![](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/nz\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/poster-fallback.png\"\/)
<\/p>\nThe Parramatta Eels were handed a reality check in their loss to the Melbourne Storm, while Michael Maguire has come under fire over his Brisbane Broncos selections.<\/p>\n
Elsewhere, Harry Grant showed why he is considered one of the game\u2019s elite, while a host of new faces stamped their mark on the competition for the Raiders.<\/p>\n
Read on for the Talking Points from Round 1. <\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
WHAT’S GAMBLING REALLY COSTING YOU? Set a deposit limit. For Free and confidential support call 1800 858 858 or visit gamblinghelponline.org.au.<\/p>\n
Watch every game of every round of the Premiership Season LIVE with no ad-breaks during play on FOX LEAGUE, available on Kayo Sports | New to Kayo? Join now and get your first month for just $1.<\/a><\/p>\n \u2018EMBARRASSING\u2019 MOMENT EXPOSES REALITY FOR EELS HYPE TRAIN<\/p>\n Melbourne\u2019s thumping win over the Eels exposed a glaring issue as they continue to rebuild into the Jason Ryles era, according to club legend Nathan Hindmarsh and former State of Origin representative Bryan Fletcher.<\/p>\n The Eels entered 2026 with high expectations, both because of the way they ended the 2025 season and the addition of five-eighth Jonah Pezet alongside a healthy Mitchell Moses. <\/p>\n But even though Moses made an immediate impact in his return from injury last season, he had been playing alongside Dylan Brown for so long that it was perhaps a bit unrealistic to expect he and Pezet to hit the ground running right away. <\/p>\n The error count obviously didn\u2019t help, denying Pezet and Moses the chance to build much pressure, but in comparison to the established Melbourne spine Fletcher said it looks like more patience may be needed with Parramatta\u2019s new-look combination.<\/p>\n \u201cIt was the cohesion of all their playmakers,\u201d Fletcher said on The Late Show with Matty Johns.<\/p>\n \u201cI mean Parramatta, they\u2019ve got Moses and Pezet and Iongi at the back, but they haven\u2019t played with each other that many games.<\/p>\n \u201cIt was quite evident that those big three in (Cameron) Munster, Jahrome (Hughes) and Harry (Grant) – they know their game so well and the rest of them just do their job as they do.<\/p>\n \u201cI thought it might\u2019ve been a little bit closer than that.\u201d<\/p>\n READ MORE<\/p>\n Penrith respond to Lomax rumour; Dolphins star\u2019s call amid $2m rugby war: Whispers<\/a><\/p>\n \u2018Can\u2019t fine everyone\u2019: Souths star v cranky Wayne as debate rages over record moment<\/a><\/p>\n Madge\u2019s $1.5m powerplay for Warriors gun as Broncos star makes shock PNG admission<\/a><\/p>\n Eels get ‘schooner of reality’ | 00:26<\/p>\n Hindmarsh, meanwhile, expressed more concern in Parramatta\u2019s ruck defence, which was continually exposed by Grant. <\/p>\n There was one particular moment which Andrew Voss described as \u201cembarrassing\u201d in commentary where a speedy Grant sliced right through the middle of the Eels defence to score, while he later buried over from dummy-half for a double.<\/p>\n \u201cHow many times have we seen him (Grant) do it? You know he\u2019s going to run if the markers aren\u2019t square. There\u2019s a marker down, he\u2019s going to run, he engages them very well.\u201d Hindmarsh said.<\/p>\n \u201cThere\u2019s a few tries I don\u2019t think should\u2019ve been scored.<\/p>\n \u201cThe Melbourne Storm\u2026 you can never underestimate them, but I honestly thought going into this game that Parramatta were going to be a little bit more on their game.\u201d<\/p>\n Mitchell Moses of the Eels looks dejected. (Photo by Daniel Pockett\/Getty Images)Source: Getty Images<\/p>\n BUNNIES LEFT-EDGE LIVES UP TO THE HYPE<\/p>\n Entering the match against the Dolphins on Sunday, all eyes were on the Rabbitohs\u2019 left-edge and they didn\u2019t disappoint.<\/p>\n In 80 minutes, the edge of David Fifita, Cody Walker, Latrell Mitchell and Alex Johnston combined for three tries, two try assists, two line-breaks, one 40\/20 and 333 running metres, putting the rest of the competition on notice.<\/p>\n Recruited from the Gold Coast Titans where he spent the majority of last season in reserve-grade there were worries that Fifita couldn\u2019t reclaim the form that saw him represent Queensland but he showed glimpses off this against the Dolphins.<\/p>\n \u201cWe were happy with David. I don\u2019t know why he got the sin-bin but the rest of his game was good,\u201d Rabbitohs coach Wayne Bennett said.<\/p>\n Cameron Murray added, \u201cIt\u2019s nice not having to tackle him like I have for the most part of my career, so it\u2019s good running out next to him and he\u2019s just a big physical presence.<\/p>\n \u201cHe attracts a lot of defenders and it takes a fair amount of effort to stop him so he just adds a lot of strike power and presence to our team.