Melbourne Storm vs South Sydney Rabbitohs NRL Round 8 Tips & Prediction - Storm to snap five-game losing run

Andrew Hendrie

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Last updated: Thu 23 Apr 2026 02:45

Andrew Hendrie 23 Apr 2026

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Melbourne Storm vs South Sydney Rabbitohs predictions for Saturday's NRL R8 game
Souths have horrendous record in Melbourne, losing all 20 games
Storm tipped to return to winners circle - but their left edge defence remains shambolic
The game is scheduled for kick off at 8.10pm AEST on Saturday April 25

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Storm host Rabbitohs on Saturday (Photo by Getty Images)

Melbourne Storm vs South Sydney Rabbitohs NRL Round 8 Tips & Prediction

South Sydney's 20-game curse in Melbourne is set to continue as the Storm finally snap their losing streak in an ANZAC Day blockbuster at AAMI Park.

Melbourne Storm vs South Sydney Rabbitohs NRL Round 8 Tips & Prediction
Storm vs Rabbitohs Stats & Trends
Storm vs Rabbitohs Head To Head
Melbourne Storm Form Analysis
South Sydney Rabbitohs Form Analysis
Melbourne Storm vs South Sydney Rabbitohs Team News

It's one of the most daunting stats in all of Australian sport - the Rabbitohs have sensationally lost all 20 games against the Storm in Melbourne, including the old Olympic Park and current AAMI Park. For whatever reason, the Bunnies can't seem to find a way to win down south and now they face a Storm side reeling from five consecutive defeats for the first time since 2012 and determined to bounce back in front of their home fans on an adrenaline-fuelled ANZAC Day.

It obviously hasn't been pretty viewing for Storm fans, but I actually don't think they're travelling too badly. Three of their five defeats were by exactly four points - if they win those games, we're not even talking about them. One of the others was against Penrith (no big deal), so the only bad loss in this period was against the Warriors at home a fortnight ago. Any side with Harry Grant, Cameron Munster and Jahrome Hughes has got to pick things up sooner rather than later. Craig Bellamy will simply demand the two points here.

Souths also remain unreliable. One week after being outclassed by Canberra, the Rabbitohs were in a spot of bother against the woeful Dragons, only opening up a big lead in the final 10 minutes after Jaydn Su'A was sent off.

I think the Storm are good to cover a small -3.5 line, while I think the total points line of 50.5 is large for a big occasion such as ANZAC Day, where both teams will want to make a statement through defence.

In terms of the Anytime Tryscorers, I'm going to go against the grain and put my faith in Souths' less-talked about right edge. And that's due to Melbourne's dreadful left-side defence, which has conceded a whopping 19 tries so far this season. Backing Campbell Graham and Jack Wighton, who is great value at $4.20 with Neds (he's almost a full $1 shorter at most other Australian bookmakers).

Storm vs Rabbitohs Stats & Trends

Rabbitohs have lost all 20 games vs Storm in Melbourne
Storm have won 84 per cent of their games vs Rabbitohs
Storm have won their last nine ANZAC Day games
Twelve of the last 13 meetings between the teams have seen Under 50.5 points
Storm's left edge have leaked 19 tries this season
Jack Wighton scored a double vs Storm last season & has two tries in his last four games this season
Campbell Graham has scored a try in three of his last five games
22 of Rabbitohs' 30 tries this season have been scored by a winger or centre

Storm vs Rabbitohs Head To Head

Storm have won the last four meetings between the teams, including a pair of tight victories in 2025.

Year	Winner	Score	Venue
2025	Melbourne	25–24	Accor
2025	Melbourne	24–16	AAMI
2024	Melbourne	28–16	Accor
2024	Melbourne	54–20	AAMI
2023	South Sydney	28–12	Suncorp

Melbourne Storm Form Analysis

It's absolutely wild to see the Storm languishing in 15th position on the ladder heading into Round 8, but that's the brutal reality of their season to date.

Melbourne were on fire to start the year (like they usually are), piling 98 points on the Eels and Dragons, but they haven't won since.

Craig Bellamy's side have lost their last five matches against the Broncos, Cowboys, Panthers, Warriors and Raiders - although, as mentioned, three of those defeats were by exactly four points.

One of those losses was last week's 26-22 defeat to Canberra in the nation's capital. Once again, the Storm were in control early before conceding a pair of second-half tries and penalty goals to go down.

South Sydney Rabbitohs Form Analysis

The Rabbitohs have registered a 4-2 record for the year and climbed into the top four heading into this clash.

However, Souths are still hard to get an accurate read on - they've beaten some good teams in the Bulldogs and Tigers so far this season, but were poor against the Raiders in Perth and weren't convincing last week against the rock-bottom Dragons.

Latrell had a big day out with four tries as he took advantage of a woeful Valentine Holmes, while Matt Dufty enjoyed a triumphant return to the NRL, running for a whopping 333 metres as he replaced Jye Gray at fullback.

Melbourne Storm vs South Sydney Rabbitohs Team News

No changes to the 19-man Storm side that went down to Canberra.

Bronson Garlick comes in at hooker for Souths, with Brandon Smith moving to the back row. Keaon Koloamatangi looks to be playing injured and is named on the bench.

Melbourne Storm	Position	South Sydney Rabbitohs
Sualauvi Faalogo	1	Matthew Dufty
Will Warbrick	2	Alex Johnston
Jack Howarth	3	Latrell Mitchell
Nick Meaney	4	Jack Wighton
Manaia Waitere	5	Campbell Graham
Cameron Munster	6	Cody Walker
Jahrome Hughes	7	Jamie Humphreys
Stefano Utoikamanu	8	Tevita Tatola
Harry Grant	9	Bronson Garlick
Josh King	10	Sean Keppie
Joe Chan	11	Brandon Smith
Cooper Clarke	12	Tallis Duncan
Trent Loiero	13	Cameron Murray
Tyran Wishart	14	Peter Mamouzelos
Alec MacDonald	15	Lachlan Hubner
Shawn Blore	16	Jayden Sullivan
Davvy Moale	17	Keaon Koloamatangi
Jack Hetherington	18	Euan Aitken
Hugo Peel	19	Liam Le Blanc

Verdict

Melbourne Storm v South Sydney Rabbitohs

The Storm are tipped to bounce back with a win over Souths, who's horror record in Melbourne will continue. Wighton & Graham can find success down the Storm's suspect left side.