A week can be a long time in football though and the Tigers will be hoping the truth of that shows when they tackle the Melbourne Storm at Campbelltown Stadium on Monday night. The MNF clash also doubles as a chance for the club and it's fans to raise money for former rising star Simon Dwyer who was left with severe damage to his nerve system which effects the use of one arm. $5 from every ticket sold will go towards Simon's welfare with the NRL set to double the amount of any money raised on Monday night.
On field and Wests will name the same 17 players who took the field versus the Dragons. That means second rower Bodene Thompson continues to deputise in the centres, It also allows Dene Halatau to start his second match in a row for the club.
The Tigers will no doubt be fired up for this one. The club has been ambushed in the media over the past week and pride is most definitely a factor that should see the side fired up this week. After last week's embarrassment it is mental preparation that will be a key. The team desperately needs to get itself together this week. The Storm will offer a daunting opposition should Wests be off their game once more. You can just imagine what the likes of Billy Slater, Cooper Cronk and Cam Smith could do should Wests fail to turn up with 100% application for the job.
So how do the Tigers win this?? Well, as mentioned before, mental application will be key. Away from that though and completing our sets and having a good kick chase will be vital. Field position is something the Tigers must come out of on top of if they're to win this one. Limiting the attacking chances of the Storm is a must.
To do this the Tigers must therefore at least match and if not win the forward battle. This is an area that Wests are actually stronger in, even if only for the impact of their bench. You saw what happened against the Bulldogs back in round 19 and that is glimpse of what can be achieved on Monday night if things come together.
Wests have their finals hopes clinging to a thread and home matches loom as the key. It's hard to believe Wests can drop any of their remaining three home games Win on Monday night and they'll at least stay in the hunt. Lose and, well............it's hard to imagine them playing finals football.
WESTS TIGERS TEAM V MELBOURNE STORM
Monday 4 August, 7:00pm (local), Campbelltown Sports Stadium
1. Mitchell Moses 2. Keith Lulia 3. Tim Simona 4. Bodene Thompson 5. Pat Richards 6. Blake Austin 7. Luke Brooks 8. Aaron Woods 9. Robbie Farah 10. Keith Galloway 11. Curtis Sironen 12. Dene Halatau 13. Adam Blair
Interchange: 14. Ava Seumanufagai 15. Martin Taupau 16. Sauaso Sue 17. James Gavet
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