2024 R1 Fri - Melbourne 8-0 Penrith @ AAMI

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NRL 2024 - Round 1
Melbourne Storm v Penrith Panthers
AAMI Park, Melbourne / Wurundjeri (TICKETS)

Friday 8 March 2024
NRL kickoff 8:05pm AEDT.
Broadcast live in Australia on Nine Network, 9Now, Fox League & Kayo Sports.

MATCH PREVIEW

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

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

Referee: Gerard Sutton
Sideline Officials: Phil Henderson, David Munro
Video Referee: Adam Gee

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H2H since 1998: 44 matches, Melbourne 29 Penrith 15
AAMI: 8 matches, Melbourne 7 Penrith 1
Last met: 2023 Prelim Final - Penrith 38-4, Accor

Biggest wins:
Melbourne 66-14 (2004, R17 at Olympic Park)
Penrith 38-4 (2023, PF at Accor)

Next game:
Melbourne: (H) v Warriors R2 (AAMI)
Penrith: (H) v Parramatta R2 (Bluebet)​

 

[GongPanther]

Looking at both squads, Melbourne have noticeably weakened in both the forwards and backs without any notable depth in comparison to the Panthers.

After a dour first half, Penrith should simply do what the Panthers have been doing without any fuss or flash. Just cod ordinary football. Panthers by 12.

 

[Captain Apollo]

I think Penrith will roll the Storm right up the middle.

 

[Valheru]

Going with Melbourne

They are experts at round 1 and Bellamy would have been stewing for 6 months now on that prelim final flogging. Also, Panthers have still only ever won one game at AAMI although they probably haven't played there as much as they normally would have the last 4 seasons due to Covid.

 

[GongPanther]

Going with Melbourne

They are experts at round 1 and Bellamy would have been stewing for 6 months now on that prelim final flogging. Also, Panthers have still only ever won one game at AAMI although they probably haven't played there as much as they normally would have the last 4 seasons due to Covid.

27' on Friday, so it should be a fast track although the ground will get dewy around K.O. if the wind dies down.

 

[Timmah]

27' on Friday, so it should be a fast track although the ground will get dewy around K.O. if the wind dies down.

Been very little rain in Melbourne for nearly 2 months, will definitely be a fast track. Only issue will be Super Rugby Magic Round from last week, but the surface has a week to recover

 

[Munky]

Been very little rain in Melbourne for nearly 2 months, will definitely be a fast track. Only issue will be Super Rugby Magic Round from last week, but the surface has a week to recover

Wait, Super Rugby had a magic round?

I had no idea this even happened, or the season has started.

 

[Timmah]

Wait, Super Rugby had a magic round?

I had no idea this even happened, or the season has started.

LOL valid. 10k Friday night (when the Rebels played), couldn't see figures for Sat/Sun.

 

[Woody90]

I’ve tipped the Storm…can’t really remember why though.

 

[moffla]

Storm by a Papenhuyzen field goal.

 

[JamesRustle]

Panthers 13+

 

[_Johnsy]

LOL valid. 10k Friday night (when the Rebels played), couldn't see figures for Sat/Sun.

They don't usually publish "super" rugby crowds out of sheer embarrassment.

 

[I Bleed Maroon]

First half will be the lowlight of the weekend before Pennies run away with it late

 

[hineyrulz]

Wait, Super Rugby had a magic round?

I had no idea this even happened, or the season has started.

Yep there is nothing magic about Rugby, maybe expect when their War Chest disappeared David Copper field style.

 

[This Year?]

I picked Storm purely on that 22 season round 1 record. Bellamy knows how to exploit a weakness and would be looking to do what Wigan did in Penrith's trial.
Now I've completely Bunniesmanned Storm's chances.

 

[chrisD]

The real season opener. Tyrone Peachey is the biggest danger.

 

[Chins get the wins]

I picked Storm purely on that 22 season round 1 record. Bellamy knows how to exploit a weakness and would be looking to do what Wigan did in Penrith's trial.
Now I've completely Bunniesmanned Storm's chances.

They cheated and Melbourne do like to cheat hmmmmm

 

[Fangs]

Kenny is the big loss. We have no one in the top 30 capable to covering his workload.

We still have the better pack overall. But the Storm are a great round 1 team and have the perfect 9 to exploit the middle in Grant. I'm leaning towards the Storm.

 

[some11]

Storm's forward pack is still the same dogshit as last year, except now there's a rookie at second row.

 

[Someone2]

Storm by 6