The Auckland Storm have kicked off their 2019 Farah Palmer Cup campaign in style, defeating Waikato 41-23 with a compelling mix of youthful zest and bruising defence in Hamilton.

After such a deflating 2018 Premiership season, Auckland was anxious to make an early statement and did so via seven tries to three against the 2018 semifinalists, a feat all the more remarkable when one considers the Storm sent out no less than 11 debutantes, eight of them starters.

The star turn was 16-year-old first five Patricia Maliepo, out of the Marist club. Playing in place of Black Ferns pivot Ruahei Demant, she sidestepped with ease, making several breaks, scoring a try and kicking well out of hand and from the tee. It was a mature, classy display from one so young. She has a useful teacher in Storm assistant coach Anna Richards, one of the greats of the game.

Auckland dominated the first stanza and Waikato only stayed in touch through a solid scrum and Black Ferns No 12 Chelsea Alley, who scored all the early points for the home side.

The visitors took some time to warm to their work and counter the Waikato pack physicality. But it was worth the wait. Right wing Process Elliot, still a schoolgirl at Southern Cross Campus, finished a marvellous set move which saw Isla Norman-Bell, from the other wing, penetrate and give a sweet last pass to her.

Maliepo scored the second try from a judicious grubber and regather. Without the ball, Auckland was scrambling well but there was always the feeling the Storm would have too much pace put wide. Centre Lauren Sa’u was held up over the line.

Fullback Natahlia Moors ran hard at a gap out wide and gave an easy pass to Norman-Bell for the Ponsonby Fillies debutante to have a straight run in.

It should have been 15-13 at the break but Waikato failed to clear its lines and replacement loose forward Charmaine McMenamin scored from a nice inside ball by Maliepo.

Much of the second half was uneven as both sides rang the changes, but there was time for Moors to scoot over after Norman-Bell repaid the favour by slipping her a short ball.

Lock Eloise Blackwell sealed the result with more than a quarter of the game to play when she ploughed over after claiming lineout ball.

Elliot put the exclamation mark on the Storm performance, latching onto a loose Waikato ball and bolting 50m for the try in the final minute.

One of the few bum notes for the Storm was a leg injury to No 8 Joanna Fanene, who limped off early, meaning McMenamin entered the fray earlier than expected.

The Storm go to the top of the Premiership table alongside other winners from the first round – Canterbury and the Counties Manukau Heat.

Auckland will next host Canterbury on Sunday September 8 at Eden Park in a double-header with the Mitre 10 Cup team. Kickoff is at 11.35am.

Auckland 41 (Princess Elliot 2, Patricia Maliepo, Isla Norman-Bell, Charmaine McMenamin, Natahlia Moors, Eloise Blackwell tries; Maliepo 3 con)

Waikato 23 (Chelsea Alley, Lonita Ngalu-Lavemei, Toka Natua tries; Alley con, 2 pen)

HT: 22-13 Auckland

By Campbell Burnes