The Tigers have topple the Storm for the second time in five weeks, victorious by a single point on Saturday afternoon.
Final score
Wests Tigers 11
Melbourne Storm 10
Will the Wests Tigers topple the Melbourne Storm for the second time in five weeks or will Melbourne stand up in Craig Bellamy’s 400th game as head coach of the club? Join The Roar for live scores and a blog of the match, starting at 3pm AEDT.
Ivan Cleary’s West Tigers have been the competition’s early surprise packets alongside the New Zealand Warriors. Despite extensive recruiting in the off-season, few people were predicting instant success for Cleary’s outfit and were instead anticipating another lowly finish in the bottom four.
The joint-venture club’s 4-1 start to the season has been largely built upon their defence, with the Tigers conceding 11.25 points per game. However, it was Wests’ attack that was on display in last weekend’s 30-20 victory over Parramatta with the Tigers managing five tries and seven line-breaks.
Discipline was another significant reason for the win as Cleary’s men managed four errors and conceded only three penalties. They will need to display similar control this week if they are to overcome a determined Melbourne side.
The Storm will not be short of motivation as they look for their third victory of the year on Saturday afternoon. Melbourne have made a habit of stepping up to celebrate significant club and player milestones and will be aiming to do similar when mentor Bellamy coaches the side for the 400th time.
Billy Slater’s 300th game did not go so well earlier this year, however, with the Tigers spoiling the party after snatching a late 10-8 win in Melbourne. Regardless, the Storm will be eager to respond after last week’s disappointing defeat to Cronulla.
The 33 penalties conceded in the game were all the rage during the week. Several high-profile past players and journalists lamented how the whistleblowing destroyed the entertainment value of the contest.
However, what they failed to take into account was the Storm’s ‘un-Melbourne like’ completion rate of 64 per cent.
The 15 errors made by Bellamy’s side stifled their attack and will need to be addressed if they are to claim revenge against the Tigers this weekend.
The Storm have two forced changes to last week’s line-up with Will Chambers suspended for two weeks while Dale Finucane has been sidelined for a month with a fractured thumb.
Tip
Melbourne coach Craig Bellamy would have been bitterly disappointed with his side’s effort last weekend and will want an immediate response.
The Tigers showed some vulnerability in defence late last weekend against Parramatta yet they still are playing with plenty of confidence.
The fact that this game will be played at the neutral venue of Mt Smart Stadium is a significant blow for the Tigers and is just enough to sway me towards the purple outfit.
Storm by four.
Join The Roar for live scores and a blog of the match, starting at 3pm AEDT.
Deano70
Guest
Croft will come good. He showed enough last year to leave him for a few more games. Melbourne really miss Tohu Harris. Their forwards just aren’t dominating and aside from Jessie Bromwich they’re a little pedestrian. There’s some good players in that pack and when they start pressing forward more effectively Croft will start to get some good ball. What they need to do in the next few weeks is play a ‘power’ game up the middle get other teams going backwards before giving Croft the ball. I think Munster is fullback through and through so a five eighth/foil for Croft is something else that would be positive for his development
Joe
Roar Rookie
Hi Albo, yep tipped against the Storm and made money from it too. They are nowhere near the same side they were last year. Even the two wins against the Dogs and Cows were far from impressive. I don't know what they've changed with their attack but it clearly isn't working. A few of the players seem to be stuck in 2017 and thinking they just need to turn up to win. I think a lot of the problems stem from Croft. He is struggling so badly he needs to be dropped and I'm surprised Bellamy can't see that. This is turn is causing Smith to either try and do things himself or Munster who is supposed to be the running half not the dominant half. The most potent attacking edge in 2017 has been reduced to a mistakathon. Adding Young Tonumaipaia to it pretty much sealed the deal for me to tip the Tigers who I've got to say come with a very impressive defensive game. They will beat a lot more teams this year.
Albo
Guest
So you tipped against your team, Joe ? I just couldn't believe they could play any worse than they did last week against the Sharks. But I was wrong. And you are a genius to forecast that. What is going on with them ? The Storm of 2017 would have put 30 on that Tigers side today. Sure they missed Chambers & Finucane, but Kaufusi was back. Croft has lost all confidence and is now rivalling Vunivalu for the comp's mistake-a-thon title. But the experienced leaders too, are way out of form including Smith, Slater & Munster. After watching JT also being belted up with the ball by Penrith last week & the Warriors forwards today, I am wondering if a few of our champs are going on one year too many ? Or are they now just becoming slow starters to the season as they get older ?
Dodgy dragons
Guest
Hopefully they have a milestone game every week for the rest of the season!!!
