Melbourne Storm are finding that the more things change, the more they stay the same.

Again they are NRL front-runners, again they are under fire for their tackling technique.

The Storm were expected to lose some sheen after a bevy of stars departed following the exposure of their massive salary cap breaches.

But the new-look side has maintained its lofty standards and is again under scrutiny.

Wests Tigers' skipper Robbie Farah fumed about their tactics after the Storm's 12-4 win on Sunday, with bullocking forward Sika Manu singled out after being placed on report for a crusher tackle.

Defiant Storm forward Ryan Hinchcliffe said on Monday his side's tackling techniques were no different to any other NRL club, and within the rules.

"As far as I'm concerned, we're not doing anything different to what any other NRL team is doing," said Hinchcliffe at the team's recovery session.

As well as the crusher tackle on Tigers' fullback Wade McKinnon in the second half, Manu was challenged by Farah for allegedly dropping his knees into Gareth Ellis' calves - a tactic designed to slow down the play-the-ball.

It was for that incident which Manu received a charge from the NRL judiciary on Monday, not the crusher tackle on McKinnon.

Farah said Melbourne were "all over the play-the-ball and get away with it".

Hinchcliffe denied it was a deliberate tactic.

"I don't think Sika would intentionally do any of those things," he said.

"The way we defend, it's no different to any other NRL team, week-in week-out.

"We play within the rules."

Asked whether it was a coincidence the scrutiny of their tackling techniques had heightened along with their ladder position, Hinchcliffe didn't think it so.

But he said the Storm wasn't concerned if it was.

"We don't really listen to the criticism.

"We just worry about what we've got to do and the match review committee can look after the other stuff.

"We worry about what we can control."

Brought to you by AAP © 2024 AAP