Match Centre

Melbourne get one last shot at the line but it's unsuccessful. They win by twelve points.

Game winding down now. Storm are home and will win this, Tigers just not enough creativity when it's mattered.

Pezet with a desperate tackle stopping Brooks from a near-certain try. Handover on the last and Melbourne edging closer to win #2.

Time fast running out for the Tigers. Melbourne currently with it as they move up field.

Another Melbourne penalty, deep in Tigers territory. And Isaiah Papali'i - freshly back from suspension, is on report for Dangerous Contact. Meaney's going for the two.

Tigers concede a penalty and the momentum is handed back to the home team.

Melbourne with errors and penalties doing everything they can to invite the away side back into this... but the Tigers doing what they can to mess up every chance they get. Robbie Farah looking nonplussed on the sideline in his trainer shirt.

Last tackle option from the Wests Tigers - a kick to the corner from Wakeham - is dross. Dead in goal and a 20m Storm restart.

Tigers with all the mometum at the moment. Repeat sets on the Storm line.

Failed attack from the Tigers, with Bateman nearly making the breakthrough. But the Storm are smart to it.

Still no change to the halftime score. Similar feeling to last week so far - hosts dominating the first half then a quiet start to the second. Can the Tigers produce a comeback like last week v Canterbury (which still failed)?

No additions to the scoreboard as yet in the second half.

We're back underway at AAMI. Melbourne first possession, running north toward Olympic Blvd.

HALFTIME at AAMI Park and this one is going largely as predicted. Melbourne up 22-6.

Melbourne on the attack and they force another drop-out.

A Tigers loose ball and Melbourne run away with it, Grant giving to Warbrick but... the tryscorer loses the ball on the Tigers' 20m. No advantage after 40 metre run, Tigers will get it back.

A few six agains for the Tigers giving them ample opportunity to strike back. Time will tell if they can.

Melbourne go up the other end. Loeiro claiming a possible try. Cummins sends it up no try and Bunker review man Grant Atkins agrees. Handover TIgers.

Tigers looking likely then an error from Brooks and it's all over. Storm 20m restart.

Melbourne captain Christian Welch loses it, CAPTAINS CHALLENGE... and he's unsuccessful, claiming it was a strip. Poor offload. Tigers scrum near halfway.

PENALTY - Tigers first whistle of the night, and they get some ball, set starting around Melbourne's 40m.

A break up the right edge nearly leads to a try for Warbrick, but then the next play the ball goes to the left and it's no good - a Munster kick goes dead and the Tigers get a 20m restart.

Odd end to the set - Grant runs himself about 15m out and is trapped with the ball 10m out. Handover. Poor finish to a promising set.

Up and back from both sides since the penalty. Still Melbourne dominating the metres gained though, and in this set on 10 minutes, they're already well inide the Tigers' half two tackles in.

Both sides knock on mid-field toward the end of Melbourne's set but there's a penalty for the hosts, with the Tigers being inside the 10 metres.

PENALTY Melbourne. Olam hit high by Wakeham. Replay shows it might have been unlucky to even be penalised.

Both sides comfortably through their opening sets, Melbourne arguably making better metres.

Melbourne kicks us off, Tigers first use of the ball. They'll run to the northern (MCG) end of AAMI Park in the first half.

Thunderstruck then picks up, and the Melbourne side run out through that big banner. Crowd is fairly middling - no AFL in town tonight though and it could grow.

The Storm siren goes over AAMI Park as the Wests Tigers run out onto the park wearing their orange kits.

For the visitors, the last time the Tigers were higher than 10th on the ladder was Round 19, 2020 – where they suffered a 50-22 loss to the Storm. Balmain, Wests and Wests Tigers have made a combined 20 trips to Victoria, producing two victories (both for the Wests Tigers).

In terms of milestones and match stats.... this will be Melbourne second rower Eliesa Katoa's 50th NRL match. Team wise, the Storm will go into this round in 13th place on the ladder, their lowest since their salary cap punishment in 2010 anchored them to last place for the entire year. 2010 aside, Melbourne have only spent a total of 6 weeks in their history in 13th place or lower – all of those in 2000-2001.

The Tigers meanwhile came agonisingly close to pipping Canterbury last Sunday, but fell short after a scintillating comeback. Coach Tim Sheens has retained the same altered lineup he organised mid-way through the second half last week, which sees Doueihi moved to fullback, and Brandon Wakeham partnering Luke Brooks at the scrumbase. Whether it's enough to claim the Storm's scalp - only time will tell.

For the home team, it's been a hard slog the last fortnight without five-eighth Cameron Munster and a bevvy of other key injuries. They will be without Jahrome Hughes as well tonight, with rookie Jonah Pezet filling the halves void once more. There are no other late changes.

AAMI Park Melbourne the venue for tonight's match - 1-2 Melbourne host 0-3 Wests Tigers, with the latter the only team yet to experience a victory this season following Parramatta's nerve-wracking golden point triumph over Penrith lat night.