Wests Tigers coach Ivan Cleary felt his team can only improve on their 10-8 defeat against the Melbourne Storm on Saturday night and deserved their victory.

The visitors were down 8-6 with less than five minutes to play but managed to scramble a try to halfback Luke Brooks, then stave off a last-minute fightback by the Storm.

''Stoked,'' Cleary said of the performance.

''I thought we deserved the win really. It was obviously a tight game, but up until the [second half] sin bin [of Ben Matulino], we were controlling the second half.

''The first half was a good struggle and a good battle for both teams. It was a tough game and not much given in defence by both teams, hence the penalty goes. The sin bin changed everything.

''Lucky enough the boys just hung in there and got a crack at the end.

''You can't get them all, but lucky enough to get that one.''

As the clock counted down, Cleary felt they may not be able to convert any opportunities as the Storm had the weight of possession near the end.