The final round of the regular season kicks off with two Top 4 teams including one with the potential to wrap up the minor premiership but resting stars has become the order of the day with most big names missing from this one.
Best Bet
In what should have been a fantastic final round matchup, this match has been decimated by Kevin Walters and Craig Bellamy and the trend of resting players.
Walters has lost Adam Reynolds and Patrick Carrigan to injury and Kotoni Staggs to suspension while Reece Walsh, Ezra Mam, Payne Haas, Herbie Farnworth and Billy Walters are all being rested.
Bellamy has decided to rest 11 players including starting spine Harry Grant, Jahrome Hughes, Cameron Munster and Nick Meaney as well as key forwards Christian Welch and Nelson Asofa-Solomona.
The one shining light in this one though is that Ryan Papenhuyzen will start his first NRL game in over 13 months as he looks to solidify a role for the upcoming finals campaign. It has been a long road but in a game lacking in genuine talent, he has it in oodles. This has huge breakout potential and happy to back the team with the most talented playmaker on the field.
The Storm’s domination of Brisbane should not be underestimated when assessing this match either. Melbourne have owned Brisbane like no other team has owned an opponent this century.
Melbourne have won 30 of the last 34 clashes against Brisbane including winning the last 13. The Storm have covered 12 of those 13. They have won the last 12 at Suncorp including a 60-12 win in the last clash at the ground. They have scored 40-plus in five of their last seven.
The Storm have a stronger team and they have a dominant record against Brisbane making the plus a strong play.
Same Game Multi
Will Warbrick has been in outstanding tryscoring form with five tries in his last four games. He scored a double in his only game with the Broncos.
Ryan Papenhuyzen gets his first NRL start in 13 months but has thrived against Brisbane with six tries in three games including four the last time he played the Broncos.
Value Bet
Eli Katoa has been in sublime tryscoring form. Since returning from injury he has five tries in five games, scoring in four of those. The Storm have scored 37-plus in five of their last six and he will be up against a makeshift team. Melbourne are unlikely to get super creative so finding a hard-running edge backrower is a likely tactic.
Follow Betseeker for weekly expert NRL tips and predictions for the 2023 NRL season.
