2021 NRL – Parramatta Eels vs Melbourne Storm Preview & Prediction
THE FACTS
When is Parramatta Eels vs Melbourne Storm taking place? Thursday 18th March, 2021 – 09:05 (UK)
Where is Parramatta Eels vs Melbourne Storm taking place? Bankwest Stadium, Sydney
Where can I get tickets for Parramatta Eels vs Melbourne Storm? Click here for ticket information on 2021 NRL matches
What channel is Parramatta Eels vs Melbourne Storm 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 Parramatta Eels vs Melbourne Storm? 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
PARRAMATTA EELS
Starting 13: Gutherson, Sivo, Opacic, Blake, Ferguson, D. Brown, Moses, Campbell-Gillard, Mahoney, Paulo, Lane, Matterson, N. Brown – Interchanges: Kaufusi, Papali’i, Smith, Niukore – Reserves: Hipgrave, Dunster, Stone, Lussick
Unavailable: Michael Jennings (Suspended), Bryce Cartwright (Injured), Michael Oldfield (Injured)
- Parramatta Eels will have to produce a much-improved performance if they are to make it back-to-back wins to begin the new season, although they will have been buoyed by the way they fought back from 16-0 down to overcome Brisbane Broncos last week.
- The Eels coughed the ball up too easily in the first half and finished the match with just a 73% completion rate after making 15 errors with those numbers needing to be significantly better this week.
MELBOURNE STORM
Starting 13: Papenhuyzen, Jennings, R. Smith, Olam, Addo-Carr, Munster, Hughes, J. Bromwich, B. Smith, Welch, Kaufusi, K. Bromwich, Asofa-Solomona – Interchanges: Smoothy, Kamikamica, Eisenhuth, Hynes – Reserves: Hynes, Schonig, Johns, Ieremia
Unavailable: Harry Grant (Injured), Dale Finucane (Injured), Max King (Injured), Brenko Lee (Injured)
- Melbourne Storm came flying out of the blocks as they produced a strong start to the defence of their Premiership title with a superb win over South Sydney Rabbitohs last week and they will be eager to replicate their efforts in the opening 30 minutes of that contest.
- The Storm raced into a 22-0 lead against the Rabbitohs with Craig Bellamy’s men taking full advantage of the errors their opponents were making to finish with 62% of the ball and despite Souths producing a second half comeback, Melbourne were able to see the game out.
THE PREDICTION
Melbourne Storm made a big statement with their start last week and if they can repeat that early intensity in this game against Parramatta Eels, the reigning premiers can back up last week’s success. The Storm blew South Sydney Rabbitohs away in the opening exchanges, a vast contrast to the Eels’ start against Brisbane Broncos. Parramatta had to fight back from 16-0 down with a strong second half showing but they will need to cut out the errors that blighted their first half effort in that clash. The Storm looked the stronger outfit last week and having won five of the last six meetings between the two, they are likely to be too good once again.
