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Melbourne Storm v South Sydney Rabbitohs Friday 8:10pm at AAMI Park, Melbourne / Wurundjeri

In what promises to be an emotional and electric conclusion to the ANZAC Day triple-header, the Melbourne Storm host the South Sydney Rabbitohs at AAMI Park.

A packed house is expected for the Storm's traditional ANZAC Day clash, with a stirring pre-game ceremony honouring servicemen and women. But once the last note of the bugle fades, attention will turn to two sides who had very different fortunes last round—and two vastly different relationships with this fixture. Melbourne boast 34 wins from 41 matchups against South Sydney, while the Rabbitohs are yet to taste victory at AAMI Park in 12 attempts.

Melbourne enters this game smarting after an astonishing collapse against the Dolphins at Suncorp. Up 16-2 after 20 minutes and seemingly cruising, Craig Bellamy's men fell apart, conceding 40 unanswered points in a 42-22 defeat that left the coach fuming—publicly so, in a rare outburst that captured headlines. A woeful completion rate of 66%, 38 missed tackles, and 16 errors told the story of a team completely out of sync. It was just the sixth time in club history the Storm have surrendered a 14-point lead, and easily one of their ugliest losses in recent memory.

In response, Bellamy has made a couple of tweaks. Nick Meaney returns after recovering from a jaw injury, with Jack Howarth sidelined by a shoulder issue. Tui Kamikamica also drops out, replaced by Lazarus Vaalepu on the bench. Nelson Asofa-Solomona is inching closer to a return from concussion protocols, listed among the reserves. One positive? Melbourne have turned AAMI Park into a fortress again in 2025, notching 128 points in just three home games so far.

If Storm fans were rattled by last week's collapse, Rabbitohs supporters are in full crisis mode. Souths were completely dismantled by the Bulldogs 32-0 on Good Friday, their second loss in a row. The Rabbitohs were rudderless in attack, repeatedly punished for ill-discipline, and lost Lachlan Hubner to a head knock early in the match. Euan Aitken was sin-binned, and Latrell Mitchell, trialled at five-eighth, delivered a forgettable first half before being shuffled to centre with little effect.

The latest reshuffle sees Latrell return to fullback, pushing Jye Gray to the bench and Lewis Dodd out of the side entirely. Jayden Sullivan returns from suspension and will partner Cody Walker in the halves, with Campbell Graham moving back to centre, Bayley Bentleigh-Hape starting on the wing, and Jai Arrow sliding to lock. It's a lot of movement for a side searching desperately for cohesion, and with zero wins in Melbourne, they face a monumental task.

Last meeting: Round 23 2024 - Rabbitohs 16 Storm 28

Who to watch: Winger Xavier Coates is a menace at AAMI Park, with a staggering 34 tries in 30 appearances at the venue. Expect him to be a focal point in their bounce-back effort.

Campbell Graham has a knack for finding the line against Melbourne, with six tries in his last seven games against them—he'll need to be at his damaging best to keep the Bunnies in it.

Favourite: Melbourne are the clear favourites in this one.

My tip: The Storm rarely lose two in a row, and Craig Bellamy won't allow another repeat of last week. Back on home turf, and up against a Rabbitohs side low on confidence and historically unsuccessful in Melbourne, it's hard to see anything but a strong Storm response. Storm by 12.

1. Ryan Papenhuyzen 2. Kane Bradley 3. Grant Anderson 4. Nick Meaney 5. Xavier Coates 6. Cameron Munster 7. Jahrome Hughes 8. Stefano Utoikamanu 9. Bronson Garlick 10. Josh King 11. Shawn Blore 12. Eliesa Katoa 13. Trent Loiero 14. Tyran Wishart 15. Alec MacDonald 16. Joe Chan 17. Lazarus Vaalepu 18. Ativalu Lisati 19. Sualauvi Faalogo 20. Keagan Russell-Smith 21. Coby Williamson 22. Nelson Asofa-Solomona

1. Latrell Mitchell 2. Bayleigh Bentley-Hape 3. Jack Wighton 4. Campbell Graham 5. Isaiah Tass 6. Cody Walker 7. Jayden Sullivan 8. Sean Keppie 9. Peter Mamouzelos 10. Tevita Tatola 11. Keaon Koloamatangi 12. Euan Aitken 13. Jai Arrow 14. Jye Gray 15. Siliva Havili 16. Davvy Moale 17. Tallis Duncan 18. Liam Le Blanc 19. Lewis Dodd 20. Thomas Fletcher 21. Salesi Ataata 22. Declan Casey

Referees: Peter Gough; Sideline Officials: Matt Noyen, Jarrod Cole; Video Referees: Adam Gee;