The NRL is again for an additional 12 months and the Melbourne Storm might be seeking to lengthen their unimaginable successful file in Round 1.
But the numbers counsel their opponents this week, the Parramatta Eels, are primed to lastly snap that run.
Plus — why Wayne Bennett’s Dolphins may fancy themselves an opportunity of upsetting the Sydney Roosters and extra!
Read on for the stats that matter in Stat Attack for Round 1.
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Storm Chasers
Nobody has crushed the Storm in a spherical 1 match since Canterbury in 2001 (They misplaced their first match to the Knights in 2004 in spherical 2) however maybe the Eels are the workforce to lastly break their unimaginable streak.
In the previous three seasons, solely two groups have a successful file towards Melbourne, Penrith successful 4 of seven, and the Eels a formidable 5 of six together with every of their previous 4 match-ups. Just three groups have managed to win 5 straight video games towards Melbourne since they entered the Competition in 1999, the Bulldogs successful six straight from 2013-16 and 9 straight within the early 2000’s, and Newcastle six wins across the identical interval.
The recreation being performed at Bankwest may also assist the Eels possibilities of breaking Storm’s spherical one dominance. The Eels nearly 75 p.c successful file there may be simply their greatest at a stadium they’ve performed double determine video games at, whereas Melbourne’s one win from 4 begins there may be their worst at any present venue.
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All at Sei
New Manly coach Anthony Seibold has already led his workforce to a pre-season problem win and Sea Eagles’ followers might be hoping he can flip that pre season type into competitors factors and put an finish to 2 undesirable NRL Streaks.
Manly has misplaced 9 straight opening matches, with its final win in spherical 1 coming again in 2013. No workforce has misplaced 10 straight season openers for the reason that Eels within the early Sixties and previous to them it’s important to look again greater than 100 years to Annandale in 1920.
The Sea Eagles are additionally on a seven match NRL dropping streak – only one shy of their membership file worst eight, which has occurred on two events, as soon as in 1950 and the opposite in 1998-99.
Manly has a superb current file towards the Bulldogs successful eight of the previous 10 encounters, however they have been one level losers final begin within the remaining spherical of final season. Both video games in 2022 have been determined by a single level – neither aspect has ever performed three straight one level video games towards an opponent.
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Good Start?
The Dolphins could also be massive outsiders of their Premiership debut towards the Roosters, however Wayne Bennett has made a behavior of creating a superb impression early. He has gained three of his 5 first video games at a membership (Canberra, Brisbane, South Sydney) whereas his different two outcomes have been each golden level losses (Dragons and Knights).
Roosters coach Trent Robinson will definitely not be joyful about having to face Bennett once more in face to face matches. Only Craig Bellamy has gained extra video games then Bennet towards him (Bellamy 13, Bennett 12), and Robinson has gained simply two of his previous 9 begins towards Bennett.
This is simply the second time the Roosters have confronted an growth workforce of their opening match – the Sharks gained their first ever recreation towards the tri-colours again in 1967.
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