Match Day Guide: Round 1 v Panthers

Author: melbournestorm.com.au
Timestamp: Wed 6 Mar 2024, 04:27 PM

Melbourne Storm are ready to take on reigning premiers the Penrith Panthers in what is set to be a blockbuster season opener at AAMI Park this Friday night!

Secure your seat now!

Theme: 2024 Season Opener, sponsored by RedZed

Storm Zone: 4pm

Storm 9s on Gosch's: 4.30pm

Membership & merchandise: 4.30pm

Gates open: 6.30pm

Cointoss: 7.05pm

Melbourne Storm warm-up: 7.31pm

Storm Warning siren: 8.01pm

Thunderstruck with live guitarist: 8.02pm

NRL kick off: 8.05pm

Watch live on Channel 9, Fox League and Kayo.

Sneaky Sound System: 8.45pm

ARIA Award-winning artist Sneaky Sound System is set to perform at half-time of Storm's Season Opener.

Entertainment will not be confined to just the football field in the opening game of the season, with the Australian dance music group taking centre stage and performing a halftime show of their classic hits for the purple faithful.

Stay in your seats post-match for your chance to grab a signed carsales fan footy from one of the players! The men in purple will roam AAMI Park for 15 minutes post-match to meet and greet our Storm fam.

Follow along with Storm's exclusive content and live coverage on Twitter, Instagram, Facebook, Threads and TikTok.

Most notably, Round 1 of the 2024 season will see fan-favourite, Ryan Papenhuyzen, return to the starting fullback position, with Nick Meaney maintaining the centre position he held in both trials.

Check out the full team taking the field for Round 1:

Round 1 - Round 1 - Friday 8 Mar

Full Time

Storm

Panthers

Team Lists

Backs

Fullback for Storm is number 1 Ryan Papenhuyzen

Fullback for Panthers is number 1 Dylan Edwards
Winger for Storm is number 2 Will Warbrick

Winger for Panthers is number 2 Sunia Turuva
Centre for Storm is number 3 Reimis Smith

Centre for Panthers is number 3 Izack Tago
Centre for Storm is number 4 Nick Meaney

Centre for Panthers is number 4 Taylan May
Winger for Storm is number 5 Xavier Coates

Winger for Panthers is number 5 Brian To'o
Five-Eighth for Storm is number 20 Jonah Pezet

Five-Eighth for Panthers is number 6 Jarome Luai
Halfback for Storm is number 7 Jahrome Hughes

Halfback for Panthers is number 7 Nathan Cleary

Forwards

Prop for Storm is number 8 Tui Kamikamica

Prop for Panthers is number 8 Moses Leota
Hooker for Storm is number 9 Harry Grant

Hooker for Panthers is number 9 Luke Sommerton
Prop for Storm is number 10 Josh King

Prop for Panthers is number 10 James Fisher-Harris
2nd Row for Storm is number 11 Joe Chan

2nd Row for Panthers is number 11 Luke Garner
2nd Row for Storm is number 12 Eliesa Katoa

2nd Row for Panthers is number 12 Liam Martin
Lock for Storm is number 13 Trent Loiero

Lock for Panthers is number 13 Isaah Yeo

Interchange

Interchange for Storm is number 14 Tyran Wishart

Interchange for Panthers is number 15 Lindsay Smith
Interchange for Storm is number 15 Christian Welch

Interchange for Panthers is number 16 Liam Henry
Interchange for Storm is number 16 Chris Lewis

Interchange for Panthers is number 17 Matthew Eisenhuth
Interchange for Storm is number 17 Alec MacDonald

Interchange for Panthers is number 19 Soni Luke

Reserves

Replacement for Storm is number 19 Kane Bradley

Replacement for Panthers is number 18 Daine Laurie

Match Officials

Referee: Gerard Sutton
Touch Judge: Phil Henderson
Touch Judge: Dave Munro
Senior Review Official: Adam Gee

Last updated: 9/7/2024 12:25:51 PM

To celebrate our blockbuster season opener, our major partner and Round 1 sponsor, RedZed, will be handing out 10,000 RedZed x Storm flags around the AAMI Park concourse.

Make sure to stop by the RedZed archway on Gosch's Paddock to pick up a flag and showcase your purple pride!

