Panthers
21
Match Complete
Storm
14
| N. Cleary |  | 76 | ||
| N. Cleary |  | 64 | ||
| V. Kikau |  | 62 | ||
| 60 |  | C. Smith | ||
| 56 | | C. Smith | ||
| 55 | | B. Lee | ||
| N. Cleary | | 50 | ||
| B. To'o | | 49 | ||
| N. Cleary | | 37 | ||
| 32 | | C. Smith | ||
| 30 | | F. Kaufusi | ||
| N. Cleary | | 17 | ||
| S. Crichton | | 16 |
| 3 | Tries | 2 | ||
| 3 | Conversions | 2 | ||
| 1 | Penalty Goals | 1 | ||
| 1 | Field Goals | 0 |
The NRL continues tonight with the clash between the Penrith Panthers and Melbourne Storm, coming to you from Campbelltown Stadium. Join The Roar for live scores and a blog of the match from 7:55pm (AEST).
We get another chance tonight to see how some of the competition heavyweights are tracking along, still early in the season.
The Panthers were very good last week for 60 minutes, really controlling the tempo of the game. Unfortunately, the Eels only needed ten minutes to run in three tries and come away with the two points.
Nathan Cleary was impressive on his return and the Panthers pack was at least the equal of their Eels counterparts.
Dylan Edwards makes his return at fullback this week, moving Caleb Aekins to the reserves. The long-term medial ligament injury to Kurt Capewell is a blow, with Liam Martin starting in the back row and Billy Burns joining the interchange.
After a shaky start with the new rules, the Storm have adjusted their gameplan and are shooting for three wins in a row. Their 26-12 win over the Knights was closer than the scoreline suggested but was an important win for Craig Bellamy’s men.
Cameron Smith and Cameron Munster continue to call the shots and we can expect to see a more expansive game again this week.
Brandon Smith is again named on the bench but may start in place of Christian Welch, as he did against the Knights. Jahrome Hughes has returned from injury in the reserves, with Bellamy unlikely to change a winning team.
Prediction
Melbourne have won 18 of their last 20 against the Panthers, although Penrith’s last win was just back in 2018. The Storm will continue to improve and beat a Penrith side who continue to rely a little too much on Viliame Kikau.
Melbourne Storm by six.
Game information
Kick-off: 7:55pm (AEST)
Venue: Campbelltown Stadium
TV: Fox Sports, Nine
Live stream: Kayo Sports, Foxtel, NRL Live, 9Now
Betting: Panthers $2.70, Storm $1.47
Teams
Panthers
1. Dylan Edwards, 2. Josh Mansour, 3. Dean Whare, 4. Stephen Crichton, 5. Brian To’o, 6. Jarome Luai, 7. Nathan Cleary, 8. James Tamou (c), 9. Apisai Koroisau, 10. James Fisher-Harris, 11. Viliame Kikau, 12. Liam Martin, 13. Isaah Yeo
Bench/Reserves: 14. Matt Burton, 15. Zane Tetevano, 16. Moses Leota, 17. Billy Burns, 18. Mitch Kenny, 19. Brent Naden, 20. Jack Hetherington, 21. Caleb Aekins
Storm
1. Ryan Papenhuyzen, 2. Suliasi Vunivalu, 3. Justin Olam, 4. Brenko Lee, 5. Josh Addo-Carr, 6. Cameron Munster, 7. Ryley Jacks, 8. Jesse Bromwich, 9. Cameron Smith (c), 10. Christian Welch, 11. Felise Kaufusi, 12. Kenneath Bromwich, 13. Dale Finucane
Bench/Reserves: 14. Brandon Smith, 15. Tino Faasuamaleaui, 16. Tom Eisenuth, 17. Nelson Asofa-Solomona, 18. Max King, 19. Marion Seve, 20. Jahrome Hughes, 21. Paul Momirovski
Big Daddy
Guest
My count . They got one late in second half.
Albo
Roar Rookie
Is that stat recorded anywhere , Big Daddy ? Or are you just keeping note yourself , like me ? I must have missed the Panthers one ? They copped similar no restart call treatment against the Knights with Cummins. With this rule, there is just so much subjectivity involved with allocating the restart or not. It generally seems to be shared about in most matches , except those couple of Panthers matches ?
Big Daddy
Guest
Albo, I think it's more about Ashley Klein but your right. Melbourne got 7 six again calls and Penrith got 1. Referee's still very confusing in their calls.
Fraser
Roar Rookie
The 6 again is a bit of lottery really. I was left scratching my head multiple times during the Broncos/Knights game as to why some of those were 6 agains. If it doesn't warrant a penalty, then it's not a 6 again. When the fans don't understand what the call was for - and we don't have any transparency as to how many there even were in a game - something's wrong. Give me the NFL style of explaining the call over this nonsense.
Geoff from Bruce Stadium
Roar Rookie
Storm were good but the Panthers were better - the Storm have lost a bit of their aura with the Raiders and now the Panthers no longer fearing or being intimidated by them - makes for a much more interesting competition - with the Rabbitohs showing some form the top 7 sides since the resumption are looking pretty decent
Geoff from Bruce Stadium
Roar Rookie
Has some ball skills for a big bloke also
Pickett
Roar Rookie
Penrith are the real deal this year. 2003 revisited.
Adam
Roar Guru
Quite right on finucane. I think paps was caught wellnout of position on the last try, but overall was good
Forty Twenty
Roar Rookie
A majority of Manly fans were arguing that Api was a dud a couple of years back. Once the Sheep getting going with a bad idea they run pretty hard with it.
The Spectator
Roar Guru
Missing Hughes mate.
Albo
Roar Rookie
Any chance of the Panthers getting a 6 again call ? That is the second match since its introduction that the Panthers haven't had one 6 again call during the game ? Seems the Storm are still perfect in defence too ? I can't think of another team in the NRL not to get at least one 6 again call in a game this year? When will the NRL present these stats with the myriad of useless stats it produces?
Stormy
Roar Rookie
A bit harsh, Adam, I thought Finucane, Tino & Paps tried hard & did their bit.
Soda
Roar Rookie
parra vs roosters. It'll be a good game but gee, I dislike both those teams equally. I honestly will have to decide who I want to lose more in that one.
Soda
Roar Rookie
I guess, but I do feel it has got rid of a lot of pointless arguing and appealing by players to the refs. The check themselves before they carry-on at the ref because often they don't want risk a challenge when they know they are more than likely in the wrong. But then again that may be on account of the six-agains speeding up the game and everyone is too tired to complain at the ref the way they used to.
Nat
Roar Rookie
While there have been some dud games since the restart there have been some quality and this was good. Well played Panthers, to get one over the Storm is quality at any time and they werre just the better team. Let's see how Parra v Roosters goes against that one.
Soda
Roar Rookie
Just goes to show how good storm have been that their performance tonight could be considered awful. They weren't that bad, they were just good as opposed to their normal great. They were in this for 90% of the game and the bounce of the ball went against them a few times. Melbourne are a champion team and they will learn from this. I wouldn't want to play them next week.
David Holden
Roar Guru
Thanks everyone for joining the blog tonight. I will be back tomorrow night when the Roosters take on the Eels. Enjoy your Saturday
Hard Yards
Roar Rookie
Good call David; thanks mate,
David Holden
Roar Guru
The Storm head back to Melbourne and have a chance to bounce back against the Warriors
David Holden
Roar Guru
The Panthers will look to consolidate their spot in the top 4 next week when they take on the Rabbits