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Melbourne Storm vs Sydney Roosters NRL Round 26 Tips - Chookies likely to stay in the eight

Jeremy Darke

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Last updated: Wed 27 Aug 2025 13:19

Jeremy Darke 27 Aug 2025

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Melbourne Storm vs Sydney Roosters expert predictions for Friday’s Round 26 NRL game
Kick off is at 8:00 PM (AEST) at AAMI Park
Key players rested for Storm as Roosters aim for an upset in Round 26.
Predicted close match, under 44.5 points, with Daniel Tupou expected to score again.

Melbourne Storm vs Sydney Roosters NRL Round 26 Tips

Melbourne Storm vs Sydney Roosters, Round 26 2025 - Expert Prediction

I had the Roosters for the upset in this match but took the calculated hit to take either team 1-12 at little less odds, unable to overcome the head-to-head statistics in favour of the Storm.

Melbourne Storm vs Sydney Roosters, Round 26 2025 - Expert Prediction
Head to Head
Melbourne Storm Form Analysis
Melbourne Storm Team News
Melbourne Storm Team List
Sydney Roosters Form Analysis
Sydney Roosters Team News
Sydney Roosters Team List
Melbourne Storm vs Sydney Roosters NRL 2025 Round 26 FAQ’s

Storm vs Roosters Rd26 NRL Cheat Sheet

Melbourne have dominated Sydney over the last 5 seasons winning 12 of the last 13 matches including finals clashes. It is a scary number when combining it with a 30-4 record for the Storm at AAMI Park over the last 3 years and I am not brave enough to back against those trends considering they are the bread and butter of what we do here.

The Chooks will be desperate for a win but will have to do it without Sam Walker, who has been the game changer for the Roosters in the back end of the season. The positive is that the Storm are starting to rest players for the finals and although the minor premiership is still up for grabs, they have already locked in a top two finish and a home field advantage throughout the finals.

So if I had to pick, I would back Sydney but I’ll sit on the fence and also take the under with Walker out and Melbourne resting a blend of backs and forwards and also Jahrome Hughes still missing.

With tries scarce and both Melbourne wingers missing, Daniel Tupou will be flying high and will add to his incredible try scoring tally recording a 4-pointer in 7 of his last 8 matches.

4 of the last 5 Melbourne victories have been by a 1-12 margin
Sydney Roosters rank 1st in Efficiency Inside 20m while the Storm allow a try every 9.5 tackles in their red zone.
The Roosters rank 4th (23.5 points) in away points scored and 2nd (19.5 points) in Away points conceded in 2025.
Daniel Tupou has scored 12 tries in his last 8 matches

Head to Head

Melbourne have won 12 of the last 13 matches against the Roosters, including a 34-30 victory earlier this season.

The last time the Roosters beat Melbourne was at AAMI Park back in 2022.

The under on the game total has hit in 10 of the last 16 matches.

Melbourne Storm Form Analysis

The Storm have won 11 of their last 12 matches and have leaned on their defence to secure a top two finish this season with Jahrome Hughes being out for the last month.

It was another impressive performance from the Storm in their 20-14 win against the Bulldogs last weekend with the Dogs never really being a threat to the Melbourne line for the majority of the matchup despite Canterbury having 46 tackles inside the 20m.

Melbourne have won their last 5 matches while averaging just 11 points against per game in the last 4 contests with three of them being against current top 8 teams. The Storm simply suffocate their opponents in the middle, ranked second in the NRL with an average of 1305.7 opposition run metres per game and allowing a season total of just 17.7 points against.

Melbourne Storm Team News

Josh King, Eli Katoa, Nick Meaney and Xavier Coates have been rested for this match while Harry Grant has been given two weeks on the sideline after being suspended for a shoulder charge.

Kane Bradley and Siulagi Tuimalatu-Brown will start on the wings while Alec MacDonald and Shawn Blore join the pack with Bronson Garlick coming in as hooker. Lazarus Vaalepu comes onto the bench.

Melbourne Storm Team List

1. Ryan Papenhuyzen

2. Kane Bradley

3. Marion Seve

4. Grant Anderson

5. Siulagi Tuimalatu-Brown

6. Cameron Munster

7. Tyran Wishart

8. Stefano Utoikamanu

9. Bronson Garlick

10. Alec MacDonald

11. Shawn Blore

12. Joe Chan

13. Trent Loiero

Interchange

14. Jonah Pezet

15. Ativalu Lisati

16. Lazarus Vaalepu

17. Nelson Asofa-Solomona

Reserves

18. Sua Fa'alogo

19. Josiah Pahulu

20. Will Warbrick

21. Keagan Russell-Smith

22. Angus Hinchey

Sydney Roosters Form Analysis

The Roosters were red hot and now they are not after losing to Parramatta last weekend 30-10 which once again has them in a nervous state of missing the finals if the last couple of rounds do not go their way.

The loss of Sam Walker to concussion early in last weekend’s game threw a wrench in the works which affected them at both ends of the field. The combination of Walker and Daniel Tupou (who was also missing) has been their biggest strength in attack over the last month and with both of them out the Roosters lacked creativity.

The Roosters finals hopes will rest on Sandon Smith and Hugo Savala in the halves and Trent Robinson will call on his fearless leader James Tedesco to find the form he had a month or so ago to secure their place in September footy.

Sydney Roosters Team News

Hugo Savala has been named in the No.7 replacing his halves partner at halfback, Sandon Smith comes in as five-eighth.

Daniel Tupou replaces Junior Tupou on the wing after missing last week.

Spencer Leniu is named to start up front this week, while NaufahuWhyte is at lock, Victor Radley is on an edge and Siua Wong will come off the bench.

Sydney Roosters Team List

1. James Tedesco

2. Daniel Tupou

3. Billy Smith

4. Robert Toia

5. Mark Nawaqanitawase

6. Sandon Smith

7. Hugo Savala

8. Spencer Leniu

9. Connor Watson

10. Lindsay Collins

11. Angus Crichton

12. Victor Radley

13. Naufahu Whyte

Interchange

14. Benaiah Ioelu

15. Egan Butcher

16. Salesi Foketi

17. Siua Wong

Reserves

18. Ethan King

19. Blake Steep

20. Toby Rodwell

21. Tom Rodwell

22. Taylor Losalu

Melbourne Storm vs Sydney Roosters NRL 2025 Round 26 FAQ’s

How to watch Melbourne Storm vs Sydney Roosters NRL 2025 Round 26?

You can watch the Melbourne Storm vs Sydney Roosters NRL 2025 Round 26 game via Fox Sports or Kayo Sports. If you are watching from outside of Australia the WatchNRL app is the perfect solution.

How to buy tickets to Melbourne Storm vs Sydney Roosters NRL 2025 Round 26?

To buy tickets to the Melbourne Storm vs Sydney Roosters NRL 2025 Round 26 game check the NRL website or the official Melbourne Storm site.

Verdict

Melbourne Storm v Sydney Roosters

The game will be a tight one with either team winning by a 1-12 margin and staying under the game total of 44.5 points.

Daniel Tupou will score his 13th try in 9 matches.

Either Team

1-12 Winning Margin

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Under 44.5

Game Total

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