Melbourne Storm vs Wests Tigers – Regular Season – Preview & Prediction | NRL 2023

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THE FACTS

When is Melbourne Storm vs Wests Tigers on and what time does it start? Melbourne Storm vs Wests Tigers will take place on Friday 24th March, 2023 – 07:00 (UK)

Where is Melbourne Storm vs Wests Tigers taking place? Melbourne Storm vs Wests Tigers will take place at AAMI Park in Melbourne, Australia

Where can I get tickets for Melbourne Storm vs Wests Tigers? Click here for ticket information on 2023 NRL matches

What channel is Melbourne Storm vs Wests Tigers 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 Melbourne Storm vs Wests Tigers? 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

MELBOURNE STORM

• Melbourne Storm were beaten for the second game in succession as they were on the end of an upset against Gold Coast Titans last week another loss here would set alarm bells ringing.
• The Storm are still missing a host of key men which has certainly impacted their start to the season but they are handed a huge boost for this contest with five-eighth Cameron Munster returning from a finger injury, although his partner in the halves will be different to usual after Jahrome Hughes copped a two-game ban.

Starting 13: Meaney, Warbrick, Smith, Olam, Coates, Munster, Hughes, Kamikamica, H. Grant, Welch, Loiero, Katoa, King – Interchanges: Wishart, MacDonald, Sims, Garlick – Reserves: Eisenhuth, Anderson, Pene, Faalogo, Pezet

Unavailable: Dean Ieremia (Injured), Ryan Papenhuyzen (Injured), George Jennings (Injured), Tepai Moeroa (Injured), Nelson Asofa-Solomona (Injured), Marion Seve (Injured), Jordan Grant (Injured), Jahrome Hughes (Suspended)

WESTS TIGERS

• Wests Tigers were awful once again as they suffered a third straight loss to begin the campaign and even a late rally in their loss to Canterbury Bulldogs is difficult to get too excited about.
• Adam Doueihi switched to fullback for the latter part of that game and it saw the Tigers improve so he will start in that spot this week while there are plenty of other changes with Brandon Wakeham starting at five-eighth, Isaiah Papali’i back from a ban while Daine Laurie returns from injury to take a spot on the bench.

Starting 13: Doueihi, Staines, Naden, Kepaoa, Tupou, Wakeham, Brooks, Utoikamanu, Koroisau, Klemmer, Papali’i, Bateman, Pole – Interchanges: Laurie, Twal, Blore, Seyfarth – Reserves: To’a, Ofahengaue, Matamua, Nofoaluma, Simpkin

Unavailable: Ken Maumalo (Injured), Tommy Talau (Injured)

THE PREDICTION

Melbourne Storm have yet to get going this season having lost two of their three games to date. They were on the end of a surprising loss to Gold Coast Titans last week and while they will have key man Cameron Munster back in the side this week, his return is countered by the loss to Jahrome Hughes to a ban. However, the Storm take on winless Wests Tigers here and despite showing some signs of improvement in the closing stages of their loss to Canterbury Bulldogs, they are unlikely to get off the mark for the campaign with the home side able to make it five successive wins against Wests.