With both teams fighting to stay in the finals race, Friday night’s clash between the South Sydney Rabbitohs and Melbourne Storm shapes as one of the most important games of Round 21. The Rabbitohs are clinging to a top-eight spot, while the Storm are desperate to keep their September hopes alive. Read our full preview for team news, key match-ups, expert analysis, prediction, and bold call.

Read Full Previews

Matchday Details

Friday, 24 July 2026 – 8:00pm AEST – Accor Stadium, Sydney
📺 Nine Network / Nine Now / Kayo / Foxtel
Referee: Ashley Klein | Senior Review Official: Grant Atkins

South Sydney Rabbitohs: 1. Matthew Dufty, 2. Alex Johnston, 3. Latrell Siegwalt, 4. Jack Wighton, 5. Campbell Graham, 6. Cody Walker (c), 7. Ashton Ward, 8. Tevita Tatola, 9. Brandon Smith, 10. Keaon Koloamatangi, 11. David Fifita, 12. Euan Aitken, 13. Lachlan Hubner, 14. Jayden Sullivan, 15. Jye Gray, 16. Liam Le Blanc, 17. Jamie Humphreys, 18. Bronson Garlick, 19. John Radel, 20. Thomas Fletcher, 21. Edward Kosi, 22. Peter Mamouzelos

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

Match Preview

The Melbourne Storm are trying to avoid a rare finals absence with a visit to the Olympic Stadium to play a South Sydney team which currently hold seventh place on the ladder. Both teams are struggling for consistency, and injuries are certainly not helping.

The Storm sit 11th, four points behind the eighth-placed North Queensland, and it is rare territory for Melbourne and Craig Bellamy at this time of the year. It has been an improvement since a club record seven losses in a row ended in May, with six wins and three losses since then, helping them rise from a low of 16th on the ladder, but those three losses are key and a problem for this weekend’s clash. All three of those losses in the recovery phase of the Storm season were away to Sydney sides – like this weekend.

Friday is also an issue away from AAMI Park for Melbourne, as they have lost six games in a row away on a Friday and won just two of their last 11 Friday away games. At least the Storm get Jahrome Hughes back this week, meaning they have half of their regular halves combination, with Tyran Wishart the Mr Fixit once again for Cameron Munster. But Melbourne have lost the try-scoring feats of Will Warbrick, who looks to have played his last game for the Storm, with a season-ending injury last weekend. Moses Leo will cover for Warbrick after being a late omission last weekend.

Stats are there to be broken however, as the Rabbitohs discovered earlier this season when they finally beat the Storm in Melbourne after over two decades of trying. The Melbourne vs South Sydney head-to-head is one of the NRL’s most lopsided, but the Rabbitohs have a slightly better record in Sydney against Melbourne. They have six wins from 16 games in NSW locations against the Storm, but haven’t beaten them in their home state since 2022.

South Sydney’s results have been reasonably inconsistent, with good wins on big days/nights for Jai Arrow, but also lacklustre in between. The Rabbitohs are even inconsistent within games, often going missing for long periods of play before things start to click. If it clicks early then all is well: they are 100% when leading at half-time this season along with three other clubs – two of them are in the top four. Melbourne are the opposite, among the worst for keeping a first half lead, with five losses from 12 half-time leads. That may well play into the Rabbitohs’ hands if they are slow to start. The Rabbitohs average the second highest points in the second half this season and have scored more tries than any teams within the 60th-to-70th-minute window (17 – average is nine).

Injuries haven’t helped the Rabbitohs recently, or for the last few seasons. For this weekend the most recent loss is Cameron Murray, who will be sorely missed for the next month and they will surely miss his tireless work. He is replaced by the capable Lachlan Hubner at lock. Another of South Sydney’s stars this season will be missing too, as Tallis Duncan will sit out a few weeks with a sore hamstring. His efforts on the fringe – playing either centre or second row – have won the Rabbitohs games this season. This is in addition to confirmation that Latrell Mitchell is not playing, and is a week-by-week proposition, with a leg injury adding to his back problems. Latrell Siegwalt has been a fine replacement this season and will do well again no doubt, and Jack Wighton provides plenty of experience on the other side of the field.

As well as injuries, there’s a key out for South Sydney this weekend with David Fifita losing his judiciary battle and copping a two-week suspension. Fifita was a real wildcard and huge advantage for the Rabbitohs out wide and losing him and Duncan, and the continued absence of Mitchell, means they will lack some punch out wide. Of course the Rabbitohs still have the record try-scorer Alex Johnston, and if they have the good Cody Walker on board then they can still score enough points to get over the Storm, who have scored only 10 points in their last two away games.

The forward packs are pretty evenly matched, with the Storm possibly edging the advantage with the Rabbitohs’ absences, so it may come down to the star halves or speedy fullbacks to make the difference. So the battle of the star halves Hughes and Walker will be important and entertaining. The pressure will be on Matt Dufty to continue his form at the back as he replaced Jye Gray on form for a second straight week. His opposite number Sualauvi Faalogo has been a shining light for the Storm this season, almost making people forget that Ryan Papenhuyzen was the Storm’s regular fullback up to this season.

With key players out, and stats showing both sides have bad form, it’s hard to predict a winner. If Melbourne lose, it will be very hard to see them being in the top eight come September. A few sides will be cheering for the Storm however, as a Souths loss opens up one of the top eight positions for a number of clubs, so this is a key game for more than the two teams playing.

Prediction

RLZ Tip: Rabbitohs by 6.
Full Round 21 tips → /nrl-round-21-predictions-2026/
Bold call: Alex Johnston to score the first and last try.

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Shannon Meyer
http://www.thegurgler.com/
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