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MELBOURNE - Melbourne opened their NRL season with a tense 18-16 victory over the Wests Tigers at Olympic Park tonight.
Last year's minor premiers the Storm prevailed in an entertaining encounter in front of 13,535 fans, with both sides scoring three tries in a superb start to the NRL season.
While the Storm were the better side, they didn't have the match all their own way as the Tigers put a disappointing premiership defence in 2006 behind them with some outstanding defence which kept them in the game.
The Storm, led by skipper Cameron Smith, lock Dallas Johnson and man-of-the-match Cooper Cronk, controlled the match after an indecisive opening 10 minutes where the Tigers skipped out to an early lead with a try to winger Jason Moodie.
Storm second rowers Jeremy Smith and Ryan Hoffman crossed for two tries midway through the opening 40 minutes, hooker Cameron Smith converting both efforts.
The Storm virtually handed the visitors their second try three minutes from the break, conceding three successive penalties in attack for incorrect play the ball - referee Sean Hampstead showing the officials would be cracking down on the attacking indiscretion in 2007.
Bronson Harrison eventually made the homeside pay for their laziness with the ball when he barged over Billy Slater and King to score out wide, Benji Marshall's failed conversion the only difference between the two sides at the break with the scores 12-10.
Storm winger Israel Folau capped his strong NRL debut with a fantastic try in the 59th minute when he pulled down a Smith bomb and carried two defenders over.
Tigers Kiwi international Paul Whatuira ensured a grandstand finish when he pounced on a loose ball in the 67th minute that Cooper Cronk failed to clean up in goal to score.
Marshall converted the try and with just a two-point margin, the returning five-eighth tried to manufacture a late miracle try in the 79th minute but his pass went across the touchline.
- AAP
