Neds Match Preview: Round 10
Wests Tigers will be looking to make it three wins in a row over the Melbourne Storm when they meet again this Thursday night for their Round 10 clash at AAMI Park in Melbourne.
Both sides head in to the contest after producing the two best attacking performances during the Magic Round Weekend. Wests Tigers blew away the Panthers with a flurry of five tries inside the opening 20 minutes, while the Storm hammered the hapless Eels with 60 points against them on the scoreboard.
They'll now face off again tonight in a game that looks more likely to be a defensive battle than an offensive showdown. Their two matches last year (a 10-8 and 11-10 win for Wests Tigers) both went right down to the wire and Michael Maguire and Craig Bellamy will no doubt be looking to increase their discipline again tonight.
Wests Tigers' run-on side is unchanged after producing the fastest start in club history with five tries in the opening 17 minutes of last week's Magic Round clash.
Young forward Josh Aloiai is set to return after missing last week due to concussion — joining Jacob Liddle, Thomas Mikaele and Michael Chee Kam on the bench.
My NRL Debut: Oliver Clark
Paul Momirovski and Elijah Taylor — who travelled to Brisbane last week as part of the NRL squad — are again listed as reserves, along with Clark and Luke Garner.
For the Melbourne Storm. injuries to Jahrome Hughes and Curtis Scott have opened the door for Ryan Papenhuyzen to start at fullback and Marion Seve to return to first grade. Sandor Earl is a late inclusion on the bench with Bellamy opting to have an outside back on the bench, similar to Papenhuyzen himself in recent weeks.
Much of the focus for tonight's game will centre around the in-form five-eighths in Benji Marshall and Cameron Munster, but the battle between the number sevens in Luke Brooks and Brodie Croft will be equally important to the outcome tonight.
Brooks leads the NRL in line engaged runs and has continued the form that saw him win the Dally M Halfback of the Year in 2018 with a career-best year so far running the ball. Croft is a strong support player (ranking third in the league for supports) and will also be looking to leave his mark after an improved showing in 2019.
MATCH DETAILS
Date — Thursday, May 16, 2019
Time — 7:50pm AEDT
Venue — AAMI Park, Melbourne
TV, RADIO AND LIVE STREAM INFORMATION
TV — Live via FOX League (Ch.502) and Channel Nine
Radio — AM 702 ABC Grandstand, FM 104.9 Triple M and NRL Nation
Live Stream — Foxtel Go, KAYO, 9Now, NRL Digital Pass and Watch NRL (int.)
LATEST TEAM NEWS
Storm: Injuries to Jahrome Hughes and Curtis Scott have opened the door for Ryan Papenhuyzen to start and Marion Seve to return to first grade. The new face on the bench is Sandor Earl after being a late inclusion for Patrick Kaufusi.
Wests Tigers: After sitting out the big win over Penrith due to concussion, versatile young forward Josh Aloiai returns on the bench in place of Oliver Clark.
Match: Storm v Wests Tigers
Round 10 -
home Team
Storm
away Team
Wests Tigers
Team Lists
Backs
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Fullback for Storm is number 1 Ryan PapenhuyzenFullback for Wests Tigers is number 1 Moses Mbye
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Winger for Storm is number 2 Suliasi VunivaluWinger for Wests Tigers is number 2 Mahe Fonua
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Centre for Storm is number 3 Will ChambersCentre for Wests Tigers is number 3 Robert Jennings
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Centre for Storm is number 4 Marion SeveCentre for Wests Tigers is number 4 Esan Marsters
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Winger for Storm is number 5 Josh Addo-CarrWinger for Wests Tigers is number 5 Corey Thompson
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Five-Eighth for Storm is number 6 Cameron MunsterFive-Eighth for Wests Tigers is number 6 Benji Marshall
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Halfback for Storm is number 7 Brodie CroftHalfback for Wests Tigers is number 7 Luke Brooks
Forwards
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Prop for Storm is number 8 Jesse BromwichProp for Wests Tigers is number 8 Ben Matulino
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Hooker for Storm is number 9 Cameron SmithHooker for Wests Tigers is number 9 Robbie Farah
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Prop for Storm is number 10 Nelson Asofa-SolomonaProp for Wests Tigers is number 10 Alex Twal
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2nd Row for Storm is number 11 Felise Kaufusi2nd Row for Wests Tigers is number 11 Ryan Matterson
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2nd Row for Storm is number 12 Kenneath Bromwich2nd Row for Wests Tigers is number 12 Chris McQueen
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Lock for Storm is number 13 Dale FinucaneLock for Wests Tigers is number 13 Matthew Eisenhuth
Interchange
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Interchange for Storm is number 14 Brandon SmithInterchange for Wests Tigers is number 14 Jacob Liddle
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Interchange for Storm is number 15 Christian WelchInterchange for Wests Tigers is number 15 Thomas Mikaele
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Interchange for Storm is number 16 Tui KamikamicaInterchange for Wests Tigers is number 16 Josh Aloiai
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Interchange for Storm is number 19 Joe StimsonInterchange for Wests Tigers is number 17 Michael Chee Kam
Match Officials
- Referee: Adam Gee
- Referee: Gavin Badger
- Touch Judge: Chris Butler
- Touch Judge: Tim Roby
- Senior Review Official: Steve Chiddy
Last updated:
LATEST NEDS ODDS
H2H —Melbourne Storm ($1.22), Wests Tigers ($4.20),
Line — Melbourne Storm -12.5 ($1.90), Wests Tigers +12.5 ($1.90)
Odds correct on Wednesday, May 15 — 18+ only and gamble responsibly
HEAD-TO-HEAD
Overall — Played 31, Storm 19, Wests Tigers 12
At AAMI Park — Played 13, Storm 11, Wests Tigers 2
Last Time They Met — Wests Tigers 11 def. Melbourne Storm 10 (Rd.5, 2018)
MATCH OFFICIALS
Match Referees — Adam Gee and Gavin Badger
Touch Judges — Chris Butler and Tim Roby
Review Officials — Bryan Norrie and Steve Chiddy
