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Stacey Jones - Source: Photosport -
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A slick Melbourne Storm ruined Stacey Jones' farewell as they cruised to a 30-0 National Rugby League win over the New Zealand Warriors in Auckland on Saturday night.
The Storm's victory mean they guaranteed themselves fourth spot on the table and with it a home qualifying final next week.
But it was deja vu for Jones in his club-record extending 261st appearance for the Warriors.
Four years ago, when he said goodbye for the first time to Mt Smart Stadium, he was also on the losing side, that time against Newcastle.
That match was memorable for the halfback crossing the tryline three times, only to be denied on each occasion by the match officials.
This time, with the Warriors simply outgunned, he had a quieter time of it, with just one moment to get the crowd buzzing.
Late in the first half, the Little General chipped for young winger Kevin Locke, who linked up again with Jones, but the move broke down when centre Lance Hohaia failed to gather Jones' long pass.
Like the Warriors, Melbourne went into the match with a significant injury list, but they had too much class for opponents playing out a disappointing season in which they finished 14th.
The Storm began with a roar, forcing several line dropouts in the opening quarter.
They hit the front when halfback Cooper Cronk, whose kicking game was influential, produced an infield chip that fullback Billy Slater regathered to dot down by the posts.
Skipper Cameron Smith converted and 10 minutes later he, Cronk and Slater were all involved as they set up centre Will Chambers for Melbourne's second try.
Up 12-0, the Storm went further ahead early in the second half with a characteristic long-range effort from Greg Inglis.
The centre ran 70m from dummy half through some weak defence to score by the corner, before Chambers got his second via a simple move close to the ruck that again involved Smith and Slater.
Winger Dane Nielsen got into the act with a try in which the final pass from Smith looked forward.
But Smith merely smiled as the crowd vented its anger before he landed the sideline conversion.
Kiwi forward Adam Blair was put on report for a "chicken wing" tackle on Warrior skipper Micheal Luck, an incident that players running in from all directions.
But the Storm had the last laugh with a try to Ryan Hinchcliffe that was notable for the ease that it was scored.
