Parramatta Eels v Melbourne Storm Tips NRL 2023 opener

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Predictions for the Parramatta Eels vs Melbourne Storm

As the season kicks off 2023, both teams have plenty to prove after a lot of key player movement.

With Parramatta's recent record against the Storm and their recruitment to cover their losses in crucial positions, I'm giving the Eels a +2.5 point head start.

• The Parramatta Eels have won their last four games in Round 1.
• CommBank Stadium has never seen the Parramatta Eels lose to the Melbourne Storm.
• The Parramatta Eels have won their last five regular season games against the Melbourne Storm.
• In 2022, Melbourne Storm had only 37.5% ATS coverage.
• At CommBank Stadium, the Eels are 3-0 against the Storm during the regular season.
• When playing the Storm, the Eels are 6-0 ATS.

Form of the Parramatta Eels

The Parramatta Eels have won their last four games in round one.

While they made it to the Grand Final last season without stringing together more than three consecutive wins, the Parramatta Eels surprised most last season.

In 2022, the Eels went 11-13 against the spread and 17-of-24 games went over.

News about the Parramatta Eels

The match will be missed by Ryan Matterson (3 game ban) and Shaun Lane (jaw injury).

Reed Mahoney and Isiah Papali'i's losses will be tested against the Storm.

It has been announced that Josh Hodgson, Matt Doorey, J'maine Hopgood, Jirah Momoisea and Jack Murchie will make their Eels debuts.

List of Parramatta Eels players

The first is Clint Gutherson

Maika Sivo, second

Penisini, Will

Blake, Waqa

Bailey Simonsson, 5

Dylan Brown, no. 6

Mitchell Moses, 7

Reagan Campbell-Gillard, 8

Josh Hodgson, 9

Paulo Junior

Bryce Cartwright, 11

Matt Doorey, 12

J'maine Hopgood

Exchange of information

Jirah Momoisea, 14

Makahesi Makatoa, 17

The reserves

Jake Arthur, 18

Ky Rodwell, 19

Ofahiki Ogden, 20

Mitch Rein, 21.

Isaac Lumelume, 22.

Form of the Melbourne Storm

Under Craig Bellamy, the Storm have won 20 consecutive games in Round 1.

Warbrick, Will

Smith, Reimis

Tonumaipea, a young man

Coates, Xavier

Munster, Cameron

Hughes, Jahrome

Asofa-Solomona, Nelson

Grant, Harry

Reservists

Grant Anderson, 18

Bronson Garlick, 19

The Sualauvi Faalogo

Joe Chan, 21.

Jonah Pezet, 22

My NRL opener Predictions

Storm's Round 1 win streak in 2023 is likely to be broken by the Eels. Key losses in their forward pack and their backline injury woes will be too much to overcome, giving the Eels the edge.