Matchday Details
Saturday, 11 April 2026 – 7:35pm AEST – AAMI Park, Melbourne
📺 Broadcast: Fox League / Kayo
Referee: Grant Atkins | Bunker: 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 (c), 10. Josh King, 11. Joe Chan, 12. Cooper Clarke, 13. Trent Loiero, 14. Tyran Wishart, 15. Alec MacDonald, 16. Jack Hetherington, 17. Davvy Moale, 18. Lazarus Vaalepu, 19. Manaia Waitere, 20. Preston Conn, 21. Hugo Peel, 22. Trent Toelau
New Zealand Warriors
1. Taine Tuaupiki, 2. Dallin Watene-Zelezniak, 3. Charnze Nicoll-Klokstad, 4. Adam Pompey, 5. Roger Tuivasa-Sheck, 6. Chanel Harris-Tavita, 7. Tanah Boyd, 8. James Fisher-Harris (c), 9. Wayde Egan, 10. Jackson Ford, 11. Leka Halasima, 12. Jacob Laban, 13. Erin Clark, 14. Sam Healey, 15. Marata Niukore, 16. Demitric Vaimauga, 17. Tanner Stowers-Smith, 18. Eddie Ieremia-Toeava, 20. Alofiana Khan-Pereira, 21. Morgan Gannon, 22. Luke Hanson, 23. Ali Leiataua
Match Preview
After fast starts, things have slowed for the Melbourne Storm and the Warriors in recent weeks. It makes for a crucial match at AAMI Park on Saturday night.
It’s been an almost historic week for the Melbourne Storm, albeit for the wrong reasons. Their 50-10 loss to Penrith was their biggest loss since 2008, the highest score they’ve conceded since 2003, the first time they’ve lost three consecutive matches since 2022, and saw them drop out of the top eight for the first time since 2023.
The Warriors were expected to struggle to start the season with Mitch Barnett and Luke Metcalfe out, however they opened their campaign with three consecutive wins before losing to the Wests Tigers and Cronulla. With Barnett and Metcalfe now out with different injuries, it could be the spark for the Warriors to return to the winner’s circle.
Storm coach Craig Bellamy isn’t panicking about his team yet, making minimal changes to the side that went down to the Panthers. Jack Howarth and Moses Leo return to the backline, with Manaia Waitere dropping to the bench, and Siulagi Tuimalatu-Brown out of the side.
The only change for Andrew Webster’s Warriors is the loss of Metcalfe (hamstring), with Chanel Harris-Tavita returning to the side at five-eighth.
It’s been a strange few weeks for the Storm, giving up comfortable leads against the Broncos and Cowboys before being completely thrashed by Penrith. Their defence has been a major issue for them, conceding consecutive tries in quick succession in each of their losses and missing more than 30 tackles per game.
The Warriors’ attack was their biggest asset in their three wins, scoring 20 tries in those games, however things have been clunkier in their losses, making more errors and subsequently scoring fewer points.
Tanah Boyd started the season like a man on a mission in the absence of Metcalfe, showing career-best form to lead the team to three straight wins. With Metcalfe now sidelined again, it’s up to Boyd to guide the Warriors to victory. Jahrome Hughes has been down on form so far for the Storm, however he remains one of the best halfbacks in the competition and will turn it around sooner rather than later.
It’s been 11 years and 17 games since the Warriors last defeated the Storm. Cooper Cronk and Shaun Johnson were the opposing halfbacks, Cameron Munster (the only remaining player from that game) was Melbourne’s fullback and the Warriors won 28-14 at Mount Smart Stadium. The Storm have scored at least 30 points in eight of the last nine matches between the two teams. The Warriors haven’t won in Melbourne since Round 8, 2014.
Prediction
RLZ Tip: Storm by 6
Bold call: Will Warbrick to score a hat-trick against his future club.
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