What was once billed as a potential grand final preview now carries very different stakes. Penrith remain firmly in premiership mode as they chase a top-two finish, while Melbourne look to spoil the Panthers’ plans in their final home game of a disappointing season.

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Matchday Details

Thursday, 20 August 2026 – 7:50pm AEST – AAMI Park, Melbourne
📺 Nine Network / 9Now / Foxtel / Kayo
Referee: Grant Atkins | Senior Review Official: Wyatt Raymond

Melbourne Storm: 1. Sualauvi Faalogo, 2. Siulagi Tuimalatu-Brown, 3. Jack Howarth, 4. Nick Meaney, 5. Moses Leo, 6. Cameron Munster, 7. Trent Toelau, 8. Stefano Utoikamanu, 9. Harry Grant (c), 10. Josh King, 11. Shawn Blore, 12. Oryn Keeley, 13. Trent Loiero, 14. Tyran Wishart, 15. Alec MacDonald, 16. Angus Hinchey, 17. Cooper Clarke, 18. Joe Chan, 19. Manaia Waitere, 20. Davvy Moale, 21. Jack Hetherington, 22. Hayden Watson

Penrith Panthers: 1. Dylan Edwards, 2. Thomas Jenkins, 3. Izack Tago, 4. Casey McLean, 5. Brian To’o, 6. Jack Cogger, 7. Nathan Cleary (c), 8. Moses Leota, 9. Freddy Lussick, 10. Liam Henry, 11. Isaiah Papali’i, 12. Liam Martin, 13. Lindsay Smith, 14. Billy Scott, 15. Scott Sorensen, 16. Luron Patea, 17. Billy Phillips, 18. Jack Cole, 19. Blaize Talagi, 20. Jaxen Edgar, 21. Luke Garner, 22. Jesse McLean

Match Preview

At the start of the season, you would have pencilled in this game as an important finals preview.

Instead, it’s between one team playing for pride and one team playing for premierships.

For the first time since 2002, Melbourne won’t be playing finals (not counting 2010 when they couldn’t earn competition points). Though they’ve started building for a better 2027: Jamayne Isaako (The Dolphins) could be a crucial addition and a goalkicking replacement for Nick Meaney, joining Kelma Tuilagi (Parramatta) and Bronson Xerri (Canterbury-Bankstown) as new signings; Oryn Keeley has already settled into the Storm’s starting line-up, Cooper Clarke should get even better next season, and Xavier Coates may be back to full fitness. More importantly, Craig Bellamy is returning for potentially his final season.

While Penrith have lost two in a row (their loss to the Sydney Roosters was a potential grand final preview), they shouldn’t be too concerned. Even if they don’t win the minor premiership, beating Melbourne all but secures a top two finish and they probably won’t need to leave Sydney during September. The emphasis on a fast start to the season (including a 50-10 win over Melbourne on Good Friday) has given them some leeway during the Origin period and they were first until last weekend: 2026 could be Penrith’s best chance to round off their dynasty with one more premiership before Ivan Cleary leaves. Though they’ll want to fix their recent slow starts, trailing 22-0 against the Warriors and 8-0 against the Roosters. They even conceded the first try against Canberra before tearing the Raiders apart in a “Miracle in Mudgee” redemption win. Thursday night is the perfect opportunity for Penrith to get off to a quick start and show everyone why they’re still premiership favourites.

A big in for Melbourne, with captain Harry Grant back from his hamstring injury (Tyran Wishart going to the bench). Jack Howarth also returns, with Joe Chan on the bench. Trent Toelau replaces Hayden Watson at halfback. Alec MacDonald joins the interchange while Jack Hetherington and Davvy Moale are in the reserves. Casey McLean returns for Penrith, replacing Paul Alamoti (hamstring). Jack Cole replaces Jaxen Edgar on the interchange.

There’s a key match-up between the two fullbacks: Sualauvi Faalogo and Dylan Edwards.

Faalogo has arguably been Melbourne’s best player this season, playing all 21 games for 86 points (16 tries and 11 goals). Becoming first-choice fullback after Ryan Papenhuyzen’s sudden retirement over the off-season, Sua has made the jersey his own with some incredible moments. He’s a constant threat as he looks for an opening in the defensive line and isn’t afraid to improvise to find points (with plenty of chip-and-chase plays) and watching him live is one of the better sights in modern rugby league. While his adventurous approach doesn’t always come off, the willingness to try anything has given Melbourne an attacking spark in an otherwise poor season. He may need some daring and improvisational play if Penrith decide to get into the grind against the Storm. Can Sua emulate Daly Cherry-Evans’ efforts last weekend and outfox the Panthers with some individual brilliance?

Edwards may not be as flashy as Faalogo, but he has experience and reliability in his favour. Edwards will have plenty of motivation as he returns from a shoulder injury: not only trying to help Penrith win their fifth premiership in seven years, but also to regain his Kangaroos jersey for the Rugby League World Cup. Reece Walsh’s injury last weekend means the Australian fullback jersey is between Edwards and James Tedesco. Edwards played the full 80 against the Sydney Roosters (195 running metres and 47 kick return metres), so any potential rust is gone now and he can prepare for another finals campaign.

Melbourne holds a 33-17 advantage since 1998. Penrith and Melbourne’s deciders bookended the Panthers’ five-year grand final run, with Melbourne winning in 2020 and Penrith winning in 2024.

While Melbourne have shown they can still compete even though their season is gone, and they’ll be farewelling a few players (Shawn Blore, Meaney, Davvy Moale, Will Warbrick, and Tyran Wishart) in their final home game, will that be enough? Will Nathan Cleary and co show the rest of the competition that Penrith are ready for another premiership push?

Prediction

RLZ Tip: Panthers by 6.
Full Round 25 tips → /nrl-round-25-predictions-2026/
Bold call: Tom Jenkins to score another double and get closer to winning the Ken Irvine Medal.

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Andrew Pelechaty
Web Content Editor for Rugby League Zone.

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