These two great rivals find themselves poles apart on form heading into a Good Friday blockbuster at CommBank Stadium.
Nathan Cleary has the Panthers humming as they remain unbeaten after four rounds with a staggering points differential of +110 while the Storm have been stunned by the Broncos and Cowboys in the past fortnight.
The Panthers are conceding just 7.5 points per game and look every inch the champion outfit that stormed to four consecutive premierships before bowing out a week before the big one in 2025.
The last time the Storm lost three in a row was midway through 2022 so you can expect their big guns Cameron Munster, Jahrome Hughes and Harry Grant to come out firing as they look to right the defensive wrongs of the past fortnight.
Team News
Panthers: Freddy Lussick will start at hooker in place of Mitch Kenny who is serving a one-game ban. Jack Cogger returns from concussion on the interchange and star centre Izack Tago has been listed on the six-man bench as he looks to force his way back into the NRL side after three games in NSW Cup. Tom Ale and Jack Cole dropped out in Thursday’s 24-hour update.
Storm: Jack Howarth has been ruled out on Thursday after failing to recover from a hip injury. His place is taken by Manaia Waitere. In positive news, Nick Meaney is back on deck from a back injury and will line up at centre in place of Moses Leo. Lazarus Vaalepu has also returned to the 19 after Tui Kamikamica suffered a medical episode on Monday.
Stat Attack
The Panthers have won seven of their last eight games at CommBank Stadium.
The Storm have won four of their last five games against the Panthers.
Panthers winger Brian To’o has scored eight tries in his last eight games against the Storm.
Storm hooker Harry Grant has scored four tries in his last five games at CommBank Stadium.
Panthers second-rower Liam Martin will play his 150th NRL game.
Stats supplied by David Middleton, League Information Services, author of the official annual of the NRL.