Melbourne scored four tries in the last 10 minutes - three to Aucklander Matt Duffie - to steal a dramatic two-point win over the Vodafone Junior Warriors in a 90-point NYC thriller at Mount Smart Stadium tonight.

The home side bolted to a 16-0 inside 13 minutes and was seemingly well set for its fifth straight win and by another big margin.

But almost as quickly the Storm levelled up at 16-16 before the sides headed to the halftime break locked at 20-20 after a hectic first 40 minutes.

What happened in the second half was difficult to credit.

The first 22 minutes went to script for the Vodafone Junior Warriors as they raced in for four tries to streak to a 44-24 lead (the fourth time in the last five weeks that they've topped 40 points). It ought to have been game over with that score still standing with 10 minutes to go.

But the face of the contest changed as Melbourne engineered a withering finish with tries in the 70th, 72nd and 77th minutes to draw within two points of the Vodafone Junior Warriors at 42-44.

And in the final minute, Duffie had his third try wide out to give Melbourne the lead for the first time in the match and, with it, victory.

The result lifted Melbourne to second spot momentarily with the Vodafone Junior Warriors remaining sixth. However, the likely outcome on form for the first week of the finals after the rest of this weekend's matches should see the Storm settling in third and the Vodafone Junior Warriors seventh, meaning the Auckland team would face an away play-off against second-ranked St George Illawarra.

Match details:

At Mount Smart Stadium, Auckland

Vodafone Junior Warriors 44 (Elijah Niko 2, Michael Afioga 2, Shaun Johnson, Alehana Mara, George Vuna, Ben Henry tries; Shaun Johnson 6 conversions).

Melbourne Storm 46 (Matt Duffie 3, Justin O'Neill 2, Gareth Widdop, Robert Rochow, James Woolford, Joseph Tomane tries; Gareth Widdop 5 conversions).

Halftime: 20-20.

Referee: Shane Rehem.