the Warriors went into the match with five wins from seven matches under their belt and sitting sixth on the NRL table - two places ahead of the Storm.
At halftime the Kiwi side was up 18-12, but they suffered several player injuries and the Storm pushed through their best in the second half, with three tries and stand-out play by Harry Grant and Nick Meaney putting the game away.
By the finish the Warriors had suffered their third loss of the season.
Read Jamie Wall's blow-by blow coverage from the game: