The first game on Saturday for NRL Round 16 is between Wests Tigers and Melbourne Storm. The opening bounce is set to commence at 5.30pm with the game to be played at Laichhardt Oval. The favourite for the match is home team Melbourne Storm. View our preview and teams for the game between Wests Tigers and Melbourne Storm.

Leichhardt Oval

Wests Tigers $3.05 vs Melbourne Storm $1.38 at Sportsbet Australia get a $500 FREE BET on this match

Wests Tigers $2.60 vs Melbourne Storm $1.51 at Luxbet Australia get a $500 FREE BET on this match

Odds Comparison by NRL Odds:

Wests Tigers	3.05	2.85	2.60	2.85	3.05	3.07
Melbourne Storm	1.38	1.42	1.51	1.42	1.38	1.39

Preview:

After losing seven in a row, the West Tigers have bounced back to a degree with three wins from their past four matches including a tough 17-12 win over the Raiders last week.

Like their other two wins in the past month, last week’s victory was a narrow one but showed that the Tigers are returning to form expected of them.

Melbourne will obviously be counting on several of their stars getting through Wednesday night’s Origin unscathed and present a full team. They were without their stars last week when beaten by Gold Coast 18 – 12.

It was Melbourne’s first loss in five weeks but nevertheless, was a spirited performance.

They’ll need to be careful as the West Tigers have troubled Melbourne in the past, winning two of their last five encounters and with this match at the Tigers’ spiritual home of Leichhardt, where they’ve won both of the games played at the venue this year, West have been kept relatively safe in the betting markets given the status of both teams on the competition ladder.

There’s enough to suggest Tigers are half a chance here but sticking with Melbourne more times than not, pays dividends.

Teams:

Wests Tigers:
James Tedesco, David Nofoaluma, Blake Ayshford, Chris Lawrence, Tim Simona, Benji Marshall, Curtis Sironen, Aaron Woods, Robbie Farah, Adam Blair,  Liam Fulton, Joel Reddy, Suaso Sue.
Interchange: Ava Seumanufagai, Jack Buchanan, Shaun Spence, Bodene Thompson, Ben Murdoch-Masila

Melbourne Storm:
Billy Slater, Sisa Waqa, Will Chambers, Maurice Blair, Justin O’Neill, Brett Finch, Cooper Cronk, Jesse Bromwich, Cameron Smith, Bryan Norrie, Kevin Proctor, Ryan Hoffman, Ryan Hinchcliffe.
Interchange: Jason Ryles, Matt Garbutt, Tohu Harris, Slade Griffin, Ben Hampton, Siosaia Vave, Junior Moors

Storm hope Widdop returns for NRL finals

Gareth Widdop’s NRL season may not be over after all with the Storm reporting their star five-eighth could be back for the finals after undergoing successful surgery.

St George Illawarra-bound Widdop appeared to have played his last game for the premiers after dislocating his hip in Monday night’s 18-12 loss to the Gold Coast.

But with doctors finding no fractures, there is hope the Great Britain international may still play a part for the Storm in the playoffs – and this year’s Rugby League World Cup.

The 24-year-old is still facing at least 12 weeks on the sidelines, but can draw hope from Chris Lawrence’s comeback from a similarly horrific injury in 2011.

Lawrence said it took “five or six people” to put his dislocated hip back in place, but returned so impressively for Wests Tigers that season he also gained selection in the Test team for Australia’s 2011 Four Nations campaign.

Lawrence admitted it was hard to watch as Widdop screamed in agony and punched the Skilled Park turf, but said all was not lost.

“It’s a terrible shame for him. It brought back some memories from my injury,” he said on Tuesday.

“So I know what he’s going through. My thoughts are with him. Hopefully his recovery goes well.

“It depends on the results of his scans, I suppose. I was quite lucky with mine.”

Long-term, the Storm may not have to look far for a playmaking replacement for Widdop.

Although veteran half Brett Finch looms as the man most likely to step in for Widdop in the short-term, the performance of debutant Ben Hampton against the Titans shows coach Craig Bellamy has a good prospect coming through.

The former Queensland under-20s captain scored two tries and made 122 metres from 15 runs in a stellar first NRL outing.

Bellamy was particularly impressed with the way the 179cm youngster stood up to some serious physical treatment from the Titans.

“He’s only a small kid, but he’s tough,” Bellamy said.

“They got stuck into him and we probably expected that being a small guy and being his first grade debut … but he didn’t lay down.

“I was real proud of his effort.”

Hampton, who filled in at fullback in place of fellow north Queensland product Billy Slater, also won praise from the State of Origin and Test star.

“Great game by Benny Hampton,” Slater tweeted.

“Sure to hear more of that name.”