Tigers upset Storm for second NRL win

THE Giant-killing Wests Tigers toppled NRL premier Melbourne on their own turf, with Luke Brooks scoring a last-ditch try to claim a 10-8 victory.

After their opening-round defeat of premiership heavyweights the Sydney Roosters, the Tigers showed no fear against the Storm on Saturday night to continue their unbeaten start to the season.

The Tigers tossed aside the script for Storm superstar Billy Slater’s 300th NRL match to rattle the home side from the opening whistle and nailed the win with Brooks’ try in the 78th minute.

In a frantic first half, the Tigers beat Melbourne at their own game — out-defending the tightest team in the competition.

Frustrated by their inability to get across the line, the Storm’s error count grew alongside their penalty count.

Like the Roosters game, it was a tryless first half and a scoreless match until Esan Marsters kicked two penalty goals in the final two minutes of the half for a 4-0 lead.

That was extended to 6-0 in the 57th minute before the Storm finally made it onto the scoreboard.

Tigers prop Ben Matulino was sin-binned for a professional foul and Melbourne took advantage of the numerical advantage to send the ball wide to winger Suliasi Vunivalu, who dived across in the corner.

It was the highlight of Vuni- valu’s otherwise below-par night. Smith shanked the conversion and, with his team still trailing, was forced to rely on two penalties for the champions to go ahead in the 72nd minute. It looked like Melbourne would hold on for the win but the Tigers wouldn’t be denied, with Matulino making amends as he found Brooks on the charge for his matchwinning try.