If you had said prior to the season that the Wests Tigers would beat the Melbourne Storm twice, you would be brave.
In reality, that is exactly what has happened, as for the second time this season, the Tigers have upset the Storm.
In the end, a late Benji Marshall field goal sealed the game for the Tigers in the first of a doubleheader at Mt Smart Stadium.
The Storm usually celebrate milestone games with a win but that trend has stopped in 2018.
Coach Craig Bellamy had his 400th game in charge and Ryan Hoffman his 250th game for the club but a win was not forthcoming.
The win moves the Tigers to a surprising 4-1, made even more impressive by their tough draw to open the season.
The Storm on the other hand, sit at 2-3, not at at all like their usual start to the NRL seasons.
The Storm went up 2-0 after a Brodie Croft penalty goal but it was the Tigers who would score the game’s first try.
Josh Addo-Carr raced near the sideline and flinged the ball back into the field of play, only for Tigers back-rower Josh Aloiai to be on the receiving end to score.
A trademark Storm set-play from the scrum followed soon after, however, as Billy Slater and Cameron Munster combined.
A further Croft penalty goal extended the lead before he turned villain, failing to catch a kick-off that then went dead.
The Tigers capitalised as halfback Luke Brooks and back-rower Chris Lawrence combined to send the veteran forward over.
In the process, he surpassed Benji Marshall as the Tigers most prolific try-scorer with 77 tries.
From there, Marrshall calmly slotted a field goal as the Tigers celebrate their impressive start to the season.
Tigers coach Ivan Cleary praised both his halves for the way they stood up in the game when it mattered.
“Late in the game, Benji and Luke came up with some big plays,” he said.
“I thought Luke, in particular, played really well tonight. He looked dangerous every time he touched the ball.”
Marshall was also full of praise for his halves team-mate.
“He was a big reason why we got home tonight,” Marshall said.
I really thought Brooksy took control of the game for us.
“When I felt a little bit off, he really took over and sort of played the role I have been playing for the last few weeks so, he was great.”
Rather than lay blame on anything that Bellamy has done, Storm coach Cameron Smith focused on the players and their lack of ball control.
“It’s on us as players it’s got nothing to do with this bloke here – Craig and his staff prepare us as good as anyone could,” Smith said.
“Craig gives us everything we need to go out there and play well, the players just aren’t taking ownership on that.
“The ball control from us tonight was just awful. It has been all season. Until players in our team understand that you can’t win without the ball, this is going to continue happening.”
Player of the Game:
3. Josh Aloiai
2. Esan Marsters
- Cameron Smith