Melbourne Storm’s 25th anniversary season will feature something for everyone with home game blockbusters throughout, a strong list of family-friendly AAMI Park timeslots and another night-time Anzac Day special.
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The 2023 NRL season draw pits Storm against the Parramatta Eels at CommBank Stadium on Thursday Night Football to kick off round one of the new 17-team competition.
The first home game for 2023 will be against the Canterbury Bulldogs at AAMI Park in the prime Saturday night timeslot – 7.35pm on Saturday, March 11.
2023 Melbourne Storm NRL draw
The early season home schedule features a round six blockbuster against the Sydney Roosters to kick off Easter weekend on Thursday night, April 6, while the traditional Anzac Day meeting with the NZ Warriors will come in round eight with a 7pm kick-off on Tuesday, April 25.
Storm’s home draw will include two Melbourne games away from AAMI Park which will be unavailable due to commitments with the FIFA Women’s World Cup. The club is working with stakeholders to finalise a venue for those two matches against two formidable opponents – premiers Penrith in round 18 and Parramatta in round 22.
Storm will again feature in a highlight game of Magic Round in Brisbane, taking on the South Sydney Rabbitohs in the prime Saturday night slot – 7.45pm on Saturday, May 6 at Suncorp Stadium.
It will be followed just five days later by another of the big home games of the season – the round 11 clash with the Brisbane Broncos.
Storm CEO Justin Rodski said the 2023 draw had plenty of positives for the club.
“It’s going to be a special year for Storm with our celebrations throughout the season for our 25th anniversary,” he said.
“Our members and fans will have a great mix of high-quality opponents to watch at AAMI Park with our traditional ANZAC Day match locked in, a Thursday blockbuster before the Easter long weekend against the Roosters and big Friday night clashes against the Panthers and Eels
“There’s a great mix of timeslots to cater for everyone.
Pleasingly, in the second half of the season we have three family friendly afternoon kick-offs at home and we have much more even split of home and away games across the final rounds compared to 2022.
Justin Rodski CEO, Melbourne Storm
“Our priority is to have the two matches not at AAMI Park remain in Melbourne close to the majority of our members. The preference is to play at Marvel Stadium and discussions on that front are continuing.”
Other features of Storm’s 2023 draw:
- The teams Melbourne plays twice include premiers Penrith, grand finalists Parramatta and Sydney powerhouses, the Rabbitohs and Roosters;
- The first Storm v Dolphins game will come in round 12 at Suncorp Stadium;
- The home and away fixtures conclude with a trip to Brisbane to face the Broncos on Thursday Night Football in round 27;
- Two byes come during the State of Origin period – rounds 13 and 19, with Storm’s other bye in round nine following the Anzac Day blockbuster;
- Not visiting AAMI Park this year are the Knights, Dragons, Cowboys or newcomers, the Dolphins;
- Storm won’t have its State of Origin players available for the away trip to Wests Tigers
