Melbourne Storm
8
Match Complete
Penrith Panthers
0
| N. Meaney |  | 51 | ||
| R. Smith |  | 49 | ||
| N. Meaney |  | 9 |
| 1 | Tries | 0 | ||
| 1 | Conversions | 0 | ||
| 1 | Penalty Goals | 0 | ||
| 0 | Field Goals | 0 |
The first round of the NRL season continues tonight when the Melbourne Storm take on the Penrith Panthers at AAMI Park in Melbourne. Join The Roar for live scores from 8.05pm (AEDT).
Cameron Munster could be a late scratching for the Storm’s showdown with Penrith after slipping in the shower and aggravating a calf injury. The five-eighth is touch and go for Friday with Jonah Pezet on standby.
Ryan Papenhuyzen pushed hard to play in Round 1 with impressive trial form and coach Craig Bellamy has rewarded the fullback with Nick Meaney switching to centre to replace Justin Olam.
Melbourne big man Nelson Asofa-Solomona is sidelined with a hamstring issue.
Jarome Luai looks set to be right for the start of the season after recovering from the shoulder injury he carried into last year’s Grand Final which ruled him out of the World Club Challenge final loss to Wigan.
Mitch Kenny will be suspended for the first game of Penrith’s premiership defence after the NRL finalised its investigation into his Boxing Day social media post.
Kenny was handed a breach notice by the NRL last month after posting to his Instagram story on December 27 that a “couple of Boxing Day lines have got me in troubleeee (sic)”.
Soni Luke, Penrith’s back-up hooker last season, is on the reserves list with rookie Luke Sommerton getting the rake’s spot.
Taylan May has won the race to replace Stephen Crichton at centre while winger Sunia Turuva suffered a knee injury against Wigan but is confident of being fit for Round 1.
Scott Sorensen is out with a knee injury.
Game information
Venue: AAMI Park
Kick-off: 8.05pm (AEDT)
TV: Fox Sports, Nine
Streaming: Kayo Sports, Foxtel, 9Now
Odds: Storm $2.45 Panthers $1.55 – odds via PlayUp
Teams
Storm: 1. Ryan Papenhuyzen 2. Will 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: 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
The Barry
Roar Guru
Wasn’t a particularly great game, but gee the way Melbourne kept showing up was impressive
Phil
Roar Rookie
Cracker of a game with the better team on top. If I have seen a better defensive game from both sides, I can't remember it. There's proof you don't need a lot of points scored to have a great game.
Dionysus
Roar Rookie
That game proves that it doesn't have to be high scoring to be an enjoyable high class game.
Nick Maguire
Roar Rookie
Ultimately when it gets tough, when you go or don't go, when you get off the ground or you don't, when you fill the line or you don't, it's the club culture that keeps you going when you have nothing left.
David Holden
Roar Guru
Thanks very much for joining the call tonight. Have a great weekend all
Short Memory
Roar Rookie
I got a cramp just watching that.
David Holden
Roar Guru
It wasn't always pretty but the Storm defence has smothered Penrith out of the game tonight. Penrith simply ran out of answers tonight and resorted to desperation plays that failed to come off
Shed Bloke
Roar Rookie
Great game and another great call David. Thank You.
David Holden
Roar Guru
FULL TIME STORM DEFEAT PANTHERS 8-0
David Holden
Roar Guru
FT' Smith with a carry. Kamikamica hits it up and that will do us! Storm 8 Panthers 0
Red Rob
Roar Rookie
Well done Storm.
David Holden
Roar Guru
80' Smith with a run but he has lost it Storm 8 Panthers 0
Nick Maguire
Roar Rookie
Woo hoo Storm!
David Holden
Roar Guru
79' Warbrick goes forward. Wishart follows. Katoa has had a great game. Meaney with a carry. Kick with Edwards Storm 8 Panthers 0
E-Meter
Roar Rookie
Big fat zero for Penrith.
David Holden
Roar Guru
79' Short kick off has come off Tago and rolls into touch. Panthers challenge and it will be unsuccessful Storm 8 Panthers 0
David Holden
Roar Guru
77' Cleary finds Garner. Quick hands to Tago. Smith with the offload. Kick taken dead by Warbrick and that's the game Storm 8 Panthers 0
Nick Maguire
Roar Rookie
Wow! Old school. What an effort!
David Holden
Roar Guru
76' Edwards with a carry. Luke finds Leota. Pass touched and 6 to go Storm 8 Panthers 0
David Holden
Roar Guru
75' Meaney from the tap. Kamikamica in the middle. Katoa finds Hughes in space. King with a great run. Pezet taken short on the last Storm 8 Panthers 0