Wests Tigers Struggle in Melbourne
Most NRL teams will struggle to compete without a handful of their best players, and so it proved for the Wests Tigers in Melbourne on Sunday. Missing their fullback, halfback, hooker, and best back-rower and front-rower, an undermanned Tigers were just the tonic for the Harry Grant-inspired Storm to resume regular service after an unprecedented seven-match losing streak.
But after conceding 96 points in the past seven days, the cracks have begun to appear in the Tigers’ bid to return to the finals for the first time in 15 years. Second on the ladder a fortnight ago, Benji Marshall’s team have dropped to sixth place with their 44-16 defeat and face Kieran Foran’s Manly at Suncorp Stadium during Magic Round next Saturday.
While this was a better display than a 52-10 drubbing by Cronulla the previous Sunday, there was no coming back for the Tigers after they were blown away in the opening stages at AAMI Park.
“You can’t give anyone that sort of start,” Marshall said. “I was proud of the fight in the second half but ultimately, we just weren’t good enough.”
After a fine start to the season, the Tigers coach accepted their last two outings created “a bit of a negative smell around what we’re doing”, particularly with their defence.
Sea Eagles Rise as Tigers Fall
Their next opponents, the Sea Eagles, are on a contrasting trajectory, leap-frogging the Tigers into fifth with a 30-4 demolition of premiers Brisbane – their fifth win in six matches since Foran took over.
“Our standards are better than that,” Marshall said. “But I’m not going to make any excuses … what I’ve got to try and find is solutions and what’s going to help and how we get out of it.
“We’re still five and four to start the season. We’ve got to make amends against a Manly team that’s in red-hot form.”
While disappointing for the Tigers, it was a fitting outcome for Melbourne in their first game at home since coach Craig Bellamy was diagnosed with a form of neurodegenerative disorder.
Grant was instrumental to the Storm’s breakthrough victory, a timely turn of events for Queensland in the lead-up to the State of Origin series while Maroons teammate Cameron Munster and the returning Jahrome Hughes were also outstanding and winger Will Warbrick completed an aerial double.
The Kangaroos hooker was a constant threat, exposing deficiencies in the Tigers’ defence that had not appeared so transparently before their hammering by the Sharks.
There were echoes of their 64-0 capitulation to the Storm in the same week last season as they let in four tries in the first 13 minutes.
It didn’t turn out that badly but the scoreline was anything but flattering.
Injury Woes and Concerns for the Tigers
Marshall’s team was well below full strength, with Terrell May returning to Sydney before the game for the birth of his first child and Adam Doueihi, Jahream Bula, Samuela Fainu and Api Koroisau already missing through either injury or suspension.
While May will be back next weekend, the continuing absence of three members of their spine and the in-form Fainu is a major concern. They could be further depleted against the Sea Eagles after fellow second-rower Kai Pearce-Paul was placed on report for a chicken-wing tackle on Warbrick. Latu Fainu and Alex Twal were also put on report for other incidents.
The performance of centre Taylan May, whose wife had also given birth during the week, was a bright spot for the Tigers. He justified his extension until 2030, alongside brother Terrell, with a series of powerful runs as he posted two of the visitors’ three tries.
It was Melbourne’s day, though, the only blight for the hosts an injury to a key player of their own. Fullback Sualauvi Faalogo scored the first of the Storm’s eight tries but didn’t return after a head knock sustained while trying to prevent Taylan May burrowing over the line.
Bellamy said he would have scans and the worst-case scenario was a fractured cheekbone.
As for his own health predicament, the Melbourne coach thanked those “right across the rugby league community” who had reached out with support.
“I’ll be fine,” he said.
