Storm vs Eels
Thursday 5 March 2026 is the date for Round 1 2026
Storm by 8, our verdict
StormEels
Tip correct ✓ Storm 52 defeated Eels 4
Match details
- Start time
- Thu 5 Mar, 8: 00pm AEDT.
- Venue
- AAMI Park, Melbourne
- Referee
- Todd Smith
- Crowd
- 18,264
- Weather
- The ground was fine and in good condition.
What the experts tipped
Storm 75%25% Eels
| Expert | Tip | Tip correct |
|---|---|---|
| Jordan Baker | Storm | ✓ |
| Chris Barrett | Eels | ✗ |
| Zoe Samios | Storm | ✓ |
| Zac Bailey | Storm | ✓ |
| Frances Howe | Storm | ✓ |
| Christian Nicolussi | Storm | ✓ |
| Billie Eder | Storm | ✓ |
| Adrian Proszenko | Storm | ✓ |
| Dan Walsh | Eels | ✗ |
| Andrew Johns | Storm | ✓ |
| Emma Kemp | Eels | ✗ |
| Neil Breen | Storm | ✓ |
Five most recent games
Storm
| Round | Opponent | Score |
|---|---|---|
| Grand Final 2025 | v Broncos | L 22–26 |
| Preliminary Finals 2025 | v Sharks | W 22–14 |
| Finals Week 1 2025 | v Bulldogs | W 26–18 |
| Round 27 2025 | at Broncos | L 14–30 |
| Round 26 2025 | v Roosters | L 10–40 |
Eels
| Round | Opponent | Score |
|---|---|---|
| Round 27 2025 | v Knights | W 66–10 |
| Round 26 2025 | at Warriors | W 26–22 |
| Round 25 2025 | v Roosters | W 30–10 |
| Round 24 2025 | at Rabbitohs | L 16–20 |
| Round 23 2025 | v Cowboys | W 19–18 |
Head to head from 2024
| Season | Round | Game | Score | Venue |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | Round 11 | Eels v Storm | 8–34 | Suncorp Stadium |
| 2025 | Round 22 | Eels v Storm | 10–16 | CommBank Stadium |
| 2025 | Round 1 | Storm v Eels | 56–18 | AAMI Park |
| 2024 | Round 21 | Eels v Storm | 14–32 | CommBank Stadium |
| 2024 | Round 11 | Storm v Eels | 48–16 | Suncorp Stadium |
Team lineups
Storm
- 1 Sualauvi Faalogo Fullback
- 2 Will Warbrick Winger
- 3 Jack Howarth Centre
- 4 Moses Leo Centre
- 5 Nick Meaney Winger
- 6 Cameron Munster Five-Eighth
- 7 Jahrome Hughes Halfback
- 8 Stefano Utoikamanu Prop
- Hooker is Harry Grant (c), number 9
- 10 Josh King Prop
- 11 Joe Chan 2nd Row
- 12 Ativalu Lisati 2nd Row
- 13 Alec MacDonald Lock
- 14 Tyran Wishart Interchange
- 15 Cooper Clarke Interchange
- 16 Tui Kamikamica Interchange
- 17 Davvy Moale Interchange
- 18 Preston Conn Replacement
- 19 Siulagi Tuimalatu-Brown Reserve
Craig Bellamy is the coach
The season opener
Eels
- 1 Isaiah Iongi Fullback
- 2 Bailey Simonsson Winger
- 3 Will Penisini Centre
- 4 Brian Kelly Centre
- 5 Sean Russell Winger
- 6 Jonah Pezet Five-Eighth
- Halfback is Mitchell Moses (c), number 7
- 8 J'maine Hopgood Prop
- 9 Ryley Smith Hooker
- 10 Junior Paulo Prop
- 11 Jack Williams 2nd Row
- 12 Kitione Kautoga 2nd Row
- 13 Jack De Belin Lock
- 14 Dylan Walker Interchange
- 15 Sam Tuivaiti Reserve
- 16 Matt Doorey Interchange
- 17 Tallyn Da Silva Interchange
- 18 Kelma Tuilagi Reserve
- 19 Joash Papalii Interchange
Jason Ryles coaches the side
The season opener
On nrl.com, the numbers are named by each club. Each change is measured against that club's previous game.
What tipped the model this way
Our scale rated Storm +3.3 and Eels 0 going in, a gap of 3.3 points, plus another 4.5 for playing at their own ground
Scoring
- Storm
- Try scorers: Will Warbrick 10', Harry Grant 14', Jack Howarth 26', Joe Chan 46', Harry Grant 50', Moses Leo 55', Sualauvi Faalogo 63', Ativalu Lisati 66', Sualauvi Faalogo 76''
- Goals converted 8/9
- Half-time score 18
- Eels
- Tries Sean Russell 4'
- Goals kicked 0/1
- Half-time score 4
The draw, the teams and the scoring come from the nrl.com match centre Expert tips were provided by The Sydney Morning Herald panel