Sea Eagles vs Storm NRL R5 predictions & best bets | April 6

Sea Eagles vs Storm NRL R5 best bets

NRL Round 5: Manly Sea Eagles vs Melbourne Storm preview

The Sea Eagles host the Storm at 4 Pines Park this Sunday in a clash between two fierce rivals in Round 5 of the 2025 NRL Premiership.

Manly have made a strong start to the year, sitting second on the NRL ladder after notching three wins — all at home — and piling on a league-high 124 points across four rounds.

Melbourne were stunned by the Dragons last week in Wollongong, and coach Craig Bellamy will be demanding a swift bounce-back, with the top online bookmakers pricing them as $1.55 favourites.

The visitors haven’t won at Brookvale since 2020, and Manly have claimed three of the last four meetings.

The Sea Eagles have been clinical at home in 2025 and continue to be underrated by the NRL betting market, with them being priced as $2.45 underdogs.

Anthony Seibold’s men are 21-13 at the line at 4 Pines Park, covering in five of seven day games at the venue.

Statistically, it’s an even matchup; both sides average over 31 points per game, with the Sea Eagles shading the Storm defensively by less than a point.

Sea Eagles vs Storm Round 5 team news

Manly Sea Eagles

1. Lehi Hopoate
2. Jason Saab
3. Tolutau Koula
4. Reuben Garrick
5. Clayton Faulalo
6. Luke Brooks
7. Daly Cherry-Evans
8. Nathan Brown
9. Jazz Tevaga
10. Siosiua Taukeiaho
11. Haumole Olakau’atu
12. Ben Trbojevic
13. Jake Trbojevic
14. Jake Simpkin
15. Corey Waddell
16. Ethan Bullemor
17. Toafofoa Sipley

Tom Trbojevic is the big out for Manly, with Lehi Hopoate stepping in at fullback. Clayton Faulalo returns on the wing, and Nathan Brown starts at prop with Toafofoa Sipley coming onto the bench.

Melbourne Storm

1. Ryan Papenhuyzen
2. Will Warbrick
3. Jack Howarth
4. Grant Anderson
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. Trent Loiero
14. Bronson Garlick
15. Alec MacDonald
16. Tui Kamikamica
17. Lazarus Vaalepu

The Storm have not named Jahrome Hughes in the 17, though the star halfback is listed among the reserves and could be a late inclusion. Lazarus Vaalepu joins the bench as the only named change.

Sea Eagles vs Storm NRL Rd 5 betting predictions

The Storm will be stinging after last week’s loss and should respond with a more disciplined display at 4 Pines Park. Manly will be missing Tom Trbojevic and Josh Aloiai, two key pieces on either side of the ball. Even without Jahrome Hughes, Melbourne’s forward dominance and kicking game should help them cover the line at BetOnline.

Reuben Garrick has been outstanding at Brookvale, racking up 56 points in three games at the venue this season. With ‘Turbo’ out, he’ll take on extra attacking responsibility and remains a focal point in Manly’s left-edge raids. The Storm have conceded tries on the edges this year, and Garrick’s strike rate at home makes $2.95 anytime tryscorer odds at BetOnline look very generous.

This game features two of the most potent attacking teams in the NRL, with both averaging over 30 points per game in 2025. Dry conditions at Brookvale and the history of high-scoring clashes between these sides support a bet on the overs at $1.90 with BetOnline. Five of the last six Sea Eagles games have cleared this mark, and the Storm are more than capable of piling on points when they click.

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