Melbourne Storm v Parramatta Eels
Sunday 22 June, 2:00pm
AAMI Park
TV: Fox Sports 1, LIVE from 2pm
Online: NRL Digital Pass
Radio: 2GB, ABC
The battle for places inside the top eight continue on Sunday when Melbourne Storm clash with Parramatta in a key match-up at AAMI Park.
Melbourne have the opportunity for back-to-back wins after defeating the Gold Coast Titans 24-20 in a tense affair on Monday, while Parramatta are enjoying good form after wins against Canterbury and North Queensland in the last two rounds.
Both sides have shown good form throughout the season but will be looking to earn valuable premiership points in an extremely competitive NRL season. The Eels currently sit in seventh position with eight wins—only two points behind the ladder leaders Penrith. Storm are just two points behind the Eels and can move up to fifth by the end of the round, depending on other results, and are well within reach of qualifying for the finals.
Be at AAMI Park in Round 15 when Storm take on the Eels. Book your tickets here.
Storm will be wary of Parramatta superstar Jarryd Hayne—the talented fullback is coming off a key performance for NSW in their State of Origin Game Two victory on Wednesdaynight, and will be looking to translate the effort into good form for his club side.
Meanwhile, Storm coach Craig Bellamy is hopeful that star trio Ryan Hoffman, Cameron Smith and Billy Slater will play on Sunday after fulfilling Origin duty during the week, while Cooper Cronk remains sidelined through injury.
The two teams last met in Round 24, 2013, when a dominant Melbourne display handed the hosts a record breaking 64-4 victory over Parramatta at AAMI Park.
HEAD TO HEAD:
Played: 27
Melbourne: 16
Parramatta: 11
LAST 5 MATCHES:
Round 24, 2013 – Melbourne Storm 64 (Billy Slater 3, Will Chambers 2, Ryan Hoffman 2, Maurice Blair, Jesse Bromwich, Kenneath Bromwich, Tim Glasby; Goals: Cameron Smith 10) defeated Parramatta 4 (Semi Radradra)
Round 20, 2012 – Parramatta Eels 16 (Nathan Hindmarsh, Ken Sio, Ben Smith; Goals: Luke Burt 2) defeated Melbourne Storm 10 (Ryan Hoffman, Rory Kostjasyn; Goals: Cameron Smith 1)
Round 21, 2011 – Melbourne Storm 22 (Dane Nielsen, Justin O’Neill, Billy Slater, Sisa Waqa; Goals: Cameron Smith 3) defeated Parramatta 18 (Taniela Lasalo, Reni Maitua, Goals; Luke Burt 5)
Round 5, 2011 – Melbourne Storm 38 (Beau Champion 2, Adam Blair, Cooper Cronk, Matthew Duffie, Anthony Quinn, Billy Slater; Goals: Cameron Smith 4, Gareth Widdop 1) defeated Parramatta Eels 0
Round 13, 2010 – Parramatta Eels 24 (Joel Reddy 2, Krisnan Inu, Kris Keating; Goals: Luke Burt 4) defeated Melbourne Storm 10 (Greg Inglis, Billy Slater; Goals: Cameron Smith 1)
