In incredible scenes at Campbelltown Sports Stadium Alex Twal finally broke his try scoring drought but Storm speedster Will Warbrick spoiled the party, running in four tries to lead Melbourne to a 28-6 win on Saturday night.
With new halves pairing Jahrome Hughes and Jonah Pezet calling the shots and rallying the troops, Melbourne went back-to-back at Campbelltown, despite missing three of their Origin superstars in Cameron Munster, Harry Grant and Xavier Coates.
While the Tigers were able to stay in the contest for majority of the match, with makeshift halves-pairing Brandon Wakeham and Starford To’a struggling to link up in attack and errors cruelling any chance they had of mounting pressure, Tim Sheens’ side couldn’t inspire a comeback at their spiritual home ground.
However, the Tigers still walked away with their own milestone to celebrate, having finally got veteran forward Alex Twal over for his first NRL try to break one of the longest try ducks, since making his debut in 2017.
Melbourne’s first visit to the Tigers 20metre zone brought the ultimate reward after a catch and pass effort from Hughes created an overlap out wide for Kiwi winger Warbrick to score.
Come the 22nd minute and Campbelltown Stadium erupted when Alex Twal grounds a crossfield kick from Wakeham in the in-goal to break his 116-game try scoring drought.
But eight minutes later the Storm silenced the Wests Tigers faithful when Warbrick made it a double, outjumping Junior Tupou to snatch a Hughes kick in the corner to score. Nick Meaney kicked the conversion to put the visitors in front 10-6.
While he didn’t have to wait 116 games to do it, Melbourne hooker Tyran Wishart celebrated a milestone of his own just before half-time, cleaning up a Hughes grubber to score his first NRL try. Meaney’s kick was wide but Craig Bellamy’s side held an eight-point lead at the break.
But the second term was all the Storm with the right-edge clicking into gear and Warbrick running in another two tries to make it four for the night.