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Parramatta Eels v Melbourne Storm Thursday 7:50pm at CommBank Stadium, Parramatta / Burramattagal

They have already knocked off one premiership contender, so can Mitchell Moses inspire the Eels to a second-straight win over a competition heavyweight?

The Eels could play spoiler for a number of finals hopefuls down the stretch, with their lowly ladder position far from an accurate representation of what this team is capable of at its best.

That was perfectly illustrated last week in Moses' return, with the Parramatta halfback's kicking game and general leadership making a noticeable difference for an Eels side that had looked the part in stages without him but lacked consistency across the entire 80 minutes.

On Friday night, it would have been easy for the Eels to crumble as the Broncos threatened to steal the game late - and they almost did if Reece Walsh had timed his run better.

But with Moses back in the side, even as they were tiring late, there was a certain steel to this Eels side that was lacking in the latter stages of the previous week's loss to the Raiders.

Despite the win against Brisbane, Parramatta still remains at serious risk of winning the wooden spoon which, again, would not be a genuine reflection of the progress Jason Ryles has made in his first year in charge.

It means there is added motivation beyond just playing spoilers for a team like the Storm, who still have minor premiership ambitions even if those were severely dented by a shoulder injury to Jahrome Hughes last week.

What looked like a potential season-ending blow for the superstar halfback has since been confirmed to only be a six-week injury, with the Kiwi international targeting a return for the first week of the finals.

Harry Grant stepped up in Hughes' absence to lead a Storm team that was already without Cameron Munster to a tight win over the Roosters last week.

Munster returns for Thursday's game while Ryan Papenhuyzen (calf) is also back in a welcome boost.

Tyran Wishart partners Munster in the halves, while in a backline reshuffle Papenhuyzen's return sees Nick Meaney move to the centres, Grant Anderson shift to the wing and Kane Bradley bumped back to 18th man.

Tui Kamikamica, meanwhile, starts at lock with Trent Loiero rested, which sees Jonah Pezet join the bench.

The Storm have a strong recent record against the Eels, winning their last five and scoring 182 points (an average of 45.5 per game) in their past four.

Last meeting: Round 1 2025 - Storm 56 Eels 18

Who to watch: It is the obvious one but any hope the Eels have of pulling off a second-straight upset rests on the shoulders of Mitchell Moses. The impact of his return was noticeable last week, not only in what he produced but even in the way his teammates responded to his presence. You can tell Moses is a vocal leader, the glue that holds this team together when they are forced to defend their line on multiple occasions and against a relentless Storm outfit that may happen quite a few times on Thursday night. So, as much as Moses' long-range kicking game and the overall direction he brings to the attack will help Parramatta's cause, his voice in itself will also be a welcome presence as the Eels navigate the last stretch of the season.

For the Storm, even if they won last week, look for Munster to step up in Hughes' absence. The five-eighth missed the game against the Roosters after being given the week off to attend his father's funeral. Now back in the frame, the Queensland Maroons five-eighth should thrive with the added responsibility of steering the team around without his usual running mate. While in the past that may be a cause for concern given Munster was often better playing off of a dominant halfback, he has matured and grown as a player and leader to the extent that the Storm will be confident in his ability to shoulder most of the long-range kicking. 

The favourite: Melbourne is well-backed to continue its winning ways without Hughes.

My tip: The Eels won't make this easy, certainly not as easy as it was in Melbourne at the start of the year, but the return of Munster and Papenhuyzen offsets the loss of Hughes and the Storm machine should roll on. Storm by 14.

1. Joash Papali'i 2. Zac Lomax 3. Viliami Penisini 4. Sean Russell 5. Josh Addo-Carr 6. Dean Hawkins 7. Mitchell Moses 8. J'maine Hopgood 9. Ryley Smith 10. Junior Paulo 11. Charlie Guymer 12. Jack Williams 13. Dylan Walker 14. Tallyn Da Silva 15. Luca Moretti 16. Matt Doorey 17. Sam Tuivaiti 18. Jordan Samrani 22. Dylan Brown

1. Ryan Papenhuyzen 2. Grant Anderson 3. Jack Howarth 4. Nick Meaney 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. Tui Kamikamica 14. Jonah Pezet 15. Ativalu Lisati 16. Bronson Garlick 17. Joe Chan 18. Kane Bradley 22. Lazarus Vaalepu

Referees: Gerard Sutton; Sideline Officials: Ziggy Przeklasa-Adamski, Chris Sutton; Video Referees: Chris Butler;