Parramatta Eels vs Melbourne Storm Preview
The Storm are are in recovery mode and can make it back-to-back wins by thrashing the Eels. Parramatta have leaked 345 points across the opening 10 rounds and Melbourne can cover a -8.5 line at Suncorp.
- Storm have won the last seven meetings between the teams
- The average score in the last seven meetings has been Storm 38-12
- Storm have scored 46+ points in four of those seven wins
- Eels are the worst defensive team in the comp, leaking 30+ points in five of last seven
- Eels have lost five of their six Magic Round games
- Harry Grant has scored 1+ try in seven of his last eight games vs Eels for a total of 10 - he also scored vs Tigers last week. Grant scored the 2nd try vs Eels in R1 this season
- Sua Faalago has scored 12 tries in 10 games this season, crossing in all but one game
- Josh Addo-Carr has more Magic Round tries than any other player (8) - he's also scored four tries in his last five games
Eels vs Storm Head To Head
The Storm have had the wood over the Eels for a while now, winning the last seven meetings - including a 52-4 demolition in Round 1, with Grant and Faalogo scoring doubles.
Parramatta Eels Form - Leaky Defence A Problem
The Eels are languishing in 14th position on the ladder with a 4-6 record and remain unlikely to feature in the finals.
However, if Parramatta can tidy up their defence and Mitch Moses starts to find his best form, then anything is possible.
Moses hasn't been great so far this season, but he produced his best performance last week against the Cowboys, setting up his side's dramatic late comeback with a narrow short side play before slotting home the match-winning field goal in golden point.
It was a much-needed win for the Eels, who had leaked 30+ points in back-to-back games against the Warriors and Manly the previous fortnight.
Melbourne Storm Form - Losing Run Snapped
Finally, the Storm snapped an almost-unprecedented seven-game losing streak with last week's big win over the Tigers.
It was like watching a completely different side - suddenly the energy and line speed was back, while Cameron Munster easily played his best game of the season alongside Jahrome Hughes.
Harry Grant was back scheming from dummy-half and the forwards and outside backs cut out the silly errors that have been costing them so much.
Still, you can't take much from beating this version of the Tigers, so Craig Bellamy will demand another big performance here before we can start declaring the Storm are back.
Eels vs Storm Team News
Jason Ryles has named the same 19-man side for the Eels, with Ronald Volkman keeping his spot in the halves after some impressive performances.
Sua Faalogo has been cleared of a facial fracture and lines up at fullback for Melbourne, while Moses Leo comes into the wing in place of Hugo Peel.