THURSDAY AUGUST 14th 2025
Panthers v Storm
CommBank Stadium Sydney 7.50pm
From Last to Lethal: Panthers and Storm Set Stage for Another Grand Final Epic
Ten months after their unforgettable clash in the 2024 grand final, the Panthers and Storm are back on the same battlefield — and the whispers around the league suggest this might just be a dress rehearsal for the 2025 decider.
Few could have imagined the reigning premiers tumbling to last place earlier this season, but nine consecutive victories have rewritten their story. Now perched in fourth spot, the Panthers have sent a clear message to every rival: the dream of a fifth straight title is alive and roaring.
The road ahead is anything but gentle. With the Storm, Raiders, and Bulldogs waiting in the next three weeks, the champions will have their mettle tested before the finals storm arrives.
Ivan Cleary has kept faith with the same 17 players who dismantled the Knights to extend the winning streak, while skipper Isaah Yeo remains a spectator, nursing a stubborn shoulder injury. The stakes, as always when these two titans meet, couldn’t be higher.
Panthers: 1. Dylan Edwards 2. Thomas Jenkins 3. Izack Tago 4. Casey Mclean 5. Brian To’o. 6. Blaize Talagi 7. Nathan Cleary 8. Moses Leota 9. Mitch Kenny 10. Lindsay Smith 11. Luke Garner 12. Liam Martin 13. Isaiah Papali’i Bench: 14. Brad Schneider 15. Liam Henry 16. Matthew Eisenhuth 17. Scott Sorensen Reserves: 18. Paul Alamoti 19. Jack Cole 20. Daine Laurie 21. Mavrik Geyer. 22. Trent Toelau.
Storm Steady in the Chase: Melbourne’s Relentless Push for the Crown
The Melbourne Storm have spent the 2025 season doing what they do best — going about their business with quiet precision, rarely rattled, and always in the hunt. Firmly entrenched in the top four from the opening rounds, they’ve looked every inch the rightful challengers to the Panthers’ throne.
Round 21 brought an unwelcome twist — star half Jahrome Hughes sidelined with a shoulder injury. For some clubs, that would spell chaos. For the Storm, it became fuel. They rallied, claimed back-to-back wins, and kept the momentum surging as September looms ever closer.
Their run hasn’t been without fresh hurdles. This week, star fullback Ryan Papenhuyzen is ruled out, prompting Nick Meaney to slip into the No.1 jersey while Marion Seve returns to the centres for his first NRL appearance since Round 4. The forward pack and bench stay intact after last week’s hard-fought victory over the Broncos, while Nelson Asofa-Solomona waits in the wings, named among the reserves and eager to force his way back into the 17 after a stint in Queensland Cup.
The Storm is coming off a 22-2 win against an injury-ravaged Broncos and remain within touching distance of the Raiders in top spot. Despite sitting in second, it still feels like Melbourne are yet to find some consistent form. A win against a red-hot Panthers side this weekend would go a long way to gaining some more momentum with finals approaching, before another big clash against the Bulldogs next week.
Storm
1. Nick Meaney 2. Grant Anderson 3. Joe Chan 4. Marion Seve 5. Xavier Coates . 6. Cameron Munster 7. Tyran Wishart 8. Stefano Utoikamanu 9. Harry Grant 10. Josh King. 11. Shawn Blore 12. Eliesa Katoa 13. Trent Loiero Bench: 14. Jonah Pezet 15. Alec Macdonald . 16. Tui Kamikamica 17. Ativalu Lisati Reserves: 18. Bronson Garlick 19. Kane Bradley. 20. Siulagi Tuimalatu-Brown 21. Lazarus Vaalepu 22. Nelson Asofa-Solomona.
Key Stats
The Panthers have scored 30 points or more in their last five games.
The Storm have won 14 of their last 15 Thursday night games.
The Panthers have won their last six games at CommBank Stadium.
The Storm have won three of their past four games against the Panthers.
Panthers winger Brian To’o has scored eight tries in his last seven games against the Storm.
Officials
Referee. Ashley Klein, Touch Judges,Ziggy Przeklasa-Adamski, Liam Kennedy. Bunker. Chris Butler.
Panthers Eye Crucial Strike in Tight Top-Four Battle
With 31 points to their name and the Warriors breathing down their necks, the Panthers know exactly what’s at stake. A victory over the Storm this week isn’t just another notch on the ladder — it’s a decisive step in cementing their place inside the top four.
The equation is simple but the implications are huge. Beat Melbourne, and they leap ahead with a three-point cushion over the Broncos, while putting daylight between themselves and Andrew Webster’s Warriors. The Kiwi club has its own battle to fight — a dangerous trip to face a Dragons side riding a wave of form and desperate to claim another scalp on home turf.
For Penrith, the opportunity is clear: strike now, and the road to another finals series becomes that little bit smoother. Slip up, and the race tightens, the pack closing in, and the margin for error all but disappears.
Storm Warning: Melbourne Set to Test Panthers’ Streak in Season’s Defining Clash
This shapes as a crucial clash for both sides and is the start of a tough run home for the Panthers, as they face the three sides above them on the ladder over the last three rounds. Penrith cruised to a 48-12 victory over Newcastle in Round 23 to make it nine wins in a row, rarely getting out of first gear despite the big score line.
The Panthers’ current win streak sees them sitting inside the top four, a result that seemed impossible just over two months ago. With the Storm, Raiders and Bulldogs to finish the season, the run home could decide whether the defending premiers will make any more noise in the upcoming finals campaign.
While defence continues to lead the way for Penrith, they have also found their attacking best in recent weeks, having scored at least 30 points in each of their last five games, albeit against teams outside the top eight.
This shapes as a low-scoring, defensive battle. A win here would just about lock in a top four finish for the Storm, but they will need to improve their form against the Panthers at home. With Papenhuyzen out and Jahrome Hughes still missing, increased pressure will be on Cameron Munster to get points on the board. Panthers by 2 points for me.
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