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Storm v Panthers: Munster ruled out; Luke in for Peachey

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pan66.com
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The last time the Panthers lost a grand final was way back in 2020 at the hands of the Storm and they have well and truly set the record since then with three premierships on the bounce.

The last time the Storm lost a Round 1 game was 2001, with Craig Bellamy never having lost an opening round match in his remarkable two-decade reign as head coach.

After being pushed to golden point by the Eels in Round 1 last year, the Storm again face a massive task if they are to keep the streak going, welcoming the back-to-back-to-back premiers to AAMI Park.

Coming off the back of a heartbreaking and controversial loss to Wigan in the World Club Challenge, the Panthers will look to hit back hard and make an early statement as they look to the first team since St George in the 50s and 60s to win four titles in a row.

The welcome at AAMI Park is sure to be a hostile one as the Storm defend their turf and their outrageous Round 1 record against the NRL's benchmark side.

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Team News 

Storm: Jonah Pezet has been called in at five-eighth to replace Cameron Munster (groin), who was ruled out on Thursday. Joe Chan has earned a starting role in Melbourne's competitive back row, with Trent Loiero moving to lock and new recruit Shawn Blore listed as 18th man. Ryan Papenhuyzen is back in the No.1 jersey after an incident-free few months on the injury front. No further changes on game day. Kane Bradley is 18th man.

Panthers: No changes on game day. Tyrone Peachey dropped out of the side in Thursday's 24-hour update with Soni Luke joining the bench. Jarome Luai will play his first game since being injured midway through last year’s grand final victory, while Sunia Turuva is set to line up on the wing after being injured in the World Club Challenge last month. Taylan May gets first crack at filling the centre void created by Stephen Crichton’s departure. Daine Laurie is 18th man.

Team Lists

Backs

  • Fullback for Storm is number 1 Ryan Papenhuyzen
    Fullback for Panthers is number 1 Dylan Edwards
  • Winger for Storm is number 2 Will Warbrick
    Winger for Panthers is number 2 Sunia Turuva
  • Centre for Storm is number 3 Reimis Smith
    Centre for Panthers is number 3 Izack Tago
  • Centre for Storm is number 4 Nick Meaney
    Centre for Panthers is number 4 Taylan May
  • Winger for Storm is number 5 Xavier Coates
    Winger for Panthers is number 5 Brian To'o
  • Five-Eighth for Storm is number 20 Jonah Pezet
    Five-Eighth for Panthers is number 6 Jarome Luai
  • Halfback for Storm is number 7 Jahrome Hughes
    Halfback for Panthers is number 7 Nathan Cleary

Forwards

  • Prop for Storm is number 8 Tui Kamikamica
    Prop for Panthers is number 8 Moses Leota
  • Hooker for Storm is number 9 Harry Grant
    Hooker for Panthers is number 9 Luke Sommerton
  • Prop for Storm is number 10 Josh King
    Prop for Panthers is number 10 James   Fisher-Harris
  • 2nd Row for Storm is number 11 Joe Chan
    2nd Row for Panthers is number 11 Luke Garner
  • 2nd Row for Storm is number 12 Eliesa Katoa
    2nd Row for Panthers is number 12 Liam Martin
  • Lock for Storm is number 13 Trent Loiero
    Lock for Panthers is number 13 Isaah Yeo

Interchange

  • Interchange for Storm is number 14 Tyran Wishart
    Interchange for Panthers is number 15 Lindsay Smith
  • Interchange for Storm is number 15 Christian Welch
    Interchange for Panthers is number 16 Liam Henry
  • Interchange for Storm is number 16 Chris Lewis
    Interchange for Panthers is number 17 Matthew Eisenhuth
  • Interchange for Storm is number 17 Alec MacDonald
    Interchange for Panthers is number 19 Soni Luke

Reserves

  • Replacement for Storm is number 19 Kane Bradley
    Replacement for Panthers is number 18 Daine Laurie

Match Officials

  • Referee: Gerard Sutton
  • Touch Judge: Phil Henderson
  • Touch Judge: Dave Munro
  • Senior Review Official: Adam Gee

Last updated:

Stat Attack 

  • The Storm have not lost a Round 1 game since 2001.
  • The Panthers have won only one of their eight games at AAMI Park.
  • Storm winger Xavier Coates has scored 23 tries in 18 games at AAMI Park.
  • Panthers prop Moses Leota will play his 100th NRL game.
  • Storm coach Craig Bellamy will surpass Wayne Bennett’s record for most consecutive seasons as coach of a single club (22).

Stats supplied by David Middleton, League Information Services, author of the .

Related

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