AAMI Park will play host to Friday's Round 1 NRL game between Melbourne Storm and Penrith Panthers. The game kicks off at 8:05 pm with Penrith Panthers heading into the game as favourites with the bookmakers. Continue reading for our in-depth preview of the Melbourne Storm vs. Penrith Panthers game and give you our free tips and bets.
When: Friday March 8, 2024 at 8:05 pm
Where: AAMI Park
Bet 💰: Bet On This Match HERE
Melbourne Storm vs Penrith Panthers Odds
Melbourne Storm vs Penrith Panthers Preview
The pick of the weekend’s schedule, three-time defending champion Penrith heads south to take on a Melbourne outfit eager to maintain its perennial contender billing.
The Panthers have emphatically taken control of this heated heavyweight rivalry since losing the 2020 grand final to the Storm, winning five of the teams’ last six encounters.
Last season the champs won 34-16 in Melbourne and 26-6 at home during the regular season, before dismantling Craig Bellamy’s side 38-4 in the preliminary final. The Storm do boast a 7-1 record against the Panthers at AAMI Park, however.
While the Panthers found another gear to take out the minor premiership and achieve the first three-peat in 40 years, the Storm – despite coming third and getting to a prelim – were uncharacteristically patchy.
Ryan Papenhuyzen returning in the No.1 is a massive boost, though, while the reliable Nick Meaney moves to centre.
An otherwise largely unchanged team will not feature lone recruit Shawn Blore, boom utility Sua Faalogo or injured prop Nelson Asofa-Solomona.
Joe Chan and Josh King have nabbed spots in the Melbourne engine room. Cam Munster was in doubt but has been named.
The Panthers, who had an intense build-up courtesy of a tough World Club Challenge loss at Wigan a fortnight ago, have a few changes to their grand final line-up with Stephen Crichton, Spencer Leniu and Jack Cogger leaving, Scott Sorensen injured and Mitch Kenny suspended.
Taylan May returns from a year-long injury absence at centre, Luke Sommerton will start at hooker with Tyrone Peachey on the bench, and Luke Garner moves into the second-row.
This looms as arguably the greatest threat yet to the Storm’s outrageous record of winning all 20 Round 1 games since Bellamy took over as coach.
But the Panthers’ slow and clunky – yet still defensively gritty – start to 2023 points to a tight, low-scoring affair at AAMI Park, with the premiers’ considerable advantage in its middle-forward contingent proving the difference.
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Melbourne Storm vs Penrith Panthers Tip
We're tipping Penrith Panthers to win at $1.44 odds.
Melbourne Storm vs Penrith Panthers Teams
Storm team: 1. Ryan Papenhuyzen 2. William Warbrick 3. Reimis Smith 4. Nick Meaney 5. Xavier Coates 6. Cameron Munster 7. Jahrome Hughes 8. Tui Kamikamica 9. Harry Grant 10. Josh King 11. Joe Chan 12. Eliesa Katoa 13. Trent Loiero 14. Tyran Wishart 15. Christian Welch 16. Chris Lewis 17. Alec MacDonald 18. Shawn Blore 19. Kane Bradley 20. Jonah Pezet 21. Marion Seve 22. Sualauvi Faalogo
Panthers team: 1. Dylan Edwards 2. Sunia Turuva 3. Izack Tago 4. Taylan May 5. Brian To’o 6. Jarome Luai 7. Nathan Cleary 8. Moses Leota 9. Luke Sommerton 10. James Fisher-Harris 11. Luke Garner 12. Liam Martin 13. Isaah Yeo 14. Tyrone Peachey 15. Lindsay Smith 16. Liam Henry 17. Matt Eisenhuth 18. Daine Laurie 19. Soni Luke 20. Brad Schneider 21. Preston Riki 22. Mavrik Geyer
