Match Preview: NRL Round 17 vs Storm

Author: Manly Media
Timestamp: Thu 25 Jun 2026, 10:00 AM

Manly Warringah Sea Eagles take on the Melbourne Storm in a Saturday night blockbuster at 4 Pines Park in Round 17 of the NRL Telstra Premiership.

Round 17 - Round 17 - Saturday 27 Jun

9:35 am

Sea Eagles

Storm

Venue: 4 Pines Park, Sydney

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For reasons well documented, it’s always a great battle against the Storm.

There are of course a couple of moments in history that fuel the rivalry between these two clubs.

One is a grand final which ended in a 40-0 scoreline and delivered the Sea Eagles their seventh premiership.

As a gentle reminder of that epic victory, the team will be wearing a limited edition 2008 Heritage Jersey when they run out on Saturday night.

The other moment which is etched in Manly folklore took place at Brookie in Round 25 on 26 August 2011. Suffice to say, the game was quite different back then.

A victory to savour against the Storm at AAMI Park in Round 20, 2025

Manly’s most recent game against the Storm, an 18-16 win at AAMI Park last season was pretty special. Overcome with excitement, Jake Trbojevic decided to "kick the bucket" after a clutch penalty goal ended Manly’s six-year winless streak in Melbourne.

But that was then. Let’s talk about the present.

Manly’s run of good form took a slight detour last Saturday at Accor Stadium. It was a golden-point loss to the Bulldogs and a match that Manly would’ve, could’ve, should’ve, won.

Fast forward seven days, back at the fortress, and the boys are ready to go again.

The team is aiming for a fifth win in a row at 4 Pines Park, following recent victories on home soil over the Rabbitohs, Titans, Broncos and Eels.

Tolu Koula has scored 14 tries in his last 15 games at 4 Pines Park

The Storm have hit a purple patch of their own in recent weeks, recovering from a seven-game losing streak to win four of their past five games.

Melbourne’s most recent outing was last Sunday when they fought back from 16-0 down to beat the Raiders 42-20 at AAMI Park. Winger Will Warbrick had a day out, bagging a hat-trick of tries.

Warbrick has scored 14 tries in 15 games this season

Manly have fared pretty well in recent years against the Storm, winning four of the past six matches. Overall Melbourne have won about 60% of the 47 games since 1998.

Results of games played at 4 Pines Park have been pretty evenly split, with Manly narrowly ahead with 12 wins from 23 matches.

In teams news there are a few changes for the Sea Eagles with Kobe Hetherington and Reuben Garrick unavailable (concussion protocol), and Brandon Wakeham sidelined with a calf injury.

Jake Simpkin replaces Wakeham at hooker, Ethan Bullemor comes into the starting lineup at prop in place of Hetherington, and Josh Feledy slots in for Garrick in the centres.

Nifty Fifty: Lehi has scored 12 tries in this past 10 games

Lehi Hopoate will line up for his 50th appearance two years after making his NRL debut against the Storm at 4 Pines Park in Round 12, 2024.

For Melbourne Tyran Wishart comes in for injured halfback Jahrome Hughes (hamstring) while Harry Grant returns to the starting side after coming off the bench last week.

Could be a little chilly on Saturday night in Beanie for Brain Cancer Round so be sure to get yourself warm and ‘fozzy’.

Do your bit for brain cancer research by purchasing a beanie or donating to the Mark Hughes Foundation.

Round 17 - Round 17 - Saturday 27 Jun

9:35 am

Sea Eagles

Storm

Team Lists

Backs

Fullback for Sea Eagles is number 1 Tom Trbojevic

Fullback for Storm is number 1 Sualauvi Faalogo
Winger for Sea Eagles is number 2 Jason Saab

Winger for Storm is number 2 Will Warbrick
Centre for Sea Eagles is number 3 Tolutau Koula

Centre for Storm is number 3 Jack Howarth
Centre for Sea Eagles is number 4 Josh Feledy

Centre for Storm is number 4 Joe Chan
Winger for Sea Eagles is number 5 Lehi Hopoate

Winger for Storm is number 5 Moses Leo
Five-Eighth for Sea Eagles is number 6 Luke Brooks

Five-Eighth for Storm is number 6 Cameron Munster
Halfback for Sea Eagles is number 7 Jamal Fogarty

Halfback for Storm is number 7 Tyran Wishart

Forwards

Prop for Sea Eagles is number 8 Taniela Paseka

Prop for Storm is number 8 Stefano Utoikamanu
Hooker for Sea Eagles is number 9 Jake Simpkin

Hooker for Storm is number 9 Harry Grant
Prop for Sea Eagles is number 10 Ethan Bullemor

Prop for Storm is number 10 Josh King
2nd Row for Sea Eagles is number 11 Haumole Olakau'atu

2nd Row for Storm is number 11 Cooper Clarke
2nd Row for Sea Eagles is number 12 Ben Trbojevic

2nd Row for Storm is number 12 Ativalu Lisati
Lock for Sea Eagles is number 13 Jake Trbojevic

Lock for Storm is number 13 Trent Loiero

Interchange

Interchange for Sea Eagles is number 14 Joey Walsh

Interchange for Storm is number 14 Trent Toelau
Interchange for Sea Eagles is number 15 Nathan Brown

Interchange for Storm is number 15 Jack Hetherington
Interchange for Sea Eagles is number 16 Simione Laiafi

Interchange for Storm is number 16 Josiah Pahulu
Interchange for Sea Eagles is number 17 Aaron Schoupp

Interchange for Storm is number 17 Alec MacDonald
Interchange for Sea Eagles is number 18 Blake Wilson

Interchange for Storm is number 18 Shawn Blore
Interchange for Sea Eagles is number 19 Jackson Shereb

Interchange for Storm is number 19 Siulagi Tuimalatu-Brown

Reserves

Reserve for Sea Eagles is number 20 Hugo Hart

Reserve for Storm is number 20 Davvy Moale
Reserve for Sea Eagles is number 21 Onitoni Large

Reserve for Storm is number 21 Stanley Huen
Reserve for Sea Eagles is number 22 Clayton Faulalo

Reserve for Storm is number 22 Angus Hinchey