Match Preview - Storm v Panthers

Melbourne Storm v Penrith Panthers
Saturday June 4, 7.30pm
AAMI Park

For the first time in five weeks Storm return home to AAMI Park looking to continue on from their good start to the season.
Melbourne have a 9-2 record and sit just behind Cronulla on points difference atop the NRL ladder.
They take on a Panthers team that has made a habit of testing the heart rate of their supporter base this season.
Ten of their 11 games have been decided by eight points or less while five of their six losses have been by under than six points.
Penrith will be looking for their first win in Melbourne since 2005 and while their results have been mixed so far in 2016, Anthony Griffin’s side has shown it has the quality to challenge the men in purple.
Both of the Panthers’ Origin debutants Matt Moylan and Josh Mansour have been named to back up while Tohu Harris and Kenny Bromwich named at halfback and hooker respectively for the home side.

Be at AAMI Park when we take on the Panthers, Saturday 4 June, 7:30pm.

Key Matchups:

Cameron Munster v Matt Moylan
Two young fullbacks quickly becoming rising stars in the game. Moylan, Penrith’s captain at just 24 years of age, made his Origin debut on Wednesday night after his standout form to start the season. Moylan has seven try assists from his seven games this season and while backing up from your first Origin is a daunting prospect, he is vital to the Panthers hopes of reaching a winning score. Standing at the other end of the field will be Munster, the 21-year-old who has hardly put a foot wrong since assuming Storm’s fullback duties in Round 2. He ranks fourth in the competition for total metres and proved in Melbourne's last outing against Parra that he is more than capable of playing through pain and adversity.

Kevin Proctor v Bryce Cartwright
Bryce Cartwright has been the in-form player in his position so far this season and if not for a thumb injury he would have spent last week in the Blues origin camp. He has been named to play this Saturday, setting up an interesting match-up with Proctor at the No.11. Both men are often in the thick of the action once their respective sides enter the red zone. These two second rowers will have plenty of say in attacking plays, making them an ever-present threat to the opposition line.

History: Played 30; Storm 23, Panthers 7. Melbourne have won 15 of their last 16 games against Penrith.
 

What we’ve said:

“It’s been five weeks since we’ve been back here so really excited to be at home this week” – Tim Glasby

“They’ve got a lot of spark in their team, their forwards have been going really well for them and they like chucking the ball around” – Jordan McLean

Match Officials: Referee – Matt Cecchin; Assistant – Chris Butler; Touch Judges – Russell Turner & Tim Roby; Review Officials – Bryan Norrie & Jared Maxwell; Senior Review Official – Luke Patten.
 

Broadcast: TV – Fox Sports 1, Radio – ABC Grandstand & 2GB, Online – NRL Digital Pass.

Squads: