It is Fulltime at AAMI Park and the Tigers have done it! They knock off the defending premiers in their own backyard to win 10-8. Stay tuned for the 3,2,1's and Match Report @LeagueUnlimited!
Nelson Asofa-Solomona knocks on and the Tigers will pull off another giant killing win!
Short kickoff again and Nelson Asofa-Solomona has it! Storm on the attack!
Esan Marsters 15m out from the touchline and he misses. Tigers lead 10-8.
VIDEO REF - TRY - Ben Matulino offloads at the line and it bounces up for Luke Brooks to score! Tigers lead 10-8 kick to come!
Cameron Smith goes short again but Pita Godinet catches it 15m out.
VIDEO REF - NO TRY - Chris Lawrence grubbers on the last and Suliasi Vunivalu dives over the ball but grounds it with his torso. Dropout Tigers!
Corey Thompson grubbers through on the last and Suliasi Vunivalu drops the ball right in front of the posts. Tigers scrum 10m out! Huge chance!
Josh Addo-Carr gets the ball off a bullet pass from Billy Slater and dives over to score...but it is ruled forward! No try! Tigers still in it!
Cameron Smith goes the short dropout and Suliasi Vunivalu gets it and takes off downfield and is tackles 35m from their own line. What a play!
Great kickoff from Benji Marshall and the bouncing ball finds Sam Kasiano who can't get out of the in goal. Dropout Tigers!
Cameron Smith puts the Storm in front for the first time in the match. Melbourne lead 8-6.
Penalty Storm - Against Elijah Taylor for holding down the tackled player. Right in front of the posts. Smith points to the sticks.
Penalty Storm - High tackle from Luke Brooks on Dale Finucane. Storm find the line 30m out.
Cameron Smith adds to the scoreline and we are locked up at 6 all.
Penalty Storm - Again against Benji Marshall for holding Cameron Smith down. Smith will take the 2 points.
Penalty Storm - Against Benji Marshall for a lifting tackle and Storm are 25m out.
Cameron Smith from the sideline and he sprays it wide. Tigers lead 6-4.
Suliasi Vunivalu gets the ball wide from Billy Slater and he leaps over in the corner! Storm finally crack them! Tigers lead 6-4 kick to come.
Ben Matulino is off to the Sin Bin for a professional foul.
Penalty Storm - High tackle on Nelson Asofa-Solomona and they take the quick tap and Ben Matulino is offside!
Another spiral bomb from Benji Marshall but Slater takes it and Storm have it 30m from their own line.
Billy Slater gets on the outside of Esan Marsters and fires it to Josh Addo-Carr who knocks on! Tigers scrum 20m in their own half.
Cameron Smith pulls off a remarkable kickoff which bounces back to Joe Stimson and he charges to 10m from the tryline!
Penalty Tigers - Storm offside and right in front. Esan Marsters makes it 3 from 3 and it is 6-0.
Tigers attack the left hand side an Will Chambers knocks down a pass...played at and Tigers get 6 more!
Kevin Naiqama backslammed onto the ground by Munster. He will come from the field for an assessment.
Curtis Scott knocks on after knocking down an offload from Corey Thompson. Tigers scrum 35m out.
Not happening for the Storm at the moment. Brodie Croft tries to bat on a pass to Suliasi Vunivalu who knocks on. Tigers scrum just short of halfway.
Josh Aloiai gets an inside ball from Marshall but loses possession. Storm ball 10m from their own line.
Brodie Croft throws an inside ball for Slater but Matt Eisenhuth intercepts it and is tackled on halfway.
Benji Marshall with another spiral bomb, this time towards Suliasi Vunivalu but it bounces dead in goal. 20m re-start for the Storm.
Cameron Munster grubbers on the last close to the line but David Nofoaluma reads it and makes 20m on the first tackle.
Tigers on the attack but Matt Eisenhuth drops the ball close to the line.
Benji Marshall with another uncatchable spiral bomb and Billy Slater lets it bounce but Chris Lawrence knocks on. Storm ball 10m out from their own line.
Back underway at AAMI Park. Luke Brooks takes a difficult kick near the sideline and Tigers have 20m from their own line.
It is Halftime and no tries so far in this match. The Tigers have been gritty and take a deserved 4-0 lead thanks to 2 penalties from Esan Marsters. Stay tuned for all the second half action @League Unlimited.
Penalty Tigers - Storm defensive line offside on the last play of the half and the Tigers will look to extend their lead to 4 points. Marsters gets it. 4-0 at halftime.
Esan Marsters breaks through and finds Corey Thompson who is tackled 25m out. Tigers a chance here.
Esan Marsters makes no mistake. It is 2-0 to Wests Tigers.
Now Billy Slater knocks on after a bomb from Luke Brooks and now the Tigers get a penalty in front of the posts. Tigers will take the 2 points offer.
Cameron Smith knocks on after a difficult offload from Tim Glasby. Tigers off the hook!
