Melbourne Storm vs South Sydney Rabbitohs Prediction: Storm to blow away Bunnies in Melbourne

Melbourne Storm are leading the chase of leaders Canterbury Bulldogs and they should have little problem seeing off South Sydney Rabbitohs on home soil at AAMI Park in Friday's round-eight clash (11:10 kick-off).

Alex Hilton provides his Melbourne Storm vs South Sydney Rabbitohs predictions, as well as all the essential team news and match odds for the showdown in Melbourne.

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Team News

Jack Howarth (shoulder) misses out for the Storm and is replaced by Nick Meaney. Tui Kamikamica is out with an ankle injury and his place is taken by Lazarus Vaalepu. Nelson Asofa-Solomona is in the reserves following a spell out with concussion.

Rabbittohs superstar Latrell Mitchell shifts to full-back and Jye Gray goes to the bench with former St Helens star Lewis Dodd dropping out. Jayden Sullivan returns from suspension to partner Cody Walker in the halves, but Lachlan Hubner is out with concussion and is replaced by Jai Arrow.

Melbourne Storm vs South Sydney Rabbitohs Odds

Melbourne Storm suffered a shock loss to the Dolphins in round seven but they are just 1/5 to bounce back on home soil in this Anzac Day clash. The Storm have been scoring points with ease this term, averaging over the 30-point mark, and they are 21/20 to clear 32 points on Friday.

Souths have never won in 20 attempts on visits to Melbourne and they are 7/2 to break their AAMI Park duck this week. Last week's 32-0 loss to the Bulldogs won't help their cause and they are 11/8 to score fewer than 13 points in this round-eight showdown.

Melbourne Storm -16 @ 11/10

Melbourne are flying high in the NRL standings but last week's surprise loss to the Dolphins saw them lose ground on leaders Canterbury Bulldogs, so they will be keen to get back on track at the first time of asking.

That shouldn't be a problem this week as they face a Rabbitohs side who have never won in Melbourne on 20 visits, and it seems to be a case of 'how many' for the home side.

Recent history suggests a comfortable victory, and a 16-point line on the handicap should be within reach. Averaging 34.4 points per game, Melbourne are one of the best attacking sides in the competition and they should be too strong for a side who were nilled last week.

Over 47.5 total match points @ 4/5

While the Storm should win with ease, it would be wrong to rule out at least a couple of scores for Souths who can play their part in a high-scoring encounter.

South Sydney were unlucky to have two tries ruled out in the loss to the Bulldogs last week, while the Storm showed some alarming vulnerability when shipping 44 to the Dolphins on Good Friday.

That was likely a blip and although they should tighten up, it will give the Bunnies hope that they can get past the Storm on at least a couple of occasions.

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