Live: Storm aim to extend incredible round one streak against the Eels

The Storm have the first use of the ball and Stefano
Utoikamanu
takes the first hit up, the former Tiger powering into the Eels defensive line.

Great start from the Storm, who take the ball over half way with their first set.

I am inclined to agree, KB.

I think, rightly or wrongly, that had this not been a try he would have spent at least a week on the sideline.

Thanks for being with us, Mike.

Please get involved in the conversation by hitting the yellow comment button.

Let’s discuss the football first. Then, perhaps Paps’ hair.

My god…

Ryan Papenhuizen looks like something has died on top of his head.

The Storm fullback is rocking the filthiest mullet I’ve seen in years.

*WARNING* 

*ABC Sport warns some readers that they may find the following images upsetting.*

Here’s Melbourne coach Craig Bellamy, talking on Fox Sports.

He’s defending and looking to extend that extraordinary record of 22 consecutive round one victories in a row today.

Not that his record has meant he can relax.

“I always get nervous, before every game really,” Bellamy says.

“It seems to have come around really quickly

“It’s going to be tough conditions for both teams. Hopefully we can still do what we want to do.”

Bellamy has only had to make one change to his beaten grand final team, a real luxury, especially when the man who has come in, Stefano
Utoikamanu from the Wests Tigers, is fitting in nicely.

“He’s a pretty quiet sort of guy, he relies on his actions, and that’s what we like, really. He’s going to fit in really well here,” Bellamy says.

Bellamy will be up against Jason Ryles, his former assistant, and has high hopes for how he’ll do this season.

“Rylesy done a great job with us down here,” Bellamy says

“Everyone should be excited about what he can do with Parramatta.”

The Melbourne Storm have reached 10 grand finals in their history, winning five of them.

Incredibly, every one of those wins came the year after a defeat.

For example: The Storm lost in 2006, won in 2007.

They lost in 2008. Won in 2009.

Lost in 2016. Won in 2017.

They lost in 2018 and won in 2019.

Oh, and they lost last year too.

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What odds on the Storm winning this season to continue that streak?

Jahrome Hughes has just spoken to Fox Sports.

“Early in the season it’s about trying to keep things really simple … that’s our main plan,” Hughes says.

The Storm, incredibly, are only going to make one change from their line up who started last year’s grand final.

“I think it’s a big one having a similar squad,” he says.

“We picked up where we left of last year.”

Like most people in South East Queensland, I’ve been glued to the Bureau of Meteorology website this weekend.

But while I was checking on the progress of ex-Tropical Cyclone Alfred that’s causing so many people so much pain at the moment, my eyes were drawn to the current temperature in Melbourne.

34 degrees is absolutely scorchio and will really test some of those big middle forwards from both teams.

All across the weekend we’ve seen players struggling with cramp, so it might be something to keep across.

Here’s how the two teams line up for this round one clash.

Melbourne incredibly have made just one change from the grand final defeat last season, with only new recruit Stefano Utoikamanu stepping into the starting XIII to make his debut.

No injury concerns for Jahrome Hughes (neck), Xavier Coates (ankle) and Ryan Papenhuyzen (ankle/knee) who all start, as does Cameron Munster, fresh from his hip surgery in the off season.

Parramatta is a different animal this year. Well, they’re still Eels… you know what I mean.

There are a huge number of debuts for the Eels, including Isaiah Iongi starting at fullback and Zac Lomax at centre.

Jack Williams will also make his club debut in the back row.

Meanwhile Ryley Smith will make his NRL debut off the bench alongside Matt Doorey and Charlie Guymer.

There was a late change, with Ryan Matterson taken off the bench and Sam Tuivaiti promoted.

With Mitch Moses out for as many as six weeks with a foot injury, Ronald Volkman will play halfback.

Junior Paulo has overcome a Lisfranc injury and will captain the side.

We’ve had the verdict from the NRL about last night’s matches – and there are a handful of charges that have been laid.

Four players were cited in the Dragons-Bulldogs clash, two from each side and all for dangerous contact.

Stephen Crichton (Bulldogs) and Emre Guler (Dragons) can both accept $1,800 fines for their contact on Christian Tuipulotu and Jacob Preston respectively.

Was Crichton a bit lucky? You be the judge.

Meanwhile Preston (Bulldogs) and Matthew Feagai (Dragons) can take $1,000 for their indiscretions.

In the Sea Eagles-Cowboys match, Karl Lawton (Cowboys) can accept $1,000 for his grubby act on Reuben Garrick.

If you missed last night’s matches, you missed a couple of impressive performances in two very different contests.

The Sea Eagles were utterly magnificent in blowing the Cowboys away 42-12, with two late tries for North Queensland masking a truly woeful display.

Before that, in a fiery clash at Kogarah, the Bulldogs had to hang in there to withstand a late challenge from the Dragons.

Remind yourself of how it all went down, right here.

Everyone gets excited about the start of the season.

New possibilities. New players. New hope.

However, for anyone who has drawn the Storm first up in the last two decades, the excitement of a new season must be slightly tempered by a sense of impending doom.

The Storm have won 22 Round 1 clashes in a row.

It’s an astonishing record that Craig Bellamy is rightly proud of.

But all records are made to be broken. Every run eventually comes to an end.

Can this new-look Parramatta team do the unthinkable?

Hello folks and welcome to the final game of this extended first round of the 2025 NRL season.

My name is Simon Smale and I’ll be with you this afternoon for all the action in Melbourne as the Storm host the Eels.

The Storm, last year’s grand final runners up, will be looking to continue their remarkable run of Round 1 victories with a remarkably settled team.

Parramatta though, have a new coach in Jason Ryles, new recruits in Isaiah Iongi and Zac Lomax and a fresh new injury concern with Mitch Moses out for the opening part of the season.

It’s intriguing if nothing else.