Penrith Punter
Roar Guru
Appreciate it Alan!
Alan
Guest
Ppl who tip differently in different comps are the scum of the earth.
Joe
Roar Rookie
I"m actually 3/4, only got the Sharks game wrong so far.
Nat
Roar Guru
Didn't you get that one mate. Consider me part of the 23% ;)
Penrith Punter
Roar Guru
This round was all 50/50s for mine pretty much. I'm 2/4 in one comp and 4/4 in another so who has a clue!
Scott Pryde
Expert
Tipping will be fun they said.
Penrith Punter
Roar Guru
MATCH REPORT: The Tigers have continued their stellar start to their 2018 campaign after upsetting Melbourne 11-10 in Craig Bellamy’s 400th game at the helm. It is the first time since 2005 that the Storm have lost twice to the same team in one season. Errors plagued both side’s chances in attack with Melbourne completing just 65% of their sets in the one-point loss. In the end it was the class of Wests halves pairing Benji Marshall and Luke Brooks that proved the difference with Brooks’ opposite Brodie Croft in particular struggling for the away side. Points were hard to come across in the first half due to a flurry of errors and determined defence from both teams. An 18th minute penalty goal to Croft gave Melbourne an early lead but it was the Tigers who would claim the first four-pointer of the night. A clearing kick by Benji Marshall trickled towards the sideline but Josh Addo-Carr, incorrectly believing it would be a 40/20, flicked it back inside straight to Esan Marsters who offloaded to Josh Aloai to send the bench forward over to score. It did not take long for Bellamy’s side to strike back after a forward pass from Pita Godinet gave the Storm a full set in the Tigers’ territory. A smart kick from Munster off the scrum was collected by a speedy Billy Slater and Melbourne headed into the sheds with an 8-4 lead. The Storm were looking uncharacteristically pedestrian in attack and opted for the two points in the 59th minute to extend their lead to six. However, the Tigers responded immediately after a Croft error off the kick-off gave them a full set of six on Melbourne’s line. Brooks has proven one of the most improved players in the competition and the halfback sent Chris Lawrence straight through off a perfect short ball to lock things up with 20 minutes remaining. In the end, a Marshall field-goal was all that separated the two teams with the Tigers recording their fourth win of the year.
JoM
Guest
Ah, we did sing it loud. And bad as well.
Nat
Roar Guru
Sing it loud mate! Not too many teams can claim that over the Storm in the last few years but to come from where they did in years past... Enjoy!
JoM
Guest
So we are at Five Dock Bowlo where the Balmain side of the merger gravitate to these days. A few former players here. It was loud. Now we are all waiting for the bistro to open to get early dinner. Way too many drinks from all consumed because most didn't think they could beat Storm twice.
Roberto
Guest
Another milestone game ends miserably for Melbourne. They have the worst half back in the comp right now.
Joe
Roar Rookie
Well deserved win from the Tigers especially considering they played on Monday and had to travel to New Zealand. I am firmly on the Cleary/Tiger bus. Great effort from them. I know its round 5 but I'm picking the Storm to miss the eight this year. They are just rubbish at the moment. Croft needs to go, he needs more time in reserve grade to get his game up to NRL standard. They need to put Jacks or Walters in at 7, someone at least with a mature head who doesn't fall to pieces when things don't go their way. The second half was actually a gripping contest whit both teams out on their feet. The only plus for me is that I get a nice payout after backing the Sharks last week into the Tigers this week. Also have another on the Tigers this week into Knights next week which I'm now pretty confident of collecting.
Nat
Roar Guru
Bloody hell there you go! Melbourne losing the scrappy games where they used to dominate. Poor game from Croft but all credit to the Tigers.
Penrith Punter
Roar Guru
FULL TIME - The Tigers do the double on the Storm winning 11-10 in a scrappy contest. A fantastic game from halfback Luke Brooks. What did you make of the game Roarers?
Penrith Punter
Roar Guru
79' - A controlled set from the Tigers but the kick on the last rebounds and Melbourne have the ball on their own 40. However, Melbourne have come up with an error! Tigers lead 11-10 with 2 minutes remaining. Brooks runs it on the last and is taken 15 out from the Storm line. Melbourne have to go 80 metres with 1 minute left. Munster chips for Addo-Carr early but his tap inside goes out! Tigers will win! TIGERS - 11 STORM - 10
Penrith Punter
Roar Guru
76' - Suliasi Vunivalu flies above and bats back the short kick-off. Melbourne are just 30 out. The Tigers race up on the Storm on the last and force Cameron Munster to run it on the last and he throws a forward pass! Wests survive! 4 minutes left. TIGERS - 11 STORM - 10