Melbourne Storm vs South Sydney Rabbitohs Preview & Prediction | 2025 NRL | Regular Season
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The Melbourne Storm seek their 20th straight win in Melbourne against the South Sydney Rabbitohs.
Start date/time: Friday 25th April, 2025: UK – 11:10am / Local – 8:10pm / US ET – 6:10am / US PT – 3:10am
How to watch on TV: UK – Sky Sports / Australia – Foxtel / US – Some matches are televised live on Fox Sports
How to watch online: UK – Sky Go & Watch NRL / Australia – Kayo Sports / US – Watch NRL, and if the match is televised in the USA it can also be streamed live on Fox Sports platforms
Melbourne Storm team news
A straight swap for Head Coach Craig Bellamy with Nick Meaney back for Jack Howarth (injury - shoulder). In the forwards, Tui Kamikamica is out with an ankle injury and is replaced by Lazarus Vaalepu while Nelson Asofa-Solomona may return from a stint on the sidelines pending passing his final concussion protocols, he has been named on the extended bench.
Squad: 1. Ryan Papenhuyzen 2. Kane Bradley 3. Grant Anderson 4. Nick Meaney 5. Xavier Coates 6. Cameron Munster 7. Jahrome Hughes 8. Stefano Utoikamanu 9. Bronson Garlick 10. Josh King 11. Shawn Blore 12. Eliesa Katoa 13. Trent Loiero 14. Tyran Wishart 15. Alec MacDonald 16. Joe Chan 17. Lazarus Vaalepu 18. Ativalu Lisati 19. Sualauvi Faalogo 20. Keagan Russell-Smith 21. Coby Williamson 22. Nelson Asofa-Solomona
South Sydney Rabbitohs team news
Head Coach Wayne Bennett has dropped Jye Gray to the bench with Latrell Mitchell returning to his preferred position at fullback. Jayden Sullivan returns from suspension to partner Cody Walker in the halves. Big money UK recruit Lewis Dodd drops out one week after making his NRL debut. Bennett has named further positional changes: Bayley Bentleigh-Hape goes to the wing with Campbell Graham moving to centre and Euan Aitken shifting to the back row. Lachlan Hubner is unavailable with concussion and is replaced by Jai Arrow at lock. Alex Johnston and Jamie Humphreys remain out of action with rib and hamstring injuries, respectively.
Squad: 1. Latrell Mitchell 2. Bayleigh Bentley-Hape 3. Jack Wighton 4. Campbell Graham 5. Isaiah Tass 6. Cody Walker 7. Jayden Sullivan 8. Sean Keppie 9. Peter Mamouzelos 10. Tevita Tatola 11. Keaon Koloamatangi 12. Euan Aitken 13. Jai Arrow 14. Jye Gray 15. Siliva Havili 16. Davvy Moale 17. Tallis Duncan 18. Liam Le Blanc 19. Lewis Dodd 20. Thomas Fletcher 21. Salesi Ataata 22. Declan Casey
Melbourne Storm vs South Sydney Rabbitohs prediction
The Melbourne Storm raced out to a 16-2 lead against the Dolphins midway through the first half and the scoreline looked like it could have been anything in their favour. However, the Dolphins steamrolled through the Melbourne defence repeatedly in the second half in a display that was most uncharacteristic for a Craig Bellamy coached side.
The South Sydney Rabbitohs failed to make an impression against the strong Bulldogs defence, being held to zero in a match for the first time since 2021 (ironically against the Storm). After two straight wins over the Panthers and the Roosters they have fallen in the past two weeks to the Cowboys and failed to fire a shot against the Bulldogs despite a record crowd of 65,000 at Accor stadium.
The Storm’s record against the Rabbitohs overall is sublime; 34 wins from 41 matches. That record is even better in Melbourne where they have defeated South Sydney in all 19 of their clashes. It is by far the worst winning percentage South Sydney own against any team in their long, proud NRL history. Not surprisingly, Craig Bellamy is the coach against which Wayne Bennett has struggled the most, winning just 10 of 42 matches including only one of their past 16 meetings.
We like the Storm to bounce back hard this week against a South Sydney team with a troubled past in Melbourne.
Melbourne Storm vs South Sydney Rabbitohs tip: Melbourne Storm to win by 13+ points