<\/p>\n \u201cHe\u2019s committed to what we\u2019re building here and he\u2019s got a great attitude and he\u2019s just buying into what we stand for.\u201d<\/p>\n New Bunnies win shootout over Phins | 02:57<\/p>\n Meanwhile, five-eighth Cody Walker was back to his best and was able to control the attack, especially once Ashton Ward (ankle) went down with injury and was ruled out of the contest at half-time.<\/p>\n This was illustrated when he kicked a 40\/20 just as it seemed their opponents were beginning to gain some momentum after scoring back-to-back tries.<\/p>\n \u201cCody is a big game player who steps up in the big moments. He changed the momentum and it was something we really needed,\u201d Murray said.<\/p>\n And Latrell Mitchell was fluent and back to his destructive best after making the transition from fullback to the centres.<\/p>\n While he had fewer touches of the ball, every time he got it in his hands, he made the most of those opportunities. <\/p>\n \u201cLatrell was happy with that and accepted that and he showed what he can do in the centres,\u201d Bennett continued. <\/p>\n \u201cI\u2019d like to think he will play most of the season in the centres.\u201d<\/p>\n Madge: ‘We had 18 errors!’ | 04:07<\/p>\n BRONCOS CRITICISED FOR SPINE RESHUFFLE BLUNDER<\/p>\n The Broncos have been blasted for Michael Maguire\u2019s confounding decision to bench Ezra Mam for their 26-0 thrashing by the Panthers. <\/p>\n Mam came off the bench last season after he was suspended for the first 10 games and then returned from injury in the finals for the Broncos\u2019 tilt at the title. <\/p>\n However, he was widely expected to start at five-eighth this season as he did in the World Club Challenge, with Ben Hunt expected to switch to hooker or bench utility. <\/p>\n But Maguire threw a massive selection bombshell ahead of the Panthers clash with Mam returning to his bench role and Hunt starting at five-eighth. <\/p>\n By the time Mam came on the field 10 minutes before half-time the Panthers already had a commanding 12-0 lead and Braith Anasta couldn\u2019t understand the logic behind the shock call. <\/p>\n \u201cI couldn\u2019t get my head around it I really couldn\u2019t,\u201d Anasta said on Fox League. <\/p>\n \u201cEzra is a freak and we saw it in the Grand Final off the bench and I understand at that stage Ezra missed a big part of the season and Hunt and Reynolds earnt their positions. <\/p>\n \u201cBut in this case after a full pre-season and he is your best option at five-eighth and you have got to start fast.\u201d <\/p>\n Anasta started a few games off the bench in his career and noted how hard it is for a playmaker to get himself into the game off the pine. <\/p>\n \u201cIt is always hard as a half to get into the game coming off the bench,\u201d Anasta explained. <\/p>\n \u201cYou are watching and you are not in the rhythm of the game. You want to make an impact when you come on so sometimes you try a little bit too hard like he did tonight. <\/p>\n \u201cI would have started him. I don\u2019t get it. Two ageing halves starting.\u201d <\/p>\n It may not take long for Maguire to backflip on the decision, with former Broncos coach Kevin Walters predicting he will be rethinking the selection call in the coming weeks. <\/p>\n \u201cIt is the coach\u2019s call to make that decision, I guess Maguire wanted to go back to the Grand Final combination with Paix at No.9, Hunt at No.6 and Ezra coming off the bench,\u201d Walters said. <\/p>\n \u201cHe has had a full pe-season so it couldn\u2019t be a fitness thing. It is one that Maguire will no doubt look at.\u201d <\/p>\n Ben Hunt started at five-eighth with Ezra Mam benched.Source: Getty Images<\/p>\n Greg Alexander, however, like Anasta couldn\u2019t work out why the Broncos have spent a whole pre-season with Mam at five-eighth only to change it for the first game. <\/p>\n \u201cIn the World Club Challenge Ezra started and I would start him,\u201d Alexander said. <\/p>\n \u201cI\u2019ve been saying this leading up to this year that given what we saw from Mam last year when he got onto the field.\u201d <\/p>\n Mam is one of the Broncos\u2019 highest paid stars on a deal worth $1.1 million a season and Alexander believes Brisbane can\u2019t afford to have a match winner and one of their highest paid players riding the pine. <\/p>\n \u201cThere was a game against the Bulldogs at Accor Stadium and Ezra won them the game. He is a match winner. He can win you the match on his own,\u201d Alexander said. <\/p>\n \u201cHe can do things that win your team the game and I just think he needs to be on the field for 80 minutes. I don\u2019t think there is a need to put him on the bench.\u201d <\/p>\n It wasn\u2019t just the fact that Brisbane was missing Mam\u2019s spark early in the game.