VIDEO REF - NO TRY - Cameron Munster kicks on the last for Slater, it hits Corey Thompson's hand and the Tigers fullback recovers to ground it before Cameron Munster gets there. Dropout Tigers.
Luke Brooks kicks early in the count for Kevin Naiqama but it rolls away from him and Suliasi Vunivalu cleans up. Storm ball 2m out from their own line.
Penalty Tigers - Against Ryan Hoffman for a high tackle on David Nofoaluma. Tigers on the attack 25m out!
Penalty Storm - Against Chris Lawrence for laying on Billy Slater after grubbering on the last tackle. Storm find the line 30m in their own half.
Ryan Hoffman loses the ball on a set play from Cameron Munster. Tigers have the ball on halfway.
Penalty Storm - Tigers offside from a scrum. Cameron Smith finds the line just short of halfway.
The ball goes wide to Suliasi Vunivalu who puts a foot into touch. Tigers ball 10m out from the own line.
Robbie Rochow tries to find Corey Thompson close to the line, but he loses it and Cameron Munster takes off and is tackled 40m from the tryline.
Luke Brooks grubbers towards the in goal and it takes an awkward bounce into Suliasi Vunivalu's leg and goes dead. Storm dropout. Great result Tigers. Still 0-0 at AAMI Park.
Cameron Smith gets a superb kick away on the last, very close to a 40/20 but Smith just over the 40m line. Tigers scrum 10m from their own line.
Tigers run it on the last and Esan Marsters is tackled a metre from the line. Handover to Melbourne.
Benji Marshall grubbers behind the line early in the set, it rolls in goal and Josh Addo-Carr knocks it dead. Dropout Storm.
Nelson Asofa-Solomona knocks on after a strong tackle from Ben Matulino. Tigers ball 20m out from their own line.
Corey Thompson gets an awful pass from Pita Godinet from the scrum and they turn it over to Melbourne straight away!
Brodie Croft knocks on receiving a flat ball from Cameron Smith. Tigers scrum 40m from their own line.
Cameron Munster chips over the line for a flying Josh Addo-Carr but Corey Thompson reads it well and Tigers have the ball 15m from their own line.
Penalty Tigers - Against Brodie Croft for not getting back 10. Terrible touch finder from Brooks and the Tigers find the line 40m from their own line.
Curtis Scott gets the ball wide on the left hand side and is bundled into touch by Esan Marsters. Trysaver.
Brodie Croft grubbers in goal early in the set and Malakai Watene-Zelezniak knocks the ball dead. Dropout Tigers.
Penalty Storm - Against Luke Brooks for not being back 10m. Storm tap again.
Penalty Storm - Against Russell Packer for not releasing the player on the ground and the Storm take the tap.
Benji Marshall puts a spiral bomb up and now Suliasi Vunivalu lets the ball bounce howeverLuke Brooks is ruled offside and the Storm find the line just short of halfway.
Luke Brooks puts up a bomb on the last and the ball bounces between Ryan Hoffman and Billy Slater. Ben Matulino thens bats it back to Robbie Rochow who finds Marsters and then David Nofoaluma who is tackled by the cover defence metres from the line. Storm ball a metre out from their own line.
Corey Thompson gets an early test with a swirling Cameron Munster bomb but he takes it comfortably and the Tigers have the ball 35m from their own line.
We are underway at AAMI Park! Nelson Asofa-Solomona brings the ball back for the first hit up of the match.
Welcome to Melbourne for the third game on NRL Saturday, where we have the Melbourne Storm hosting the Wests Tigers. Storm fullback Billy Slater plays game 300 for the club and Melbourne will be looking to celebrate the milestone in style for one of the greatest fullbacks of the modern era. The Storm have a late change, with Felise Kaufusi ruled out and replaced by Joe Stimson who will start in his place in jersey #19. The Tigers have two changes, with Tui Lolohea ruled out earlier in the week. This sees Round 1 hero Corey Thompson move to fullback, with fan favourite David Nofoaluma returning to first grade on the wing in jersey #19. Micheal Chee Kam has been replaced by Josh Aloai on the interchange bench in the other change to the visitors’ starting 17. The Storm will be doing it for Billy and the Tigers are looking to continue on their giant killing start to the season. This will be a cracker! Stay tuned for all the action @League Unlimited.
Referees & scorers:
Referee: Grant Atkins, Jon Stone
Touch Judges: Nick Morel, Phil Henderson
Video Referee: Jared Maxwell, Luke Patten
MELBOURNE STORM (8)
Tries: Suliasi Vunivalu
Field Goals:
Conversions: Cameron Smith (0/1)
Penalty Goals: Cameron Smith (2/2)
WESTS TIGERS (10)
Tries: Luke Brooks
Field Goals:
Conversions: Esan Marsters (0/1)
Penalty Goals: Esan Marsters (3/3)