A blockbuster clash in Melbourne headlines Round 13 as the Storm host the Roosters in a high-stakes battle shaped heavily by State of Origin backing-up concerns. With both sides coming off losses and key playmakers returning from Wednesday night, this matchup looms as a pivotal test for two premiership hopefuls chasing consistency.

Matchday Details

Saturday, 30 May 2026 – 7:35pm AEST – AAMI Park, Melbourne
📺 Broadcast: Fox League / Kayo
Referee: Grant Atkins | Senior Review Official: Chris Butler

Melbourne Storm: 1. Sualauvi Faalogo, 2. Will Warbrick, 3. Jack Howarth, 4. Nick Meaney, 5. Moses Leo, 6. Cameron Munster, 7. Jahrome Hughes, 8. Stefano Utoikamanu, 9. Harry Grant, 10. Josh King, 11. Alec MacDonald, 12. Ativalu Lisati, 13. Trent Loiero, 14. Trent Toelau, 15. Cooper Clarke, 16. Davvy Moale, 17. Josiah Pahulu, 18. Joe Chan, 19. Manaia Waitere, 20. Jack Hetherington, 21. Angus Hinchey, 22. Gabriel Satrick, 23. Keagan Russell-Smith

Sydney Roosters: 1. James Tedesco (c), 2. Billy Smith, 3. Hugo Savala, 4. Robert Toia, 5. Cody Ramsey, 6. Daly Cherry-Evans, 7. Sam Walker, 8. Naufahu Whyte, 9. Reece Robson, 10. Lindsay Collins, 11. Angus Crichton, 12. Siua Wong, 13. Victor Radley, 14. Connor Watson, 15. Spencer Leniu, 16. Nat Butcher, 17. Salesi Foketi, 18. Reece Foley, 19. Egan Butcher, 20. Benaiah Ioelu, 21. Taylor Losalu, 22. Tom Rodwell, 23. Rex Bassingthwaighte, 24. Junior Tupou

Match Preview

With up to nine players backing up from Wednesday’s first State of Origin, a pair of teams coming off last start losses go head-to-head in a crucial match in Melbourne.

The Melbourne Storm looked to be returning to their winning ways prior to another second half collapse in Round 12, while the Sydney Roosters suffered their first loss since Round 3 prior to the bye.

With a 4-8 record, Storm coach Craig Bellamy has named Origin trio Cameron Munster, Harry Grant, and Trent Loiero to back up. Alec MacDonald will start in the back row with Shawn Blore undergoing concussion protocols, while Cooper Clarke and Trent Toelau drop to the bench. Keegan Russell-Smith and Gabriel Satrick are among the reserves and will likely come into the side if Munster or Grant fail to back up.

Roosters coach Trent Robinson has named all six of his Origin reps (James Tedesco, Reece Robson, Victor Radley, Robert Toia, Sam Walker, Lindsay Collins) to back up from Wednesday’s match. Daniel Tupou has been ruled out with a calf strain, with his place on the left wing taken by Billy Smith, who is returning from a knee injury. The availability of Radley sees Connor Watson return to the bench and pushes Junior Pauga out of the side. Benaiah Ioelu, Tom Rodwell, and Taylor Losalu are among the reserves who may come into the side if the Origin players don’t back up, as are potential debutants Reece Foley, Toby Rodwell, and Rex Bassingthwaighte.

The Storm snapped a club record seven-game losing run with back-to-back victories in Round 11 and 12. They looked on course to make it three straight against the Bulldogs, only to give up a half-time lead for the fifth time this season and fall 30-20. The Storm missed a whopping 52 tackles and had 34 others ineffective as the Bulldogs racked up 17 offloads to overrun them in the second half. Melbourne now have the third-highest missed tackles per game and will need to improve dramatically if they are to record their fifth win of the season.

After six straight wins, the Roosters were brought back down to earth against the Cowboys at Magic Round. They made 18 errors and conceded five penalties and five set restarts in their 18-12 defeat, costing them any chance of victory. If they get back to the discipline they showed in their winning run, they can get the win in Melbourne.

They might have been playing in the halves together on Wednesday night, but Munster and Walker will be opponents on Saturday and will play a key role in getting their team the win, especially following Queensland’s loss. Neither player has been at their best so far in 2026, however the change of scenery in Origin and the stakes in this game have them both primed to surge.

The Storm have dominated this match-up with 33 wins in 53 matches since 1998, including 12 of 14 since 2020. The Roosters won the most recent match between the two sides in late 2025, running in 40 points in the second half to win 40-10 at AAMI Park. The Roosters’ last three regular season wins over the Storm have all come in Melbourne.

Prediction

RLZ Tip: Storm by 4
Full Round 13 tips → /nrl-round-13-predictions-2026/
Bold call: Queensland halves Cameron Munster and Sam Walker to both score tries.

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Lachlan Jeffery
Panthers lower grades reporter for The Western Weekender.

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