Corey Parker Predicts Melbourne Storm Will Win 2025 Minor Premiership -With a star-studded lineup, including Ryan Papenhuyzen, Cameron Munster, Jahrome Hughes, and Harry Grant, the Storm is looking fierce
Brisbane Broncos great and former representative forward Corey Parker has weighed in on the race for the 2025 NRL Minor Premiership, making a bold prediction about which team will finish at the top of the ladder at the end of the regular season.
With Round 1 of the new NRL season wrapping up, Parker has tipped the Melbourne Storm to claim the Minor Premiership, setting them up as the team most likely to end the Penrith Panthers’ dominance. The Panthers have been the benchmark of the competition over the past five years, winning four consecutive Grand Finals, but significant offseason departures have left their squad with major gaps to fill. Key players James Fisher-Harris, Jarome Luai, and Sunia Turuva all moved on, leaving Penrith with a challenge to maintain their stranglehold on the competition.
Meanwhile, Melbourne has strengthened its squad, making a statement by adding NSW Blues representative Stefano Utoikamanu to their forward pack. But the biggest reason behind Parker’s confidence in the Storm is their spine, which he believes is the best in the league.
With Ryan Papenhuyzen at fullback, a world-class halves pairing in Cameron Munster and Jahrome Hughes, and arguably the best hooker in the game in Harry Grant, Melbourne possesses an elite core capable of leading them to the title.
Speaking on SENQ Breakfast, Parker praised Melbourne’s consistency and culture, highlighting how they remain a force in the competition year after year.
“I can’t wrap my head around how many Grand Finals they’ve been in, how many premierships they’ve won, and how consistent they have been,” Parker said. “I think they can win the competition. It’s been an incredible club for a long time, built on hard work and repetition. They have an unbelievable squad and arguably the best spine in the competition.”
Parker singled out Cameron Munster as a key figure in Melbourne’s title push, stating that the playmaker is in a different frame of mind this season and ready to elevate his game further. He also noted that Ryan Papenhuyzen has successfully overcome his injury struggles, while Jahrome Hughes, a former Dally M Medal winner, remains one of the most influential playmakers in the league.
“Harry Grant is by far and away the best nine in the game,” Parker added. “That’s your spine, and no wonder they invest so much in that area. Because of that, they are continually asking questions of opposition defences.”
With a mix of experienced stars, exciting new signings, and a winning culture that has stood the test of time, Melbourne appears poised to challenge for the title once again. If Parker’s prediction holds true, the Storm could not only secure the Minor Premiership but also position themselves as serious contenders to dethrone Penrith and reclaim NRL supremacy in 2025.
