Wests Tigers v Storm Preview
NRL.com
Campbelltown Stadium
Monday 7.00pm
http://nrl.com/News/Latest/tabid/10244/default.aspx?id=51882
FOR Melbourne this game will be about pulling through the representative period with all their players rested and intact, ready for the charge towards a second straight premiership.
For the Tigers it will be about doing the unexpected, and defeating one of the most successful teams in the games history to keep their finals hopes alive.
For the fans, though, it will be all about one of the smallest men to ever grace the field.
Campbelltown junior and Wests Tigers captain Brett Hodgson plays his last game in the heart of the territory that started his 11-year career.
He heads to Huddersfield in England next season, and the Eagle Vale St Andrews junior deserves a send-off as one of the all-time great local products.
Watch out Tigers: The Tigers are renowned attackers, but their defence
well, its questionable.
They have conceded 47 tries this year from line breaks only the last-placed Cowboys have let more teams slip through their defensive line.
And the Storm have the players to constantly trouble a line which does not scramble as well as other teams.
They have scored the most tries through line breaks with 39 not surprisingly nine of them are courtesy of fullback Billy Slater, currently one of the best support players in the NRL.
Watch for Slater to cut through the middle of the Tigers defence with much of their regular pack sidelined with injury.
Watch out Storm: He may be a mere 76 kilograms, but Hodgson will be intent on leaving his stamp on this one.
He plays a similar role to Slater, as support and ball player both have a playmaking element to their game, along with deceptive speed off the mark.
Without Mat Head the Tigers kicking game takes a blow and Benji Marshall will need to step up.
With five line-break assists and six try assists in just nine games, Marshall needs to provide the spark for a side averaging just 1,241 metres of territory a game the worst in the NRL.
Where it will be won: Melbourne need not bother with the Tigers forwards, it is the backs who are their most dangerous players, with 71 line breaks this season (the second most in the comp).
And with players like Hodgson (8 line breaks), quicksilver Chris Lawrence (9) and the rampaging Taniela Tuiaki (7), Melbournes susceptible left edge defence will be tested.
That said this game could be won in the air. Melbourne have put up 38 bombs this season twice the amount of the Tigers mainly for Israel Folau who showed gravity is no issue for him in State of Origin III.
They have also cross-kicked 63 times, with Greg Inglis also appearing from nowhere with limitless elevation to score off the Cooper Cronk kicks. Tuiaki has power but neither he nor Beau Ryan are a match for the athleticism of Melbournes leaping duo.
The History: Played 15; Storm 10, Tigers 5. The Storm have won five of the past eight games and hold a 1-0 edge at Campbelltown Stadium.
Conclusion: Emotion will play a part in this game for the Tigers, desperately hoping to send Hodgson out a winner in his final match in the place where rugby league started for him.
On their side is the unpredictable attack that the regimented Storm often find tough to control.
However the Storm are perfectly drilled and they have their secret weapon back Michael Crocker returns from a week off and eerily this team does not lose with him playing.
Match Officials: Referee Jared Maxwell. Sideline Officials Jeff Younis and Chris James. Video Referee Tim Mander.
Televised: Fox Sports 2 Live 7.00pm AEST.
HEAD TO HEAD RECORDS (2000 - )
Overall Head-to-head Records
Played 15; Melbourne 10, Wests Tigers 5
Head-to-head at Campbelltown Stadium
Played 1; Melbourne 1, Wests Tigers 0
Record Crowd these Clubs (Excludes Finals and Double Headers)
19111 at Bluetongue Stadium, 5/5/2007 (Rd 8), Wests Tigers Won 30 - 12
Last 10 Games Head-to-head: Played 10; Melbourne 6, Wests Tigers 4
