Wests Tigers vs Melbourne Storm – Regular Season – Preview & Prediction | NRL 2022
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THE FACTS
When is Wests Tigers vs Melbourne Storm on and what time does it start? Wests Tigers vs Melbourne Storm will take place on Saturday 12th March, 2022 – 08:35 (UK)
Where is Wests Tigers vs Melbourne Storm taking place? Wests Tigers vs Melbourne Storm will take place at CommBank Stadium in Sydney, Australia
Where can I get tickets for Wests Tigers vs Melbourne Storm? Click here for ticket information on 2022 NRL matches
What channel is Wests Tigers vs Melbourne Storm on? Sky Sports Arena will be televising selected NRL games in the UK and you can find their schedule here. For Australian broadcasters, you can find a list here
Where can I stream Wests Tigers vs Melbourne Storm? If televised on Sky Sports, then subscribers will be able to stream the match live via Sky Go. Alternatively, the match will be available to subscribers of Watch NRL
THE TEAM NEWS
WESTS TIGERS
- Wests Tigers missed out on the finals once again in 2021 and there will be plenty of pressure on head coach Michael Maguire after he managed to retain his job despite intense speculation last year.
- Wests will line-up with a similar side to last season but they will have a new name in the halves with Jackson Hastings starting at five-eighth in this contest after his arrival from Super League outfit Wigan Warriors while Oliver Gildart has also made the same move.
Starting 13: Laurie, Nofoaluma, Roberts, Gildart, Maumalo, Hastings, Brooks, Twal, Simpkin, Utoikamanu, Tuilagi, Leilua, Ofahengaue – Interchanges: Peachey, Garner, Musgrove, Seyfarth – Reserves: Mikaele, To’a, Madden, Simpkins, Ngatikuara, Dias, Kei
Unavailable: James Tamou, Jacob Liddle, Shawn Blore, Adam Doueihi, Asu Kepaoa, Tommy Talau
MELBOURNE STORM
- Melbourne Storm looked like the team to beat for much of last season but the minor premiers were unable to defend their Premiership as they produced an underwhelming performance in their preliminary final clash with Penrith Panthers.
- Many believe it was actually Melbourne’s worst performance of the season with it coming at an extremely untimely stage of the year but they will be right in the mix once again this season, although they will start without the likes of Cameron Munster and Harry Grant in their 17.
Starting 13: Papenhuyzen, Jennings, R. Smith, Olam, Coates, Meaney, Hughes, Moeroa, B. Smith, Welch, Kaufusi, K. Bromwich, King – Interchanges: Wishart, Nikorima, Loiero, Asofa-Solomona – Reserves: Ieremia, MacDonald, Howarth, Faalogo, Garlick, Pezet, Warbrick
Unavailable: Cameron Munster, Harry Grant, Chris Lewis, Jesse Bromwich, Jordan Grant, Tom Eisenhuth, Cooper Johns, Tui Kamikamica
THE PREDICTION
Wests Tigers have underperformed for a long period of time and having missed out on the top eight once again last season, failure to do so once again could result in them looking for another head coach. They face an extremely tough start to this season with Melbourne Storm entering this contest still hurting from their failure to defend their Premiership last year. It will no doubt be a source of motivation for the Storm and while they are missing a handful of key men for this season opener, they should still have far too much for Wests with Craig Bellamy’s side able to cover the -12 handicap.
