Panthers v Storm betting tips and predictions
The pick of the National Rugby League’s round five is a Good Friday clash between Penrith and Melbourne, two of the genuine heavyweights of the competition, with the Panthers surging into red-hot favouritism to add another title to the four they collected in a row from 2021-24.
Ivan Cleary’s Panthers have been irresistible in the early rounds with four wins from four games to be the only undefeated team in the competition. They have returned to the defensive roots that were a large part of their four-peat, conceding just 30 points in total across the opening four rounds.
Melbourne, on the other hand, are in unfamiliar territory with two losses in a row against the Broncos and Cowboys and also struggling somewhat with injuries/playing list changes hurting them. They have not lost three matches in a row since 2022 and notoriously cranky Storm coach Craig Bellamy will certainly have them fired up to respond here.
The goods news for Melbourne is that they have dominated in recent times against the Panthers, winning four of their past five matches against them, tempered by the fact that the one loss was in the 2024 grand final!
Panthers v Storm team news
The Panthers will miss suspended hooker Mitch Kenny, but have an able replacement in Freddy Lussick, though the change of dummy half could disrupt their tremendous momentum somewhat, as Lussick squares up against arguably the game’s best hooker in Harry Grant. Utility Jack Cogger is back on the bench and will probably get a fair chunk of game time.
For the Storm, the reliable Nick Meaney is back in the centres after recovering from a back injury, with Moses Leo ruled out with delayed concusion. Front-rower Tui Kamikamica suffered a medical episode during the week and has been ruled out with Lazarus Vaalepu his replacement.
Read on for our Panthers v Storm tips and winner prediction for their round-five NRL clash.
Panthers v Storm match information
- Kick-off: 8pm AEDT, Friday, April 3
- Venue: CommBank Stadium, Sydney
- Head to head odds: Panthers $1.40, Storm $3
- Line betting: Panthers (-8.5 points) $1.90, Storm (+8.5 points) $1.90
- Match total: 43.5 points: over $1.90, under $1.90
2026 NRL premiership betting
$3.50 Penrith Panthers
$6 Melbourne Storm
$8 Brisbane Broncos
$11 Sydney Roosters, Canterbury Bulldogs, New Zealand Warriors
$13 South Sydney Rabbitohs
$19 Cronulla Sharks
$23 Redcliffe Dolphins
$26 Canberra Raiders
$34 Parramatta Eels
$51 Wests Tigers
$67 Newcastle Knights
$81 North Queensland Cowboys, Manly Sea Eagles, St George Illawarra Dragons
$101 Gold Coast Titans
Panthers v Storm betting tips
The Panthers are riding high this NRL season to date but face a dangerous opponent here in the Storm, who are wounded.
We expect a strong response from the Melbourne team, who despite their turnover of the playing roster still have three of the best players in the game, Cameron Munster, Harry Grant and Jahrome Hughes, in their key positions.
The return of Meaney also adds experience to a developing back line and will likely help the electric but still raw fullback Sualauvi Faalogo.
The Storm will need to muscle up the forwards as that is where the Panthers have built the foundations of their super early form.
We expect this game to be played with a finals-like intensity with tries hard to come by, so the large points start for the Storm is a little hard to resist.
Storm by 2.
- Storm +8.5 points into match total under 43.5 points at $3.90 with Australian betting sites.
- Melbourne star Harry Grant to score a try at $3.90.
NRL round 5, 2026
- Thursday, April 2: Dolphins v Sea Eagles, Kayo Stadium, Redcliffe | 8pm
- Friday, April 3: Rabbitohs v Bulldogs, Accor Stadium, Sydney | 4.05pm
Panthers v Storm, Commbank Stadium | 8pm - Saturday, April 4: Dragons v Cowboys, Jubilee Stadium, Kogarah | 5.30pm
Titans v Broncos, Cbus Super Stadium, Gold Coast | 7.35pm - Sunday, April 5: Sharks v Warriors, Ocean Protect Stadium, Sydney | 2pm
Knights v Raiders, McDonald Jones Stadium, Newcastle | 4.05pm - Monday, April 6: Eels v Wests Tigers, CommBank Stadium, Sydney | 4.05pm
* Sydney Roosters have the bye
