Storm v Eels NRL betting tips & multi picks – July 28, 2023

Melbourne v Parramatta NRL best bets

Storm v Eels NRL R22 match preview

The Parramatta Eels will travel to Melbourne to take on the Storm this Friday night after both sides lost their round 21 NRL matches.

Melbourne Storm coach Craig Bellamy has made several changes to the starting side after their loss to the Knights in Newcastle. Justin Olam has been dropped from the centres, while Nelson Asofa-Solomona (finger), Reimis Smith (hip) and Tariq Sims (suspended) are also out of the side.

Marion Seve and Young Tonumaipea have been named as the new centres pairing. Tom Eisenhuth will play in the second row and Eliesa Katoa returns from an eye injury to fill out the interchange bench.

Eels coach Brad Arthur has been forced to make one change after Shaun Lane (elbow) went down against the Cowboys. Andrew Davey has been promoted to the starting second-row position, with new club recruit Joey Lussick replacing him on the bench.

The Storm currently sit fourth on the NRL ladder, with the Eels sitting eighth. While the Eels will view this as a must-win match for their hopes of making the NRL finals, the Storm have more to play for with a top-four position and a home final on the line.

Coach Bellamy labelled his side’s performance in round 21 as one of the most “disappointing 70 minutes” that he can remember. Expect a strong bounce-back game from the Storm as they cover -6.5 line at generous $1.99 odds with the top NRL bookmakers.

Storm five-eighth Cameron Munster has been in good form of late without playing to the superstar level he has previously shown. Munster has been assisting in scoring tries while breaking tackles and defensive lines. Although, Munster has not scored a try since his round 12 match against the Dolphins. Expect Munster to respond to his coach’s comments in a strong individual performance and score a try at any time during the match ($2.60).

In Melbourne’s two wins since the end of the State of Origin series, Queensland winger Xavier Coates has scored five tries to go with multiple tackle and defensive line breaks. Coates will be marked this Friday by Eels winger Waqa Blake, who defended the edge that conceded three of the Cowboys’ four tries last weekend. Based on recent history, a Storm win should provide the opportunity for Coates to score two or more tries ($4.40).

Storm v Eels key matchup: Munster v Moses

Cameron Munster vs Mitchell Moses

Cameron Munster will be attacking the Eels’ right edge, defended by halfback Mitchell Moses. The pair faced each other twice in State of Origin, where Moses was solid defensively. However, the series appears to have taken a toll on Moses; in the last two weeks alone, he has missed 14 tackles. Munster will be acutely aware of Moses’ issues in defence, and if the Eels halfback cannot keep Munster quiet in attack, the Eels will struggle to win.

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