NRL Round 4 Preview and Prediction - Wests Tigers v Melbourne Storm @ Leichhardt Oval

Wests Tigers V Melbourne Storm @ Leichhardt Oval
 
Preview - The Wests Tigers will be looking to put another week of drama and turmoil behind them when they take on the Storm at Leichhardt Oval on Sunday afternoon. The axe fell on Jason Taylor in a stunningly swift manner with the Tigers’ Coach dismissed after heavy back-to-back losses against the Panthers and Raiders. Interim Coach Andrew Webster steps up on Sunday to guide a Tigers’ side that have run out of excuses now with both Taylor and Farah out of the Club. It's really time for their off contract "stars" to start delivering on the field to match the money they want to receive off the field. It is business as usual for the Melbourne Storm who have started the season in typically fast fashion, racking up 3 straight victories to be equal competition leaders. Last week, the Storm struck at the death, with just 4 minutes remaining, with a try to Josh Addo Carr and a sideline conversion from Cameron Smith sealing a tense 14-12 victory over the Broncos. 
 
History - While the Storm has only ever lost one game to the Tigers in Melbourne, they have never had it all their way at Leichhardt Oval. The Tigers have beaten the Storm a number of times at Leichhardt and even last season pushed them to Golden Point before losing 19-18 to a Cooper Cronk field goal. 
 
Wests Tigers’ Scouting Report - The Tigers have named the same starting line up as last week, however it must be noted that line up was named before Andrew Webster had a chance to train the side. Matt Ballin is named in Jumper 17 for the first time this season, while Jamal Idris is named on an extended bench. The Tigers have been totally dominated in the forwards in the past two weeks, especially after the 25-minute mark when their Captain Aaron Woods leaves the field. 
 
Melbourne Storm Scouting Report - The Storm are missing a couple of key players here with Cameron Munster out with a broken jaw and Sinisalu Vunivalu out with a dislocated shoulder. Ryley Jacks maintains his starting spot in the Number 6 jumper, with the electric Billy Slater expected to start the game at fullback after he made a promising comeback from the bench last weekend. Young Tonumaipea starts on the wing. 
 
Verdict - Storm 1-6 in a closer match than many anticipate
 
The Tigers always struggle against the powerful sides that possess plenty of football in them. Melbourne prefer to kill you via their consistency and ability to stay in the grind and the Tigers have troubled them over the years particularly at Leichhardt Oval. I do expect them to come out breathing fire in this game with a number of their senior players’ form being questioned in the media this week. The Storm are missing a fair bit of strike power here and will definitely miss the way Vunivalu starts off sets, and the threat of Cameron Munster around the ruck. If those two were available I would have said the Storm are specials to win this game by 13+. However, I think those two injuries mean the Storm will play a slightly more conservative style. I think the Tigers, playing their first game at Leichhardt for the year, will be really competitive here, however their forward pack really worries me. I think if Melbourne can hold them early they can get on top in the forwards later in this game which should open some space up around the ruck for the great trio of Smith, Cronk and Slater.