The Wests Tigers have done what many people said they couldn't do again by beating the Melbourne Storm 11-10 in the first match of a Mt Smart Stadium double header.
Both sides were coughing up the ball and given their opponents an opportunity for points, however both sides were struggling to crack the defensive line of their opponents. The Storm thought they had first points when Young Tonumaipea chased through a kick however the bunker overturned Adam Gee's live decision of try. Although, the Try was knocked back the Storm took the lead from a penalty goal from a penalty that came out of that play.
Wests Tigers got their only try of the half off some inexplicable play from Josh Addo-Carr who unnecessarily played at a ball that was going into touch by flicking the ball massively forward back into the field of play, that lead to the them getting the ball and Josh Aloiai got the opening four pointer.
Melbourne then took the lead just before halftime when Cam Munster came up with a smart piece of play to kick the ball from a scrum into the ingoal and the ever experienced Billy Slater got it down for the try.
The second half was a replica of the first half with plenty of scrappy play and the Storm dominated the field position but couldn't crack the line when it was needed. The Storm knocked over a penalty goal to push the lead out to 10-4 just short of the hour mark but the Tigers hit back with vengenace after Brodie Croft had a shocking moment at the ensuing kick off. The Tigers crossed on the hour mark when Luke Brooks engaged the defensive line and found Chris Lawrence who scored, and after Lolohea's conversion scores were locked.
Inside the final 10, it was end to end stuff with just one field goal shot a piece and it was a smart piece of work from Tui Lolohea that set up the Tigers chance. The Storm went for the field goal first and Croft pushed it to the right of the uprights and Lolohea managed to get his foot into the ingoal to get his side a 7 tackle set.
The Tigers got up to the other end and on the last tackle Benji Marshall knocked the field goal over for the lead. The Storm threw one last punch at the Tigers but couldnt' get the try and the Tigers took another unlikely victory.
Next weekend, the Tigers have a trip to Brookvale to take on the Manly Sea Eagles on Sunday, whilst the Storm have the Knights visiting AAMI Park in the early game on Friday.