Round 25 delivered another fierce chapter in the NRL season as the Melbourne Storm hosted the Penrith Panthers at AAMI Park on Thursday, 20 Aug. With the ladder-leading visitors arriving on the back of a tough loss against the Sydney Roosters, anticipation was high for how the contest would unfold under the Thursday night lights.
When the dust settled, it was the Penrith Panthers who secured the victory, overcoming the hosts by a final score of Melbourne Storm 14–22 Penrith Panthers. The result highlights the grit required on the road, adding another win to Penrith's impressive 2026 campaign while Melbourne fought hard on their home turf.
How the tips went
Looking back at our pre-match selections for this Round 25 fixture, the results are locked in. Our head-to-head tip backing the Melbourne Storm at 3 to pull off an upset ended in a loss, as the Panthers ultimately claimed the 22–14 victory.
However, our line selection proved successful. Taking Melbourne Storm +8.5 at 1.9 caught the right side of the handicap as the hosts kept the final margin within the eight-point buffer at AAMI Park.