Melbourne Storm vs Parramatta Eels Predictions: Visitors unlikely to weather the Storm

Melbourne Storm face Parramatta Eels in the penultimate game of the NRL's Magic Round at Brisbane's Suncorp Stadium on Sunday morning (07:05).

Here's my Melbourne Storm vs Parramatta Eels predictions.

Team News

Melbourne have named wing Xavier Coates in their side, with Grant Anderson dropping out, while Harry Grant, the competition's leader with 72 dummy half runs, is at hooker.

The Storm are still missing key half-back Jahrome Hughes due to a calf injury. Daejarn Asi starts at five-eighth for the Eels in place of Ethan Sanders, while Parramatta can also welcome back Bryce Cartwright off the bench following a rib injury.

Melbourne Storm vs Parramatta Eels Odds

Melbourne are 3/10 to win, with the draw 22/1 and Parramatta 13/5. The Storm are 20/21 carrying a -10 handicap.

Melbourne Storm -10 - Handicap 3-Way @ 20/21

Parramatta's season is meandering after suffering their fifth defeat in six games and are clearly suffering from the key injuries to Mitch Moses and Clint Gutherson.

Defence has been an issue, conceding on average 26.9 points per game, but Hughes' absence has meant the Storm have not been as fluent as they have been at other times this season.

Still, Craig Bellamy's side have been going about their business nicely and have the second-best defence in this season's NRL behind Penrith.

Previously, games against the Eels were a real worry for the Storm, who lost four in a row before breaking their hoodoo by winning twice in 2023. They triumphed on Golden Point in the first match before blowing their opponents away 46-16 in their second meeting.

The Eels have conceded 30+ points in four of their last five games and despite their attacking issues, the Storm should still have plenty in hand in Brisbane.

Sualauvi Faalogo - Anytime Tryscorer @ SP

Coates' return on the wing will add more spark to the Storm attack but the player to watch could be back-three colleague Sualauvi Faalogo.

The full-back declared this week that the Storm "means everything to me" and after only recently coming into the side, already has a try from his two appearances, while also making six tackles and two line breaks.

It's intriguing to note that the Eels have conceded a try to opposition full-backs in their last four matches and, with Coates likely to draw defenders, Faalogo could be the latest to profit.

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