Match Day Guide: Round 1 v Eels
Melbourne Storm are ready to take on the Parramatta Eels in what is set to be a blockbuster season opener at AAMI Park this Sunday afternoon!
KEY INFO
Storm Zone: 1:00pm
Gates open: 2:30pm
Warm up: 3:25pm
Pregame show: 3:55pm
NRL Kick off: 4:05pm
Watch live on Channel 9, Fox League and Kayo.
HALF TIME
RedZed is giving away $5,000 in prize money to a lucky fan attending Sunday’s game, with the winner to be revealed during an ultimate bungee half-time!
Attached to a bungee, the winner will run to 5 checkpoints down the field, collecting $1000 at each point! Reach all 5 and the money is yours.
POST-MATCH
Stay in your seats post-match for your chance to grab a signed carsales fan footy from one of the players! The men in purple will roam AAMI Park for a period of time post-match to meet and greet our Storm fam.
Follow along with Storm's exclusive content and live coverage on X, Instagram, Facebook and TikTok.
TEAM NEWS
A strong mix of NRL experience has been named, with 16 players from the 2024 Grand Final selected, alongside a Storm debut for recruit Stefano Utoikamanu.
Check out the full team taking the field for Round 1:
Team Lists
Backs
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Fullback for Storm is number 1 Ryan PapenhuyzenFullback for Eels is number 1 Isaiah Iongi
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Winger for Storm is number 2 Will WarbrickWinger for Eels is number 2 Sean Russell
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Centre for Storm is number 3 Jack HowarthCentre for Eels is number 3 Will Penisini
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Centre for Storm is number 4 Nick MeaneyCentre for Eels is number 4 Zac Lomax
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Winger for Storm is number 5 Xavier CoatesWinger for Eels is number 5 Jake Tago
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Five-Eighth for Storm is number 6 Cameron MunsterFive-Eighth for Eels is number 6 Dylan Brown
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Halfback for Storm is number 7 Jahrome HughesHalfback for Eels is number 7 Ronald Volkman
Forwards
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Prop for Storm is number 8 Stefano UtoikamanuProp for Eels is number 8 Joe Ofahengaue
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Hooker for Storm is number 9 Harry GrantHooker for Eels is number 9 Brendan Hands
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Prop for Storm is number 10 Josh KingProp for Eels is number 10 Junior Paulo
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2nd Row for Storm is number 11 Shawn Blore2nd Row for Eels is number 11 Jack Williams
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2nd Row for Storm is number 12 Eliesa Katoa2nd Row for Eels is number 12 Kelma Tuilagi
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Lock for Storm is number 13 Trent LoieroLock for Eels is number 13 J'maine Hopgood
Interchange
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Interchange for Storm is number 14 Tyran WishartInterchange for Eels is number 14 Ryley Smith
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Interchange for Storm is number 15 Alec MacDonaldInterchange for Eels is number 15 Matt Doorey
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Interchange for Storm is number 16 Tui KamikamicaInterchange for Eels is number 17 Charlie Guymer
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Interchange for Storm is number 17 Lazarus VaalepuInterchange for Eels is number 21 Sam Tuivaiti
Reserves
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Replacement for Storm is number 18 Grant AndersonReplacement for Eels is number 20 Toni Mataele
Match Officials
- Referee: Wyatt Raymond
- Touch Judge: Matt Noyen
- Touch Judge: Phil Henderson
- Senior Review Official: Grant Atkins
Last updated:
REDZED RALLY TOWELS
To celebrate the success of the recent partnership extension, and to kick off the 2025 NRL season, Major Partner RedZed is giving away 15,000 rally towels to Storm fans attending the Round 1 clash with the Parramatta Eels at AAMI Park.
Be sure to grab yours from the RedZed activation in the Storm Zone or inside Gate 2 & 7 and wave them as the players run out onto AAMI Park!
Storm family, remember to hold on to your RedZed rally towels after the match. Keep your RedZed rally towel on your list of game day essentials and bring them to future home games to keep the energy going all season long!
THE INCLUSION PROJECT - SENSORY ROOM
Melbourne Storm has proudly partnered with The Inclusion Project to assist with making our match day experience more accessible for those living with hidden disabilities. Our partnership will see the introduction of a Sensory Room supported by and facilitated by a qualified Occupational Therapist who will be there to support should fans require it when visiting the space.
The Sensory Room can be found at every home game at AAMI Park, located on Level West 1 - Gate 6, Aisle 23.
STORM ZONE
To celebrate Round 1 at AAMI Park, Storm Zone is back for the season opener! Kicking off from 1:00pm, make sure to head down to Gosch's Paddock to get into the footy spirit.
Activities
- RedZed rally towels
- Face painters
- Nova casanovas
- Suzuki
- Food trucks
- Live DJ
- Inflatables
- Lotus Living giveaways
- Membership marquee
- Merchandise marquee
VENUE INFO
MEMBERSHIP & MERCHANDISE
2025 Memberships will be available for sale as well as collection of your 2025 member items from our Membership marquees located in the Storm Zone and the front forecourt.
We've got you sorted! Get the latest Melbourne Storm 2025 range ahead of the season from the Merchandise marquees located in the Storm Zone, in bowl Aisle 24, 4 and 8 and the Melbourne Storm Store.
GETTING TO AND FROM THE GAME
Journey
Make game day easy, be prepared and plan ahead. For more information about getting to and from the game by train, visit ptv.vic.gov.au.
Public Transport
AAMI Park is accessible by train, tram and bus. The stadium is walking distance from Richmond Station and Flinders Street Station.
Stop 7D is outside AAMI Park on the Tram 70 tram line from Flinders Street. If you are coming from the north Tram 45 (North Balwyn) and Tram 75 (Vermont South) will stop adjacent to the MCG.
Please note the following train disruptions for Sunday 9 March:
Hurstbridge line (Heidelberg to Eltham)
Upfield line (North Melbourne to Upfield)
Drive to The Footy
Parking at Melbourne Park is only available to guests who have pre-booked. Bookings close at midnight the night before the event. You will not be able to drive up without a booking.
If parking is sold out or unavailable, several private and public streetcar parks operate in close proximity to the precinct.
Yarra Park (MCG)
Securing Parking – 121 Exhibition Street
Secure Parking – 300 Flinders Street
Securing Parking – 12-20 Flinders Street
Secure Parking – Grand Hyatt Melbourne
Wilson Parking – 11 Exhibition Street
Wilson Parking – Collins Place
Wilson Parking – 32 Flinders Street
Wilson Parking – 172 Flinders Street
Wilson Parking – Federation Square
ACDC Garage – 114 Flinders Street
On-Street Parking via the Botanical Gardens along the Yarra River
Accessible Parking
Accessible parking must be pre-booked via Ticketek’s Accessible Bookings Hotline:
- Reach them by phone on (03) 9286 1208 or;
- Submit a request to be contacted online here.
We recommend parking is booked in advance to avoid disappointment.
Please note, there are a limited number of accessible parking bays located at John Cain Arena (on Olympic Boulevard).
Taxi & Rideshare
A taxi rank is available next to The Oval on Olympic Boulevard. The pick-up and drop off point for rideshare services, such as Uber, is out the front of John Cain Arena on Olympic Boulevard.
We encourage guests not to order their rideshare service until they have reached the pick-up point to avoid causing congestion along Olympic Boulevard.