<\/p>\n Michael Ennis felt it was a poor decision that was unfair on Hunt, who had to double his defensive load, which blunted his creativity hen he moved to dummyhalf. <\/p>\n Ennis feels the Broncos would be better served bringing Hunt on fresh off the bench to work his magic in shorter bursts. <\/p>\n \u201cI felt sorry for Hunt tonight,\u201d Ennis said.<\/p>\n \u201cHaving to do that defensive workload, that left edge of Brisbane got put under a lot of pressure. But through the middle of the field it was death by a thousand cuts with Penrith. They stay at you through the middle and they are relentless. <\/p>\n \u201cAnd for Ben Hunt at 35 to have to go from a defensive workload on the left in a fast start and then to move into he middle and try and execute and be creative and get his job done defensively, it is a big ask.<\/p>\n \u201cI think Brisbane would have been more suited to bringing Ben Hunt onto the field fresh.<\/p>\n \u201cI love the combination of Mam and Walsh together. They just have this chemistry together, They are electric.\u201d <\/p>\n GRANT SHINES AS STORM SPINE SEND REMINDER IN STATEMENT WIN <\/p>\n All the talk heading into Round 1 was about the players the Storm have lost, but their stars reminded everyone just how good they are in clinical 52-4 thrashing of the Eels. <\/p>\n Harry Grant was the best player on the field with 63 run metres, seven tackle busts, two linebreaks and two tries, while Cameron Munster and Jahrome Hughes were not far behind with 130 metres and four try assists between them, <\/p>\n Meanwhile, the Storm unearthed their next superstar fullback in Sua Fa\u2019alogo, who ran for 125 metres to go with four linebreak assists, a try assist and a classy double including a chip and chase try that was shades of Billy Slater at his brilliant best.<\/p>\n Ryan Papenhuyzen was a massive loss, as was Eliesa Katoa and Nelson Asofa-Solomona, but in Fa\u2019alogo the Storm have a star of the future. <\/p>\n Joe Chan and Ativalu Lisati, meanwhile, stood up in the second row as the Storm sent an ominous warning to the rest of the competition. <\/p>\n But it was Melbourne\u2019s core trio that made the biggest statement on Friday according to Michael Ennis, even if it wasn\u2019t all that surprising.<\/p>\n \u201cThere had been so much focus this week on, \u2018Boy this Storm side looks a lot different. Geez, they\u2019ve lost some experience\u2019, and that\u2019s true,\u201d Ennis said on Fox League. <\/p>\n \u201cBut we focused so much on who wasn\u2019t there we forgot about who is there. These are three of the best players in the game. Harry Grant, Cameron Munster and Jahrome Hughes and they are showing us why tonight. They have been superb.\u201d<\/p>\n Grant scored a brilliant double in a superb 60 minutes before he went off late with an injury scare, with Ennis lauding his performance as one of the best he has seen from a Storm No.9 following in the footsteps of the great Cameron Smith. <\/p>\n Harry Grant dominated for the Storm.Source: News Corp Australia<\/p>\n \u201cThey have put the blowtorch on the Eels\u2019 middle and Harry Grant is just destroying him,\u201d Ennis said. <\/p>\n \u201cThis is an 11 out of 10 (performance) from Grant, the golden boot winner just burrows low with his body position and powers his way over the top of Smith and Iongi. <\/p>\n \u201cThe Melbourne captain has made a Round 1 statement to the competition. He has been absolutely superb. Just watching him go about his work is absolutely elite. <\/p>\n \u201cI think all of us that have played this position just admire what Grant does. How can you not? He is absolutely world class and no doubt Craig Bellamy is loving this.\u201d <\/p>\n Voss went further with a huge call that Grant\u2019s performance was better than anything Smith ever produced, particularly with his running game. <\/p>\n \u201cThe first 52 minutes from Grant was as good as you will see from a modern day No.9,\u201d Voss said. <\/p>\n \u201cEverything he does turns to gold. Every play, every touch has been as good as you can get.<\/p>\n \u201cThis is better than Cameron Smith at his best and I don\u2019t say that lightly.\u201d <\/p>\n While Storm coach Craig Bellamy didn\u2019t want to give too much thought to such a lofty comparison, he said he and the club as a whole were lucky to have transitioned from a player of Smith\u2019s calibre to Grant.<\/p>\n \u201cAt the end of the day we\u2019re talking about two different players and probably two different eras and they are both wonderful, wonderful players,\u201d Bellamy said.<\/p>\n \u201cI just look back and look forward and just think like how fortunate this club\u2019s been or how fortunate for me as a coach to have two guys that touch the ball more than anybody else in the team and to have Cameron play as long as he did and then soon as he retired Harry came in after.<\/p>\n \u201cSo, let\u2019s say the whole club has been very fortunate to have two players like Cameron and Harry.\u201d<\/p>\n The Storm next face the Dragons, who beat them in a shock upset at WIN Stadium in the corresponding fixture last year. <\/p>\n