CommBank Stadium will play host to Saturday's Round 1 NRL game between Wests Tigers and Melbourne Storm. The game kicks off at 7:45 pm with Melbourne Storm heading into the game as favourites with the bookmakers. Continue reading for our in-depth preview of the Wests Tigers vs. Melbourne Storm game and give you our free tips and bets.

When: Saturday March 12, 2022 at 7:45 pm

Where: CommBank Stadium

Bet: Bet On This Match HERE

Wests Tigers vs Melbourne Storm Odds

Wests Tigers vs Melbourne Storm Preview

The relentlessly maligned Wests Tigers start 2022 as wooden spoon favourites, despite having never collected the NRL’s most unwanted prize. The under-pressure Michael Maguire will look to Super League returnee Jackson Hastings to solve their playmaking woes – particularly with Adam Doueihi missing for the early rounds – while English centre Oliver Gildart and enigmatic utility Tyrone Peachey will make their Tigers debuts in Round 1.

Man for man, though, the Tigers’ roster looks comfortably the weakest in the competition.

A first-up assignment against the benchmark Melbourne Storm is not ideal, though they will be without suspended marquee pair Cameron Munster and Harry Grant. But aside from the interesting selection of recruit Nick Meaney at five-eighth, the Storm’s starting line-up looks typically imposing. Xavier Coates, Josh King and Jayden Nikorima are set to make their club debuts, while Tyran Wishart has been named for this first NRL game.

The clubs will face off in Sydney for the first time since 2017. The Tigers were subjected to severe Sunshine Coast beatdowns in their sole clashes with the Storm in 2020 (50-22) and 2021 (66-16).

One of the NRL’s most extraordinary records – with the Storm winning all 18 of their Round 1 matches under Craig Bellamy – is reason enough to dismiss any notion of a king-sized upset.

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