Here is all you need to know about the Melbourne Storm's 2023 Telstra Premiership draw.
The Lowdown
Teams they play twice
Eels, Titans, Tigers, Rabbitohs, Sea Eagles, Roosters, Broncos, Panthers.
Teams they play once
Bulldogs, Warriors, Dolphins, Knights, Sharks, Dragons, Cowboys, Raiders.
Day-by-day breakdown
- Thursday: 4 games
- Friday: 6 games
- Saturday: 10 games
- Sunday: 3 games
- Tuesday: 1 game
Turnaround time
- 5 Days: 2 games
- 6 Days: 6 Days
- 7+ Days: 15 games
Byes
Round 9, 13 and 19.
Season shapers: Storm
Opening month
The Storm will launch the season with a heavyweight Thursday night showdown against beaten grand finalists Parramatta before three games against sides they’ll be expected to beat in the Bulldogs, Titans and Wests Tigers.
Origin watch
Big guns Cameron Munster, Harry Grant, Christian Welch and Xavier Coates are Maroons certainties all things being equal so the Origin period will be tough. A bye ahead of Origin I helps while a clash with the Cowboys the weekend after the series opener will test both sides. The Storm play Wests Tigers on the weekend before Origin II and get another bye before the third game.
The run home
Based on the 2022 form guide then the Storm will be confident to power into another finals series on the back of three straight wins, with games against the Dragons (away) in Round 25, Titans (home) in Round 26 and Broncos (away) in the final round.
And another thing...
The Storm will play heavyweights the Panthers (Round 18) and Eels (Round 22) at a Melbourne venue to be confirmed later next year with AAMI Park out of action during this period. The Storm will be looking to play finals football for the 12th consecutive season, a golden run of success that includes two premierships in 2012 and 2020, as well as grand final appearances in 2016 and 2018.