Fans young and old can begin to build their own collection of their favourite Storm players, with Melbourne Storm trading cards available from the club’s membership tent on Gosch’s Paddock before the game.

With a new card available at every home game throughout the season, head down from 4pm Friday night to ensure you can complete the series!

To celebrate Round 1 at AAMI Park, Storm Zone is back for the season opener! Kicking off from 4pm, make sure to head down to Gosch's Paddock to get into the footy spirit.

Storm 9s

A new school's competition is set to light up Melbourne Storm game days, with the inaugural Storm 9’s competition launching this week on Gosch’s Paddock ahead of Storm’s Round 1 clash against the Penrith Panthers.

NRL HOGs National Tour

The HOGS National Tour, presented by Westpac and led by Brad Fittler, will conclude with the former NSW State of Origin coach bringing his cross-country bike ride to Victoria for the first time!

Fittler will be joined by Storm legends Cameron Smith, Tawera Nikau and Robbie Kearns on Gosch's Paddock from 5pm to meet fans and take in the sights of Melborune, before venturing into the stadium.

Activities

RedZed archway & flag giveaway
Grill'd hit the target
Face painters
Suzuki
Nova cassanovas
Food trucks
Live DJ
NRL Vic inflatable obstacle course and marquee
Mini Golf
Membership marquee
Merchandise marquee

Our 2024 merchandise is truly Made for Melbourne with our new apparel partner O'Neills taking your game day kit to the next level! From training gear to jersey replicas, we've got you sorted.

Shop the new range at the AAMI Park Storm Store, Gosch's Paddock, Aisle 24 and the new Clubhouse pop-up stall.

In 2024, we are Made for you and we are Made for Melbourne.

Made for Melbourne appeals to every member and fan. The young, the old, in Melbourne, across Australia and around the globe – no matter where you are.

If you are Made for Melbourne, memberships will be available for sale and collection from a marquee on Gosch's Paddock for member item collections.

If you are a Melbourne Storm Member you can scan your membership card to gain access to AAMI Park.

General Admission enter through Gate 7 and find a seat between aisles 12-19 and 31-38.
Reserved seat members can scan in and head to their reserved seat.

In 2024, we're also bringing back digital ticketing, with each game requiring individual tickets. See below for more information on how to redeem your digital ticket!

Journey

Make game day easy, be prepared and plan ahead. For more information about getting to and from the game by train, visit ptv.vic.gov.au.

Public Transport

AAMI Park is accessible by train, tram and bus. The stadium is walking distance from Richmond Station and Flinders Street Station.

Stop 7D is outside AAMI Park on the Tram 70 tram line from Flinders Street. If you are coming from the north Tram 45 (North Balwyn) and Tram 75 (Vermont South) will stop adjacent to the MCG.

Drive to The Footy

Parking at Melbourne Park is only available to guests who have pre-booked. Bookings close at midnight the night before the event. You will not be able to drive up without a booking.

If parking is sold out or unavailable, several private and public streetcar parks operate in close proximity to the precinct.

Yarra Park (MCG)
Securing Parking – 121 Exhibition Street
Secure Parking – 300 Flinders Street
Securing Parking – 12-20 Flinders Street
Secure Parking – Grand Hyatt Melbourne
Wilson Parking – 11 Exhibition Street
Wilson Parking – Collins Place
Wilson Parking – 32 Flinders Street
Wilson Parking – 172 Flinders Street
Wilson Parking – Federation Square
ACDC Garage – 114 Flinders Street
On-Street Parking via the Botanical Gardens along the Yarra River

Accessible Parking

Accessible parking must be pre-booked via Ticketek’s Accessible Bookings Hotline:

Reach them by phone on (03) 9286 1208 or;
Submit a request to be contacted online here.

We recommend parking is booked in advance to avoid disappointment. 

Please note, there are a limited number of accessible parking bays located at John Cain Arena (on Olympic Boulevard).

Taxi & Rideshare

A taxi rank is available next to The Oval on Olympic Boulevard. The pick-up and drop off point for rideshare services, such as Uber, is out the front of John Cain Arena on Olympic Boulevard. 

We encourage guests not to order their rideshare service until they have reached the pick-up point to avoid causing congestion along Olympic Boulevard.