Souths crush – South Sydney ripped through Melbourne 48-6 on Anzac Day, while the Warriors edged the Dolphins 20-18 in Wellington to return to the top two.
Storm and Souths delivered a headline-grabbing Anzac Day in opposite ways: Melbourne sank to a historic low, while the Rabbitohs finally broke their Melbourne hoodoo in style.
Souths end 28-year Melbourne wait with 48-6 statement
Melbourne have slumped to a historic low under coach Craig Bellamy. falling 48-6 to South Sydney in an Anzac Day clash that looked one-sided from the moment the Rabbitohs clicked.. For Souths. it was their first win in Melbourne in 28 years and 21 matches—an achievement that carried extra emotional weight because it came with momentum. control. and scores built across multiple facets of the game.
The result didn’t just hurt the Storm on the scoreboard.. It extended a painful run: Melbourne are now on their sixth straight loss of the season. a skid they hadn’t endured since 2002 under Mark Murray—long before Bellamy arrived.. At AAMI Park, it was their worst showing, and anywhere else since 2003 would have been their biggest margin too.
Bellamy’s team struggles as Hughes exits with injury
Melbourne’s night spiralled early and stayed there. Souths seized the initiative in the first half, racing to a 24-0 lead with Alex Johnston powering the attack through a double. Latrell Mitchell also played a key role, linking with his winger to set the tone from early on.
The Storm’s first-half numbers explained why the crowd’s frustration turned into something closer to disbelief.. Melbourne completed only 12 of 19 sets, produced zero line-breaks, and made seven errors.. Against that backdrop. Souths’ pressure became self-reinforcing: mistakes by Sua Faalogo and Nick Meaney handed the Rabbitohs possession. and those chances turned into points.
Bellamy’s halftime spray suggested the gap wasn’t just about execution—it was about identity, discipline, and belief.. When the Storm finally threatened again in the second half, the bunker overturned a moment that could have shifted momentum.. Trent Loiero was ruled not to have grounded the ball after he attempted to get it over the line.
Injuries, errors, and the finals question looming
The Storm’s loss carried a second. more immediate concern: superstar halfback Jahrome Hughes was forced from the field with an apparent arm injury.. In a season where Melbourne already sit precariously—only two wins to their name and now facing the real possibility of missing the finals for the first time under Bellamy—any extended time away for a spine player changes the equation quickly.
Even in defeat, there were pockets of effort.. Keaon Koloamatangi and Sean Keppie delivered desperate defensive work to slow the onslaught.. Tallis Duncan also turned the game into a personal highlight. spraying Cameron Munster during his second of three tries and then going again to land his third try.. Campbell Graham added a double. diving over for Melbourne’s eighth try attempt to show the Storm could at least breach the line when they were given space.
Brandon Smith’s injury added another sting.. The burly forward re-injured a problematic calf. and when you’re already fighting for points. losing key bodies can make every set feel heavier.. Melbourne did find a brief spark when Faalogo scooped his own short kick-off to score—one of those rare. improvisational tries that reminds supporters there’s still fight in the group—but the comeback never had the footing to become a real reversal.
The deeper takeaway for Melbourne is that this wasn’t a single bad quarter.. It was a full-game breakdown—off the back of errors, low territory control, and limited attacking impact.. In a competition where momentum swings can be quick. the Storm’s inability to flip field position left them chasing from behind.
For Souths, the win strengthens more than their ladder position.. It proves that their game plan travels, even into a venue and matchup where history previously felt heavier than tactics.. Breaking that 28-year stretch changes the narrative inside the club. and belief is often the most underpriced ingredient in tight seasons.
Warriors deny Dolphins as Taine Tuaupiki delivers in Wellington
While Melbourne were enduring their worst night in years, the Warriors were writing the opposite kind of story in Wellington. They beat the Dolphins 20-18 in a frantic Anzac Day clash to move back into the NRL’s top two.
The Dolphins pushed hard in a match shaped by disruption, close calls, and a second half that refused to stay calm. The Warriors were starved of possession and territory early, but they kept their composure long enough to turn pressure into points when it mattered.
Tuaupiki emerged as the difference-maker. conjuring the match winner for the Warriors in a game where referees and the bunker were constantly called into play.. In a contest full of tight decisions. surviving the chaos is sometimes the win itself—and for the Warriors. it was also their fourth straight victory in New Zealand after a rough start to the season.
Injuries and reports cloud the win
That said, the Warriors took the match home with a cost.. Prop Mitch Barnett will miss next week’s clash with Parramatta after being helped off with a category-one concussion following a friendly-fire head clash with teammate Chanel Harris-Tavita.. Winger Dallin Watane-Zelezniak is also in potential trouble after being placed on report for a hip-drop tackle on Dolphins young gun Tevita Naufahu.
The first half delivered the fast tempo both teams are known for: 45 tries across the opening four games of the round meant expectations were high. and the Dolphins and Warriors delivered a helter-skelter spectacle.. Three tries apiece came before the break. with the Dolphins leading 18-14 after a tight three-minute burst that included Jamayne Isaako’s double.. Isaako also landed all three conversions. and when his team had momentum. it looked like they could control the final shape of the match.
But the Warriors came back—Herbie Farnworth’s chip-and-regather effort levelled things. and even late-game drama couldn’t fully stop the push.. Isaako missed a two-point field-goal attempt with 22 seconds remaining when he tried to force golden point.. Meanwhile. additional disciplinary moments followed: Thomas Flegler was placed on report for taking out Ali Leiataua in the build-up to the match-winning play. and Leka Halasima was also reported for a shoulder charge on Tom Gilbert.
The emotional through-line across both games is that Anzac Day doesn’t just test skill—it tests resilience under pressure.. Melbourne showed how quickly a season can tilt when errors compound and leaders go off injured.. The Warriors. by contrast. proved they can win in messy conditions. but now they face the short-term reality of managing injuries and review outcomes.
For fans, the next question is straightforward: can the Storm steady themselves before finals hopes slip further, and can the Warriors absorb the setbacks without losing the momentum that carried them back into the top two?