Why Melbourne Storm stars took the strange step of wearing Penrith jerseys ahead of their finals clash with the Panthers
- A bizarre sight occurred during an opposite session
- Storm is a big underdog for the preliminary final
- Both teams have stars returning from injury
Melbourne have taken their preparation for Friday night’s final clash with Penrith to new heights by taking the unusual step of asking several of their stars to wear opposition jerseys in training.
The reigning prime ministers are clearly the favorites to win through to the grand final when the teams meet, with the Storm coming into the match on the back of a narrow win over the Roosters after being hammered 26-0 by Brisbane to start their finals campaign.
Images of Melbourne players, including Tepai Moeroa and George Jennings, wearing Panthers jerseys have emerged on social media, with photos taken during an opposition session held by the team recently.
Opposite sessions are used by football teams to get as close to match day conditions as possible and this one saw the club’s reserve players in Penrith colors as they took on the front-row stars.
Tepai Moeroa was one of the Melbourne Storm stars spotted wearing opposition colors during a recent training session ahead of their preliminary clash with Penrith.
George Jennings (with ball) and his fellow Storm reserve players wore Panthers kit as they took on the team’s front-row players in an opposing session.
The Storm have lost five matches in a row against Penrith and using the best shows coach Craig Bellamy is trying every trick possible to get his team over the line and into their fourth grand final since 2016.
Keen observers will note that the Panthers’ tops are not official match gear, but rather are part of the team’s practice kit.
Some football fans reacted by applauding the decision once the photos started going viral.
“Stomach ache…masterstroke,” one wrote, using Bellamy’s nickname.
“You can bet your bottom dollar that the storm will be well prepared,” another supporter added.
Penrith have won their last five matches against the Storm, who go into the game as huge underdogs – and the inclusion of Panthers star Jarome Luai after recovering from a dislocated shoulder (pictured) will make their task even more difficult.
Others took the opportunity to find some humor in the strange spectacle of players wearing their rivals’ gear.
“Did they buy the jerseys at Best n Less? Missing a few sponsors,” one fan joked.
“The best part is that these are not official jerseys or clothing, but rather black t-shirts that appear to have iron-on designs of our logo, sponsors and stripes. ..did they all go home and iron on their own?’, speculated another.
“The funny thing is that the club will have shelled out money to pay them,” joked a third supporter.
Meanwhile, both teams have named injured stars for the clash at Sydney’s Accor Stadium.
Halfback Jahrome Hughes (pictured) had to miss his side’s narrow win over the Roosters last week with a calf injury, but he is a very welcome inclusion for Friday night’s final.
The focus will remain firmly on Panthers five-eighth Luai and Storm halfback Hughes until kick-off at Accor Stadium on Friday.
Luai has not been seen in the NRL since suffering a dislocated shoulder in the penultimate round of the regular season, but is in line to return against the Storm.
The Panthers continued with Jack Cogger filling the void to partner Nathan Cleary, the former member of Penrith’s extended squad should Luai fail to make the grade.
Center Izack Tago also overcame a pectoral injury to be named by Panthers coach Ivan Cleary.
Penrith’s last outing was a 30-6 demolition of the New Zealand Warriors (pictured) and they are widely tipped to win their third consecutive premiership.
Melbourne are also hoping to welcome Hughes back into the fold, after the Kiwi international missed their semi-final win over the Sydney Roosters with a calf injury.
Hughes told reporters earlier this week he was confident he would be able to feature in the Storm’s goal of toppling a Penrith side who have had their measure in four of the last five meetings.
Tyran Wishart moves to the bench with the inclusion of Hughes and could find himself starting for Harry Grant, who thrived against the Roosters when injected from the bench.
Winger Xavier Coates (ankle) remains sidelined for the Storm and is not named in the 22-man squad.