Melbourne Storm vs Parramatta Eels – Regular Season – Preview & Prediction | NRL 2022
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THE FACTS
When is Melbourne Storm vs Parramatta Eels on and what time does it start? Melbourne Storm vs Parramatta Eels will take place on Saturday 26th March, 2022 – 06:30 (UK)
Where is Melbourne Storm vs Parramatta Eels taking place? Melbourne Storm vs Parramatta Eels will take place at AAMI Park in Melbourne, Australia
Where can I get tickets for Melbourne Storm vs Parramatta Eels? Click here for ticket information on 2022 NRL matches
What channel is Melbourne Storm vs Parramatta Eels on? Sky Sports Arena will be televising selected NRL games in the UK and you can find their schedule here. For Australian broadcasters, you can find a list here
Where can I stream Melbourne Storm vs Parramatta Eels? If televised on Sky Sports, then subscribers will be able to stream the match live via Sky Go. Alternatively, the match will be available to subscribers of Watch NRL
THE TEAM NEWS
MELBOURNE STORM
- Melbourne Storm looked set to run out comfortable victors in their clash with South Sydney Rabbitohs last week but they switched off late in the contest and were forced into overtime, although Ryan Papenhuyzen’s field goal eventually got the job done for them.
- The way they failed to see the game out having kept their opponents scoreless for so long will be a concern for head coach Craig Bellamy and he will also have to deal with the loss of Harry Grant to a positive COVID-19 test but Brandon Smith has been slated to make a shock return from injury.
Starting 13: Papenhuyzen, Ieremia, R. Smith, Olam, Coates, Munster, Hughes, J. Bromwich, B. Smith, Asofa-Solomona, Kaufusi, K. Bromwich, King – Interchanges: MacDonald, Loiero, Moeroa, Meaney – Reserves: Lewis, Smoothy
Unavailable: Jordan Grant, Tom Eisenhuth, Cooper Johns, Tui Kamikamica, Christian Welch, George Jennings, Harry Grant, Tyson Wishart
PARRAMATTA EELS
- Parramatta Eels were denied a second successive win to begin the new season as they conceded a late try in their contest with Cronulla Sharks last week and Nicho Hynes’ conversion on the hooter condemned the Eels to a heart-breaking loss.
- The Eels will be desperate to bounce back at the first time of asking but face a difficult trip to Melbourne to face the Storm and they have been forced into making one change to their 17 with Jake Arthur dropping off the bench having undergone surgery during the week.
Starting 13: Gutherson, Blake, Penisini, Opacic, Simonsson, D. Brown, Moses, Campbell-Gillard, Mahoney, Paulo, Lane, Papali’i, N. Brown – Interchanges: Makatoa, Greig, Stone, Kaufusi – Reserves: Cartwright, Perham
Unavailable: Marata Niukore, Haze Dunster, Maika Sivo, Ryan Matterson, Sean Russell, Jake Arthur
THE PREDICTION
Melbourne Storm have some issues to fix up despite overcoming South Sydney Rabbitohs last week. The Storm kept their opponents scoreless for 67 minutes of that contest but then conceded 14 unanswered points in the final 12 minutes which forced golden point. They were able to prevail in the additional period but they will need to improve here as they face another tricky test against Parramatta Eels. The visitors will arrive on a low having suffered a last-gasp loss to Cronulla Sharks last week and with the Storm boasting a solid head-to-head record between the two when playing in Melbourne, the hosts are favoured to make it three wins in-a-row to begin the season.
