Dallin Watene-Zelezniak scores for the Warriors Photo: PHOTOSPORT
The Warriors have been beaten 30-22 by the Storm in their traditional Anzac Day NRL fixture in Melbourne.
The visitors led 18-12 at half time but were unable to hang on as injuries took their toll and they finished the game with just 13 fit players.
The Warriors have not won an Anzac Day game against the Storm since 2014.
The Warriors had no players on the bench in the final 10 minutes and it was a line break by Cameron Munster and a try to Harry Grant out of dummy half that snuffed out the visitors' brave challenge.
Early on it was the Warriors making the ideal start in their bid to avenge last year's 60-point Anzac Day drubbing when edge forward Jackson Ford powered onto a Dylan Walker pass to cross for his second try of the season in the fifth minute.
Six minutes later the visitors had a second try when Charnze Nicoll-Klokstad's slick hands put Dallin Watene-Zelezniak over on the right side and Shaun Johnson converted for 12-0.
A monster 40-20 kick by Cameron Munster in the 15th minute gave the Storm the chance to hit back and Justin Olam delivered the four-pointer to make it 12-6 to the Warriors.
No sooner had the Storm closed the gap than they let Addin Fonua-Blake march straight through the middle of the ruck to grab the Warriors' third try and the margin was back to 12 points.
When Johnson gave away a penalty for going a metre over the goal line when he launched a dropout, the Storm made him pay immediately through a try to Munster and the home side were right back in it at 18-12.
Despite being a man down the Warriors struck first in the second when Adam Pompey delivered a superb pass for Watene-Zelezniak to grab his second try and the margin was back to 10.
Tohu Harris is helped from the field Photo: PHOTOSPORT
Just three minutes later the Storm hit back when Xavier Coates found space down the left and grubbered back inside for Nick Meaney to regather and score his sixth try of the season.
A barnstorming run by Olam and a couple of six-again calls put Melbourne on the front foot and Meaney grabbed his second try off a Jahrome Hughes kick to put the Storm ahead 24-22 with 21 minutes to play.
With Nicoll-Klokstad failing a HIA, Jazz Tevaga hobbling off injured and Bayley Sironen forced off for a HIA, the Warriors were down to 13 players for the final 10 minutes and Harry Grant finished them off with a try out of dummy half in the 76th minute.
"We didn't have the bodies or the energy to move the ball around [late in the game], we had to grind with our outside backs and give our forwards a carry and then kick-chase and keep trying to stay in it," said coach Andrew Webster.
"If we just got a moment, an error or a penalty, it could have been the difference where we had another crack at them.
"I don't want us to get confused being proud and kind of making excuses for moments, we had enough moments there we needed to own and execute... the boys know they're a good football team but we have to keep working on things and make moments happen more."
The Storm have now won their past 14 clashes against the Warriors and have climbed to fifth on the ladder ahead of a bye in Round 9.
The Warriors are back on home turf at Mt Smart Stadium to face the Roosters before a clash against premiers Penrith in Magic Round in Brisbane.
