The Thunderbolts will be out to bounce back on Monday against Cronulla.
Eric Smith’s side travel to Shark Park looking to return to the winners list after last week’s defeat to the Warriors in Auckland.
Smith has made two changes to the side with Jaiyden Hunt and Beau Fermor coming into the line-up.
They will take on a well-rested Sharks outfit, who were given the week off after their game against Manly was postponed on Monday night due to heavy rain.
The Thunderbolts took plenty of heart in their improved defensive effort but ultimately it was the weight of possession against them that proved the difference in New Zealand.
“Defensively I thought we were good against the Warriors, conceding 30 points you might not think that is the case but defensively we were really good, it was our work with the football that probably cost us,” Smith said.
“As much fight as the boys showed in the defence…just the weight of possession and amount of ball that we gave the Warriors was just too much for the boys to hold on to for that long.”
Looking ahead to Monday’s clash against Cronulla, the focus of the Under-20s side will be to eradicate the costly errors that plagued their last game.
“We’ve just got to make sure we are mentally switched on and show a better respect for the football,” Smith said.
“A few times we tried to force the pass when we probably shouldn’t have… They weren’t skill errors, it was just simply attention to detail.”
Storm fans in Melbourne will get the chance to see the Thunderbolts back in action at AAMI Park next Saturday, with the team to play a curtain raiser to Storm’s NRL game against the Knights.
Be at AAMI Park when Storm host the Knights on Saturday 2 April from 3pm.
Storm NYC Thunderbolts v Cronulla Sharks
Monday March 28, 4.45pm
Shark Park
1. Jesse Arthars
2. Louis Geraghty
3. Cory Parker
4. Joel Gittins
5. Nat McGavin
6. Scott Drinkwater
7. Matt Egan
8. Josh Kerr
9. Jake Turpin
10. Ben Nakubuwai
11. Charlie Galo
12. Jaiyden Hunt
13. Beau Fermor
14. Ben Henderson
15. Lachlan Timm
16. Daymeric Pelo
17. Riley Leota
