Melbourne mangle wasteful Wests Tigers

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Melbourne Storm v Wests Tigers

Melbourne Storm returned to the winners circle tonight to defeat the Wests Tigers 24-12 at AAMI Park.

The return of star five-eighth Cameron Munster was key for the home team, who never trailed after going ahead from an early Nick Meaney penalty goal in the sixth minute.

Will Warbrick opened the tryscoring for the evening near the quarter-mark of the game, taking advantage of a solid breakaway down the Storm's right edge to open his NRL account after transferring from rugby over a year ago.

Jonah Pezet - stepping into the halves with Jahrome Hughes' suspension looming large - stepped up again after helping set up Warbrick's try, finding 50-gamer Eliesa Katoa in support who in turn supplied Nick Meaney the Storm's second four-pointer of the contest. Melbourne led 12-0 and were looking comfortable.

The Tigers did manage to strike back at the 30-minute mark, John Bateman getting past several defenders before Isaiah Papali'i put Asu Kepaoa over, and the Doueihi conversion narrowed the gap back to six points.

The Storm put the foot down though, and dashed the visitors' hopes not long after. Olam pounced on a bounce back from Xavier Coates who'd successfully contested a Munster high-ball.

Munster got one of his own just before the break, fooling the defenders to cross himself and a 22-6 halftime lead ensued.

It was a quiet start to the second half, but eventually the Wests Tigers made hay while the sun shone at the 55yh minute, Koroisau grubbering for himself and scoring, reducing the margin to ten points following Doueihi's conversion.

The only remaining score of the night came from Nick Meaney's boot, a penalty goal 14 minutes before the end of the contest and Melbourne then hung on for a 12-point victory, propelling them - for now - back into the top eight and leaving the Tigers as the only winless club in the 2023 premiership.

Next week Melbourne are off to Sydney to face the Rabbitohs while the Tigers are headed to Brisbane for their third straight away game.