These two teams will need no time to find form.

The Sea Eagles and the Melbourne Storm have been two of the most dominant sides in the NRL for the past decade and when they meet; their battle for supremacy produces fantastic and ferocious games of football.

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The two sides played out a ten all draw when they met in round 10 last year in Melbourne but next time they met, the penultimate round of the regular season, Manly produced one of the best performances of the season to trounce Storm, 28 – 8 at Brookvale.

Manly’s major change to their off season has been the replacement of prop Brent Kite, now with Penrith and they’ve also seen another forward, George Rose leave for their opponents this week, Storm.

Stepping up to fill the gap in the forwards for the first match of the season will be Brenton Lawrence and Josh Starling – capable young replacements.

The backline for Manly is largely intact with the regular halves pairing of Cherry-Evans and Foran sure to create plenty of worries for opposing teams again this year.

The Storm will be without Cooper Cronk for this match due to a shoulder injury with his spot taken up by Ben Roberts, who after stints at Canterbury and more recently at the troubled Parramatta, finds himself in Melbourne.

Joining him in the halves will be another Ben, Ben Hampton who faces a tough ask given here given that he only made his first grade debut for the Storm in round 15 of last year.

No doubt, despite the changes and new faces to the Storm outfit, they will be a well-drilled side and whilst they may be enough to get them over the line against some other teams, against Manly at Brookvale, it will not.

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Odds Comparison:

Manly Sea Eagles	1.53	1.58	1.51	1.58	1.53	1.62
Melbourne Storm	2.50	2.40	2.55	2.40	2.50	2.30

All odds are subject to change. Odds listed are correct at the time of the latest update.

Teams:

Manly Sea Eagles:

Brett Stewart, Cheyse Blair, Jamie Lyon (c), Steve Matai, Peta Hiku, Kieran Foran,Daly Cherry-Evans, Josh Starling, Matt Ballin, Brenton Lawrence, Anthony Watmough, Justin Horo, Glenn Stewart

Interchange: Jesse Sene-Lefao, James Hasson, Jamie Buhrer, Dunamis Lui

Melbourne Storm:

Billy Slater, Sisa Waqa, Will Chambers, Mahe Fonua, Young Tonumaipea, Ben Hampton, Ben Roberts, Jesse Bromwich, Cameron Smith (c), Bryan Norrie, Kevin Proctor, Ryan Hoffman, Ryan Hinchcliffe

Interchange: Kenny Bromwich, Tohu Harris, Jordan McLean, George Rose, Mitch Garbutt, Slade Griffin, Joel Romelo (three to be omitted)