Wests Tigers and Melbourne Storm are both navigating wide-ranging team list changes ahead of this Saturday night encounter at Campbelltown.
Following their gallant comeback at home against Canberra in Round 14 that resulted in an agonising 20-19 loss, the Tigers produced their worst display in over two months on the Gold Coast last Thursday, crashing to a 28-12 defeat – not aided by the mid-game loss of Api Koroisau and Luke Brooks.
The pair’s absence, along with Stefano Utoikamamu’s Blues debut, disrupts the Tigers’ line-up this week.
Starford To’a is the surprise halves replacement with Brent Naden returning at centre, while 18-year-old dummy-half Tallyn Da Silva will debut off the bench and Jake Simpkins starts at hooker. Alex Seyfarth has been added to the bench.
The Storm bounced back from a jarring 45-20 loss in Townsville to destroy fellow heavyweights Cronulla 54-10, claiming outright third spot in the process.
But it’s a very different side that heads to Sydney: Cameron Munster and Harry Grant have been joined in the Queensland team by Xavier Coates, while Christian Welch is out suspended and Eliesa Katoa (eye) is injured.
George Jennings grabs a wing spot, Jonah Pezet will play five-eighth and Bronson Garlick is at hooker. Aaron Pene and Alec MacDonald join the bench, with Justin Olam (head knock) named 18th man.
The Storm are on a five-match winning streak against the Tigers, taking their overall record in the rivalry to 24-12 – coincidentally the scoreline in a scrappy 24-12 result in Round 4 at AAMI Park earlier this year. The Storm are 3-0 at Campbelltown against the joint venture.
Melbourne is well-versed in the art of performing without its Origin contingent and still possess enough class and leadership in the form of Jahrome Hughes, Nick Meaney and Nelson Asofa-Solomona to account for a significantly rejigged Wests Tigers side.
The post Wests Tigers vs Melbourne Storm Tips and Odds – NRL 2023 Round 16 first appeared on JustBetting.com.au.