Matchday Details
Friday, 3 April 2026 – 7:00pm AEDT – CommBank Stadium, Parramatta
📺 Broadcast: Fox League / Kayo
Referee: Ashley Klein | Bunker: Chris Butler
Panthers
1. Dylan Edwards 2. Thomas Jenkins 3. Paul Alamoti 4. Casey McLean 5. Brian To’o 6. Blaize Talagi 7. Nathan Cleary 8. Moses Leota 9. Freddy Lussick 10. Lindsay Smith 11. Isaiah Papali’i 12. Liam Martin 13. Isaah Yeo 14. Jack Cogger 15. Billy Phillips 16. Scott Sorensen 17. Luke Garner 18. Izack Tago 19. Kalani Going 20. Tom Ale 21. Billy Scott 22. Jack Cole
Storm
1. Sualauvi Faalogo 2. Will Warbrick 3. Jack Howarth 4. Nick Meaney 5. Siulagi Tuimalatu-Brown 6. Cameron Munster 7. Jahrome Hughes 8. Stefano Utoikamanu 9. Harry Grant 10. Josh King 11. Joe Chan 12. Alec MacDonald 13. Trent Loiero 14. Tyran Wishart 15. Davvy Moale 16. Jack Hetherington 17. Cooper Clarke 18. Lazarus Vaalepu 19. Manaia Waitere 20. Angus Hinchey 21. Trent Toelau 22. Preston Conn
Match Preview
The Panthers train continues to roll on while the Storm will be looking to bounce back after two losses in a row.
There are a couple of changes for each side. Freddy Lussick has been named to start at hooker for the Panthers in place of the suspended Mitch Kenny, while Jack Cogger returns on the bench. For Melbourne, Nick Meaney is back after missing last week’s game with a back injury, starting at centre in place of Moses Leo. Lazarus Vaalepu is the new face on the bench, replacing Tui Kamikamica, who suffered a stroke earlier this week.
Penrith continued their red hot form in another big win in Round 4, emerging with a 48-20 victory over the Eels. They have a staggering points differential of +110 through just four games, and are conceding only 7.5 points per game.
The Storm, meanwhile, were shock losers to the Cowboys in Townsville last week. Despite holding a 10-point lead with under 15 minutes left – and four tries from Will Warbrick – the Cowboys would score three late tries to produce a stunning upset, leaving them 2-2 after the opening month of the season.
It will be up to the Storm big guns in Cameron Munster, Jahrome Hughes and Harry Grant to right the wrongs of the past fortnight, but it won’t be easy against a Panthers side which seems to have only got stronger in 2026.
Attention will be on Freddy Lussick as he replaces Kenny at hooker for Penrith. Kenny has been an unsung hero in this incredible run over the past couple of years, and his absence has been felt every time he’s missed a game. Lussick has received plenty of wraps from his coach Ivan Cleary, and if he can provide clean service to Cleary and Talagi, the Panthers will be in good shape.
The Storm’s edge defence will need to return to its best as it faces perhaps the hottest winger in the game. Tom Jenkins has scored a whopping 10 tries through the first four games, but it’s not just his finishing that has been valuable, as he averages 183 run metres per game.
Melbourne do hold the edge over Penrith in recent times, winning four of their past five games between the two sides, but the Panthers are tough to beat at CommBank Stadium, claiming victory in seven of their last eight games at the venue.
Adding extra significance to the night, Liam Martin will play his 150th NRL game.
Prediction
RLZ Tip: Panthers by 12
Bold call: Jenkins continues his try scoring form with another hat-trick.
Related
- NRL Round 5 2026 Predictions & Tips
- NRL Round 5 Team Lists – 2026 Season
- NRL 2026 Results Tracker
- 2026 NRL Match Review Results Tracker: Charges, Suspensions & Fines
- NRL Injury List 2026
