Warriors start 2019 with a solid victory against the Melbourne Storm

The Warriors opened their account for 2019 and coach Stephen Kearney had a lot to like.

The Auckland team produced an excellent defense while young Hayze Perham showed his speed to score the winning goal in a 12-6 win against Melbourne at Geelong.

Considered an outside chance for the halfback spot left vacant by the departure of Shaun Johnson, Perham did not have many chances with the ball when he came in the second half.

But the 19-year-old really counted, accelerating close to the exit of a Lachlan Burr unloading and crossing with a delay of eight minutes.

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Whether or not Kearney is on the verge of finding a partner for Blake Green remains to be seen as the main competitors, Adam Keighran and Chanel Harris-Tavita, both posted solid performances.

But the same day, when veteran hooker Issac Luke was tied to the Eels, Warriors fans would have been delighted with what they saw in Nathaniel Roache's first game in 18 months.

New recruit Burr also raised his hand for the first round with a busy poster in a typically sustained effort from the team's central strikers.

The former Bulldog has had a lot of work and has helped, with Sam Lisone and Bunty Afoa, to keep the visitors in the spotlight throughout the contest.

Note Patrick Herbert, the former Dragons under 20 years away, producing several nice touches combined with intelligent readings on the defensive.

Indeed, it is the defense that has undoubtedly been the strong point. The Warriors held Melbourne scoreless in the first half and conceded only when Sam Cook was in the fishing bin, which seemed to be a pass ahead.

Neither team was full, but with seven players from last year's grand final, including the fatal wing Suliasi Vunivalu and the Kiwi duo Brandon Smith and Nelson Asofa-Solomona, it was in no way a weak Storm team.

There were of course times when the Warriors were overworked but Kearney required effort and that was exactly what he got in defense, their work on the line of tests being particularly impressive.

The outside enthusiasm was at the rendezvous of the young half of the Warriors and Harris-Tavita ensured their confidence.

The Junior Kiwis playmaker orchestrated a smooth movement on the right edge, discovering Herbert sweeping the back to allow the Neria Fomai wing to cross in the fifth minute.

He and Keighran combined in the first period, and although the Warriors took advantage of the most offensive opportunities, they struggled to convert possession into possession of points.

It was only the first game and with a number of inexperienced players, the attack was always going to be rusty. But the game of kicking was perhaps the biggest job.

Harris-Tavita forced several sets of rehearsals and while Keighran kicked a lot of yards, his offensive attacks sometimes left the storm aside.

Roache did not stay long after being removed from a long vacation. But he was dangerous as a half-man in a solid first quarter, almost dividing the defense at the center of the field once.

Perham combined Harris-Tavita in the half after half-time, before Keighran returned to the fourth quarter.

After being so well defended, Storm Cheyse Blair's center equalized just as Cook had to return to the field.

Melbourne was left on a bad recovery, however, while the Warriors jumped on a loose ball.

Enter Perham, whose brilliant moment ensured a positive start to the Auckland club.

They will play their second and final try against the Wests Tigers in Whangarei next Saturday.

Warriors 12 (Neria Fomai, Hayze Perham tries, Adam Keighran 2 goals) Storm 6 (Cheyse Blair tries, Ryan Papenhuyzen's goals). HT: 6-0.