Dominant Melbourne Storm have too much strikepower for outgunned Wests Tigers

MELBOURNE were in no mood for charity in Simon Dwyer’s tribute match, putting on a dominant display to make the Tigers’ week from hell even worse.

Tigers Robbie Farah and his team look on after a Melbourne try during the Wests Tigers v Melbourne Storm rugby league game at Campbelltown Stadium, Sydney. Pic Brett Costello

THE dramas continued for embattled Wests Tigers on Monday night - this time on the field.

After a week of controversy surrounding their coach Mick Potter and skipper Robbie Farah, Wests Tigers were pumped 28-6 against Melbourne at Campbelltown Stadium.

GATHERING STORM EYE TOP FOUR

It was Wests Tigers’ fourth loss in their past five games. They sit in 12th place.

The Tigers weren’t able to win their tribute match for former player Simon Dwyer. Pic: Brett Costello

Wests Tigers sit one win outside the top eight but have a tough road ahead over the next three weeks against North Queensland (a), Sydney Roosters (h) and Canterbury (a).

Their season is at the cross-roads. Horror headlines over the past eight days obviously took a toll on the Tigers, who conceded five tries in a meek performance.

Potter will continue to fight for a contract extension while Farah will attempt to move-on for his public stoush with Gorden Tallis.

Farah failed to show for the traditional post-match press conference, the club sending prop Keith Galloway.

Wests Tigers officials said Farah wasn’t talking to the media on Monday night.

Robbie Farah and the Tigers were blown off the park by the Storm. Pic: Brett Costello

Asked why Farah didn’t show, Potter said: “I don’t know mate. I didn’t allocate the duties.

“It’s not my job. It’s someone’s else’s job.”

Potter said he cannot continue to be distracted by ugly headlines.

“For me, I just move on. I have to get on because I can’t waste my time on getting distracted by that sort of stuff,” he said.

“I have a job to do every week. This week is a short week so I won’t have time to worry about what you guys write and what you report.

“I’ll be getting on and preparing for North Queensland.

“It seems to be really easy to tip-in and talk about other things other than the game itself.

“It becomes tiresome really. I don’t know if the fans really want to hear that sort of stuff or whether they just want to move on.

“They are all tough weeks. We have a short turnaround and hopefully we can talk about football.”

Marika Koroibete scores a try against his old side. Pic Brett Costello

Galloway was playing a straight bat when asked about the past week.

“I tend not to read too many papers,” he said.

“There is obviously talk about it, we just rock up to training and try and train and do your job.

“We get paid to play football. We didn’t do it too well tonight.”

Pressed on Farah, Galloway said: “He seems to be okay. He was obviously doing it tough earlier in the week. He put in a pretty good effort tonight.”

Injured Wests Tigers forward Simon Dwyer delivered an emotional pre-game speech to his side - but it just wasn’t enough to inspire his former side to victory.

Storm players celebrate a Will Chambers try in their win over the Tigers. Pic: Brett Costello

The win keeps Melbourne humming along, their chances remain alive and kicking while Cooper Cronk, Billy Slater and Cam Smith stay injury-free.

Cronk was superb on Monday night with four try assists; seven in the past two games.

Smith was given a rest with nine minutes remaining and was actually signing autographs and posing for photos in the final few minutes.

The Storm sealed the game just 10 minutes into the second half when Cronk kicked cross-field for winger Sisa Waqa, who lept high to score a fine try.

Things got heated at times in the Tigers-Storm clash with Proctor and Sironen getting involved. Pic Brett Costello

Melbourne’s kicking game was precise and effective on Monday night.

They looked good throughout and would be a team most would want to avoid in the finals. The Storm have won three successive games.

“We are still building and feel we can play better,” Smith said.

Wests Tigers suffered a pre-game blow when rising halfback Luke Brooks was ruled out with a shoulder injury.

Underrated Blake Austin shfted into halfback with Curtis Sironen moving to five-eighth.

The game turned nasty late but no player threw a punch.

“They came up with some good plays and burnt us - they executed well,” Potter said. “They had the polish.”

Galloway celebrated his 150th NRL game on Monday night for Wests Tigers.

MELBOURNE 28 (M Koroibete 2 W Chambers C Smith S Waqa tries C Smith 4 goals) bt WESTS TIGERS 6 (S Akauola try P Richards goal) at Campbelltown Sports Stadium. Referee: Ben Cummins, Chris James. Crowd: 7,782.

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Originally published as Dominant Melbourne Storm have too much strikepower for outgunned Wests Tigers