The Storm find themselves in uncharted waters with seven losses on the trot and they face another tough test when Wests Tigers arrive at AAMI Park looking to bounce back to form.
The Tigers had climbed to third on the ladder before last Sunday's thumping loss to the Sharks and they will be determined to prove their early-season form was no flash in the pan.
Melbourne have won 27 of the 39 clashes between these two sides and will look to superstars Harry Grant and Cameron Munster to ensure that dominance continues.
The curtain comes down on Round 10 with a cracker of a clash in Canberra between Ricky's Raiders and Ivan's Panthers - both coming off Round 9 wins and both capable of exhilarating football on their day.
Follow all the action from Round 10 of the NRL Telstra Premiership on NRL.com's live blog.
Storm v Wests Tigers at AAMI Park
Match: Storm v Wests Tigers
Round 10 -
home Team
Storm
16th Position
away Team
Wests Tigers
6th Position
Venue: AAMI Park, Melbourne
Match broadcasters:
- WatchNRL
13th min: Another try under the posts to the Storm, with Jahrome Hughes going over after Harry Grant cuts through the ruck and races away, passing back to his trailing halfback who scores. Meaney slots this one as well for a big 20-0 lead.
9th min: Bang-bang-bang to Melbourne, with Cam Munster finishing a team try that he starts down in their own half. Some strong runs - including from Stefano Utoikamanu - and plenty of passes along the way, with Storm looking confident early. Meaney slots the conversion from in front and it's 14-0.
6th min: Storm go back-to-back, this time on the right side with Jahrome Hughes putting in a pinpoint kick for Will Warbrick to fly him and bring the ball down over the top of his opposite. Meaney once again just misses the conversion attempt from the right sideline and it's 8-0.
3rd min: First points of the afternoon for the home side, with that man Sua Faalogo going over for yet another try. Wests Tigers give up a penalty and a ruck infringement to gift field position and some nice passing out to the left finds the Samoa representative. Nick Meaney can't convert and it's 4-0.
Kick off: Storm kick off and Wests Tigers will have first use of th eball at AAMI Park.
Late Mail
Storm: No changes to the squad on game day. Star halfback Jahrome Hughes is on track to complete his comeback from a head knock after progressing through the concussion protocols and will replace the injured Tyran Wishart (ankle). Emerging playmaker Stanley Huen has been named on the six-man bench and could make his NRL debut if called upon. Manaia Waitere and Lazarus Vaalepu dropped out of the squad in the 24-hour update, with Jack Hetherington joining the interchange.
Wests Tigers: A big out on game day with Terrell May omitted, bringing Bunty Afoa in to start at prop. Charlie Murray moves onto the extended bench from the reserves. Earlier, there were more changes for the Tigers as Benji Marshall navigates two more injuries suffered in last week's loss to the Sharks. Jock Madden is back in the halves after Adam Doueihi dislocated his shoulder. Kai Pearce-Paul's return from concussion offsets the loss of Samuela Fainu to a long-term foot injury. Sione Fainu will join Pearce-Paul in the back row, replacing Tony Sukkar, who was named in the reserves on Tuesday. Out wide, Heath Mason comes in at fullback, Sunia Turuva will shift to the wing and Patrick Herbert has earned a recall in the centres. Tony Sukkar and Javon Andrews dropped out in the 24-hour update.
Raiders v Panthers
Match: Raiders v Panthers
Round 10 -
home Team
Raiders
12th Position
away Team
Panthers
1st Position
Venue: GIO Stadium, Canberra
Match broadcasters:
- WatchNRL
