Junior Rep Report: Round 5

Melbourne Storm's strong run of form at home in 2024 has continued with a Siulagi Pio hattrick helping Storm to an impressive 28-18 win over the Wests Tigers at Seabrook Reserve in the Jersey Flegg competition.  

Playing across AAMI Park, Comely Banks and Seabrook Reserve, Storm have now won all three of its home fixtures this season, showcasing a mix of brute force and flair to ultimately prove too strong for a travelling Tigers outfit on Saturday. 

Pio who has now scored six tries in four games, nabbed two tries before the break, running over the top of Tigers fullback Joseph Jaber for his first before going aerial for his second, collecting a perfectly placed cross field kick from De’ontae Perese. 

K-CI Newton-Whare kept Storm’s momentum going to start the second half, highlighting some tired Tigers forwards in the middle of the park and beelining for the white stripe to score in the 38th minute.  

A Tigers error after scoring points of their own invited Storm back into dangerous field position, Hugo Peel firing a cutout pass to Pio who once again did the spectacular, doing his best Xavier Coates imitation to plant the ball down before being bundled into touch in the 48th minute.  

Ill-discipline matters worse for the visitors, Storm going straight back on the attack and young prospect Hugo Peel throwing the dummy and shrugging off the Tigers defence to add the exclamation mark to the strong performance. 

Storm will now travel away to face the winless Parramatta Eels in Round 5. 

Originally published on melbournestorm.com.au