Heavyweights Parramatta and Melbourne launch the 2023 NRL Telstra Premiership season on Thursday night with all eyes on two clubs who many predict could slide this year.
The Eels, coming off grand final defeat to the Panthers in October, looked strong in their Pre-season Challenge win over Newcastle with Josh Hodgson slotting into the dummy half role alongside premier halves Mitchell Moses and Dylan Brown.
Storm coach Craig Bellamy faces perhaps his biggest challenge to get his new-look squad back to a premiership threat after a first-week finals exit in 2022.
Bellamy's side has a host of new players while the uncertainty around Ryan Papenhuyzen's return date presents a big hurdle to overcome for at least the first half of the year.
The clashes between both clubs in recent seasons has been fiery with this one to open the year expecting to offer just as much with each team looking to get off to a good start.
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Team news
Eels: The Eels 1-17 with no late changes on game day after Isaac Lumelume came in for Bailey Simonsson (shoulder) on Wednesday. Jake Arthur is 18th man. Waqa Blake (arm), Matt Doorey (ankle) and Bryce Cartwright (jaw) will all play but Shaun Lane (broken jaw), Nathan Brown (hamstring) and Ryan Matterson (suspended) are sidelined. Doorey is part a new-look back row combination that includes former Panther J'maine Hopgood while ex-Raider Josh Hodgson plays his first game NRL game for the club at hooker.
Storm: A late change with Bronson Garlick added to the interchange bench for his NRL debut and Chris Lewis reverting to 18th man. Winger Will Warbrick and second-rower Trent Loiero have been rewarded for strong trial form with starting spots. Tyran Wishart is the bench utility, joined on interchange by late bloomer Jordan Grant, youngster Alec MacDonald and Garlick. Veterans Tariq Sims (calf) and Tepai Moeroa (toe) are both sidelined. Joe Chan, Sualauvi Faalogo and Jonah Pezet came off the extended bench when the squad was trimmed on Thursday.
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Stat attack
- The Eels have won their past four games against the Storm.
- The Storm have not lost a Round 1 game since 2001 against the Bulldogs.
- Eels winger Maika Sivo has scored 36 tries in 37 games at CommBank Stadium.
- The Storm have lost three of their four games at CommBank Stadium.
- The Eels have four changes to last year’s grand final forward pack.