Eels vs Storm

Minute-by-minute report: The new campaign kicks off at CommBank Stadium as the Eels host the Storm. Join Jonathan Howcroft for updates.

The move to the left, with a number of runarounds, is eye-catching and slick but the Storm’s rush defence is alert. It means Melbourne have a scrum 30m out and off the back they peel off to the right and have numbers – but Sivo steps out of the line, almost intercepts, but knocks-on. 17 mins: Paulo’s offloads have been a feature of the half so far and his grunt work takes the home side in sight of the posts. From here Hodgson again is alert to the space, feeds Brown on his left, the long cutout pass finds Sivo and Parra score the first try of the season! Meanwhile Munster has left the field with a dislocated finger – and Brad Fittler suggests it’s a compound injury with the bone piercing the skin. The Eels have numbers through, snuff out the danger, and we’re back to the arm-wrestle in midfield. 46 mins: Not a particularly inspired attacking set from Parra, despite the field position, and after running out of options to the right Gutherson kicks infield, Grant collects, Brown comes over the top and Melbourne can clear with a penalty. 51 mins: Munster with the dummy, dart and offload to turn a mundane set into a dynamic one. Not so Melbourne who spread the ball wide to the right, but there’s a turnover on the ground! Again, tackle four sees a deeper line and the ball through hands to the right through Hughes. Parramatta have a kicking opportunity 30m out but Moses is rushed, the kick is poor and Melbourne gather the bouncing bomb in broken play. It’s all Munster, drifting across to the left, feigning the pass to Asofa-Solomona, showing and going to the extend the ball left his hands!

The NRL season gets underway at Commbank Stadium in Parramatta tonight with the Eels playing the Storm. Follow Daily Mail Australia's live blog of all the ...

We will have to grind and grind and be prepared to play to the 80th minute.’ As per usual makes a heartfelt plea to the referee, but no dice. They're the sort of characteristics that the Storm and Craig Bellamy likes and he moulds them in to first grade,' Johns said on the Ch9 broadcast. [Melbourne](https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/melbourne/index.html) Storm great Smith was on punditry duty for Channel 9 ahead of his side's curtain raiser against the Parramatta Eels, and was tasked with the gee-up before the game begun - which is widely loved when performed by Phil Gould. 'Classic players that go to the Melbourne Storm and find a home. More penalty drama - this time the Storm are on the end of it. 'Last year was a coming of age for Mitchell Moses. A lot of people thinking this wouldn't be a round one match. This is four weeks into the competition,' he enthused. It's been a great first half.' ‘For the Storm to be even, they made around 70-odd more tackles, they had injuries to Cameron Munster, he was off the field. For them to be in this game, with this far out, it's been some effort.

Welcome to Wide World of Sports' LIVE coverage of round one of the NRL between the Parramatta Eels and Melb...

"The big strength is his balance, but his right-hand fend ... Will he be able to fend?" He's been pointing to the trainer and pointing to his left clavicle. He's grabbing around his throat. The Melbourne playmaker is back on the field after having his finger put back in at half-time. Xavier Coates departs the field grabbing at his left collarbone and is replaced on the left wing by Tyran Wishart.