Melbourne Storm v NZ Warriors NRL best bets – ANZAC Day 2023
| Melbourne Storm v New Zealand Warriors NRL Betting Odds & Game Info | |
|---|---|
| Best odds | Storm $1.22 at BetOnline | Warriors $4.20 at BetOnline |
| When | Tuesday, April 25 | 7pm AEST |
| Where | AAMI Park, Melbourne |
| Last Time They Met | Warriors 12–24 Storm (Rd 20, 2022) |
| Watch live | Nine, Fox Sports, Kayo |
ANZAC Round of the NRL Premiership for 2023 wraps up in Melbourne with the annual trans-Tasman clash between the Storm and Warriors at AAMI Park.
New Zealand Warriors fans will remember this match in 2022 where the home side put on a point-scoring clinic led by Ryan Papenhuyzen, Xavier Coates and Jahrome Hughes. However, this new-look Warriors outfit is sitting in the top four and will be looking to edge closer to the top of the table with a win.
The visiting side welcomes back Marata Niukore to the second row, which pushes Bayley Sironen to the interchange bench and Taine Tuaupiki to the reserves list.
The Melbourne Storm have also made changes to the side that lost to the Sea Eagles in Manly last week. Nick Meaney returns from concussion, which pushes Cameron Munster back to the five-eighth role and Jonah Pezet to the reserves, while the loss of Tui Kamikamica is softened by the return of Nelson Asofa-Solomona.
The Storm are short favourites to win this match, and rightly so with the players coming back from injury on their home ground. However, the Warriors have been the most improved team in the NRL for 2023 and will be primed to make a statement. While they may not be expected to win, the visitors can do enough to cover the 12.5-point line at $1.81 with the top bookmakers.
The beginning of this match for the Warriors will be crucial. Enforcer Addin Fonua-Blake put his hand up last week to score first for his club, which made it five starts in a row that the Kiwi side had scored the first try of the match. If the Warriors are any hope of winning, or making a tight contest out of this game, they need to be the first side to score ($2.62).
Perfect weather is predicted for Melbourne on ANZAC Day, yet this should be a very different affair to last year’s blowout. The Warriors have turned themselves into one of the better defensive teams in the league, while the Storm have been well below their point-scoring potential in 2023. Those factors suggest we will be in for a low-scoring affair with less than 42.5 points recorded ($1.90).
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Key matchup: Nelson Asofa-Solomona v Addin Fonua-Blake
Nelson Asofa-Solomonavs 
Addin Fonua-Blake |
| 27 | Age | 27 |
| 200cm | Height | 189cm |
| 115kg | Weight | 123kg |
| 166 | Games | 140 |
| 28 | Tries | 17 |
The battle up front between these two alpha-male forwards could be the highlight of the night. Asofa-Solomona’s return from injury will be the aspect of this clash creating the most interest. If the Storm enforcer can dominate Fonua-Blake physically in the middle third, the Warriors may struggle to achieve quicker ruck speed and move down the field.
Who will win the game between storms vs warriors